Housing Specialist

Job Summary

King County Housing Authority (KCHA) is currently seeking a talented, detail oriented and customer service focused Housing Specialist based in Tukwila. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment, enjoys a diversity of customers and is committed to the highest standards in public service.

This role supports the Housing Choice Voucher Program. The individual selected may be responsible for any combination of the following: determining initial/ongoing eligibility for housing assistance and/or processing files, and/or managing and maintaining rent requests/rent increases and/or processing Requests for Tenancy Approval. They may conduct briefings on program requirements, issue vouchers, and calculate and certify rent. The work will also include using specialized housing software to document and maintain on-line records.

The Ideal Candidate Will Be

• Able to provide exceptional customer service to a diverse population of internal and external stakeholders.
• Confident as a public speaker with excellent presentation skills.
• Resourceful and able to independently address and resolve issues as they arise.
• Highly skilled as an effective communicator both verbally and in writing.
• Flexible and able to adjust to shifting priorities and needs while maintaining a positive attitude.
• A collaborative team member who is also a strong leader with well-developed organizational and time management skills.
• Able to work effectively under pressure in a fast-paced environment.
• Reliable, with a proven reputation for being consistently dependable.
  
  

King County Housing Authority (KCHA), an independent municipal organization is a high performing nationally recognized leader in affordable housing. To learn more about KCHA and our Mission visit this link.

We transform lives through housing.

Essential Functions

The Housing Specialist will:

• Provide basic administration, such as scheduling appointments, copying, mailing, organizing/filing documents, and creating briefing, recertification, and moving packets.
• Meet with applicants and/or participants to conduct briefings, to complete intakes, recertification, and/or moves.
• Determine initial and/or ongoing eligibility in compliance with regulations, policies, and procedures
• Collect and organize documentation and verify income, assets, expenses, eligibility status, background, tax records, and related reports.
• Calculate average monthly income and expenses; calculate rent maximums and housing assistance payments.
• Create applicant vouchers and submit applications to supervisor for approval; for decisions of ineligibility, prepare letter of denial for supervisor approval and call applicant with decision.
• Coordinate with applicants, participants, landlords, and partners.
• Provide customer service by answering phone calls, returning voice mails and responding to email requests with clear, concise, and comprehensive information, including complex housing regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Enter data into applicable software; scan and index documents and records into the database system; maintain a variety of files, accounts, and other records and/or reports.
• Maintain consistent and reliable attendance with the ability to arrive on time.
  
  

Qualifications And Competencies

Required Qualifications:

• High School Diploma or GED AND
• Moderate experience in HCV programs, low-income housing, customer service, or investigative work OR
• An equivalent combination of experience and education that provides the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of this position.
  
  

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• A collaborative team member who works effectively and productively with others; participate and foster teamwork, build rapport and acts as a positive influence to the team.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to clearly and effectively communicate with individuals and groups; ability to present and explain complex information regarding policies and procedures.
• Use systems to organize, prioritize, and keep track of information and/or work in progress; maintain accurate and complete electronic and manual records; exhibit attention to detail; ability to multi-task in a high-pressure environment.
• Proficiency using MS Office applications including Word, Excel, and Outlook, as well as Adobe, DocuSign, OnBase and the internet; skill and ability to learn and use agency housing management software (Tenmast and Yardi).
• Uses critical, creative, and reflective thinking skills to identify problems, analyze and evaluate various solutions, and monitor their effectiveness.
• Ability to provide exceptional customer service to a diverse population of internal and external stakeholders; ability to work effectively under pressure in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong, positive interpersonal skills, including the ability to work collaboratively; remain professional, calm and tactful in stressful situations while adhering to a high standard of integrity, honesty, and confidentiality.
• Reliable, with a proven reputation for being consistently dependable.
• Adapt to changing business needs, conditions, and work responsibilities; respond to change with a positive attitude and a willingness to learn new ways to accomplish work activities and objectives.
• Value organizational diversity; treat others with respect; promote cooperation; work effectively and positively with individuals of diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds and educationally diverse populations.
• Ability to maintain financial records and to prepare reports and statements.
  
  

Special Requirements:

• Consent to and pass required assessments.
• Final candidates may be required to complete a criminal background check in accordance with applicable law.
  
  

Position Information and Application Process

To Be Considered For This Opportunity, You Must

• Complete the online application profile in its entirety.
• Upload a cover letter that addresses how your experience and education qualifies you to perform the essential functions listed in the job announcement. (Cover Letter)
• Upload a detailed résumé of all educational and professional experience. (Résumé)
  
  

Salary & Benefits

In the absence of direct experience administering the Housing Choice Voucher Program, the starting rate of pay for this position is $34.96 per hour. The complete salary range for this position is $34.96 - $45.45 hourly. A comprehensive health care benefits package for you and your dependents includes medical, dental and vision insurance, life and long-term disability insurance plans, vacation, sick and personal leave, tuition reimbursement, and retirement benefits are also available. For more details regarding KCHA comprehensive benefits, please visit our benefits page, www.kcha.org/employment/employeebenefits.aspx.

Work Environment

Incumbent(s) must be able to meet the physical requirements of the classification and have mobility, balance, coordination, vision, hearing and dexterity levels appropriate to the functions performed. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

After initial onboarding, this role may have the opportunity to work remotely up to 60% in accordance with the KCHA's flexible work arrangements; however, remote work conditions will be reviewed on a regular basis based on business and program need. The ability to report to the Central Office in Tukwila will be required.

Physical Environment

This work requires the occasional exertion of up to 25 pounds of force; work frequently sitting, speaking or hearing, using hands to finger, handle or feel, reaching with hands and arms and repetitive motions and occasionally requires standing, walking, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling, pushing or pulling and lifting; work has standard vision requirements; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word and conveying detailed or important instructions to others accurately, loudly or quickly; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels and to receive detailed information through oral communications and/or to make fine distinctions in sound; work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data and observing general surroundings and activities; work frequently requires working near moving mechanical parts and occasionally requires wet, humid conditions (non-weather) and exposure to outdoor weather conditions; work is generally in a moderately noisy location (e.g. business office, light traffic).

Equal Opportunity

King County Housing Authority is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.

The excellent benefits package includes employer paid dental; vacation, sick & holiday pay; life insurance, long term disability insurance and transit subsidy. PERS retirement (mandatory) and medical plan require employee and employer contributions. Employee paid deferred compensation (457b) and flexible spending accounts are optional. Positive corporate culture and commitment to a diverse workplace, plus more!

For more details regarding KCHA comprehensive benefits, please click on the link below. www.kcha.org/employment/employeebenefits.aspx

01

Do you have direct experience with the King County Housing Authority?

• Yes, I am a current employee at KCHA.
• Yes, I am a current temporary employee at KCHA.
• Yes, I am a current resident of KCHA.
• Yes, but not as described above.
• No, I don't have any direct experience but I am willing to learn.
  
  

02

Which best describes your level of education?

• High School Diploma or GED
• Some College
• Associate's Degree
• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree or Higher
• None of the above
  
  

03

How many years of professional experience do you have working with subsidized and/or affordable housing? Please be sure your experience is included in your application materials.

• I have no experience in these areas.
• I have minimal (less than one year) experience.
• I have moderate (1 to 3 years) experience.
• I have considerable (3+ to 5 years) experience.
• I have extensive (more than 5 years) experience.
  
  

04

Do you have working knowledge in any of the following housing programs? Please select all that apply.

• Project Based Section 8
• Public Housing
• Section 8
• Sponsor Based
• Tax Credit
• No experience with housing programs.
  
  

05

Please describe the type of working knowledge you have in each of the areas you identified above. Please limit your response to one sentence per example. (Working knowledge implies you have worked or volunteered in an organization that dealt with or required you to have knowledge about housing programs in these categories).

06

Please identify your years of experience assisting tenants and/or landlords with housing matters.

• I have no experience in this area.
• I have minimal (less than one year) experience.
• I have moderate (1 to 3 years) experience.
• I have considerable (3+ to 5 years) experience.
• I have extensive (more than 5 years) experience.
  
  

07

Please describe your experience providing customer service in an environment with a high volume of customers or clients.

• I have no related experience.
• I have minimal (less than one year) experience.
• I have moderate (1 to 3 years) experience.
• I have considerable (3+ to 5 years) experience.
• I have extensive (more than 5 years) experience.
  
  

08

This position determines eligibility for housing assistance and prepares rent calculations. If Ms. Smith receives an income of $26,247 per year, how much income does she receive each week?

• $546.81
• $504.75
• $1093.62
• $437.45
  
  

09

This position determines eligibility for housing assistance and prepares rent calculations. If Ms. Smith receives an income of $26,247 per year, how much income does she receive each month?

• $1,093.62
• $2,187.25
• $504.75
• $2,185.25
  
  

10

This position determines a rent increase percentage. If ACME Property Management is raising the rent for a KCHA voucher holder from a current amount of $1500, to a proposed amount of $1750, what is the increase percentage?

• 18.5%
• 7.7%
• 10.5%
• 16.7%
  
  

11

Which of the following best describes your level of proficiency with Microsoft Office programs including Word, Outlook, and Excel?

• I have no experience with Microsoft Office.
• Beginner
• Intermediate
• Advanced
• Expert
• Required Question