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This position is funded from the Commonwealth’s annual operating budget.

Duties:

The State Rental Assistance Programs Specialist position will provide support to State Rental Assistance programs including the HomeBASE and RAFT programs and the Mass. Rental Voucher Program (MRVP), the Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP) and the Department of Mental Health program (DMH). The position will also provide program support to other related special initiatives within the Bureau of Rental Assistance. The Housing Specialist will assist Program Managers, the Director of State Rental Assistance, the Director of the Bureau of Rental Assistance and other staff to implement and administer the programs on a daily basis. Program support responsibilities include: responding to constituent inquiries, providing technical assistance and training to providers and administering agencies on program rules, regulations, guidance and changes when necessary, writing administrative plans and program documents when appropriate, communicating with outside agencies, collecting program reports from providers, assisting fiscal with processing program payments, assisting in contract routing and tracking and providing administrative support when necessary.

The Housing Specialist will also be the primary data point person for the State programs. These responsibilities will include working primarily with the TRACKER and ASIST (All Services Integrated System Tracker), the state’s systems for managing housing and homelessness data. The Housing Specialist will provide all technical assistance to contractors relating to ASIST and will be responsible for building out new screens, assessments, queries and reports in the software when necessary, adding new users and granting permissions to users, updating manuals and coordinating training opportunities for staff. This position will create and compile reports for stakeholders including ANF, the Governor’s Office, Legislature and advocates, as well as, internal reports necessary to monitor the program and fiscal compliance. Finally, the Specialist may also be responsible for research and evaluation.

Detailed Statement of Duties and Responsibilities

1. Assists program and Bureau staff in implementing current programs, special initiatives and new changes to programs. Duties include producing and disseminating program guidance, assisting with program monitoring reviews, designing program forms, ensuring that program documents and forms are updated, accessible to providers and translated in the appropriate languages, managing contract documents and filing and other tasks that may be identified to support the State Rental Assistance programs.

2. Responds to inquiries and issues from constituents, appropriately providing referrals and problem solving issues that clients may be experiencing in their program participation. Elevates issues for resolution when necessary and documents assistance provided in the Constituent Tracking System (CTS), as necessary.

3. Responds to inquiries and questions from providers and Administering Agencies on guidelines, program clarifications, regulations, etc.

4. Assists program and Bureau staff in implementing new programs and special initiatives, as necessary.

5. Acts as primary data contact for state rental assistance programs including providing all technical assistance to contractors for data management and reporting.

6. Coordinates with the Division of Housing Stabilization staff on program implementation, data collection and reporting and program evaluation.

7. Creates and compiles reports for stakeholders and regular reports for internal purposes.

8. Works with contractors and staff to assess and improve data quality. Evaluates results to ensure accuracy, validity and reliability of data.

9. Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Minimum Entrance Requirements:

Applicants must have at least (A) four years of full-time, or equivalent part-time, professional experience in real estate management, property management, public housing program management, public housing program development or public housing program administration, or (B) any equivalent combination of the required experience and the substitutions below.

Substitutions:
I. An Associate’s degree with a major in real estate, public administration, business administration or business management may be substituted for a maximum of one year of the required experience.*

II. A Bachelor’s degree with a major in real estate, public administration, business administration or business management may be substituted for a maximum of two years of the required experience.*

III. A Master’s or higher degree with a major in public administration, business administration or business management may be substituted for a maximum of three years of the required experience.*

*Education toward such a degree will be prorated on the basis of the proportion of the requirements actually completed.

Special Requirements: Based on assignment, possession of a current and valid Massachusetts Class D Motor Vehicle Operator’s License may be required.

Preferred Qualifications:

1. Relevant position experience in homelessness prevention and/or rapid rehousing programs (local, state, federal – including ARRA HPRP) and/or rental assistance, supportive housing or transitional housing experience (local, state, federal).

2. Proficiency in using Microsoft Word and Excel to produce documents and reports.

3. Proficiency in using Microsoft Access

4. Experience with Efforts to Outcomes (ETO) or equivalent Homeless Management Information Systems (HMIS) and/or case management software.

5. Proficiency or knowledge of ArcGIS or equivalent mapping and spacial analysis software.

6. Ability to provide guidance to diverse groups and elicit support and cooperation with assigned program design and redesign.

7. Ability to be flexible in order to respond to changing requirements and to be available to resolve programmatic and other issues as needed.

8. Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Qualifications Required at Hire

1. Knowledge of the principles of housing management including terminology.

2. Knowledge of the terminology and standard abbreviations used in contracts and leases.

3. Knowledge of the factors, trends and problems in providing housing services to special groups such as the handicapped and elderly.

4. Knowledge of the methods of general report writing.

5. Knowledge of the methods used in the preparation of charts, graphs and tables.

6. Knowledge of principles underlying civil rights and equal opportunity programs as they pertain to achieving the objectives of public housing programs.

7. Knowledge of the principles, practices and techniques of program budgeting.

8. Knowledge of training methods and techniques.

9. Ability to understand, explain and apply the provisions of the laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, specifications, standards and guidelines governing assigned unit activities.

10. Ability to analyze and determine the applicability of housing data, to draw conclusions and make appropriate recommendations.

11. Ability to read and interpret documents such as contracts, leases, grant proposals, etc.

12. Ability to gather information by examining records and documents and through questioning individuals.

13. Ability to compile statistical data.

14. Ability to determine the proper format and procedure for assembling items of information.

15. Ability to maintain accurate records.

16. Ability to prepare general reports.

17. Ability to communicate effectively in oral and written expression.

18. Ability to deal tactfully with others.

19. Ability to establish rapport and maintain harmonious working relationships with others including persons from different ethnic, cultural and/or economic backgrounds.

20. Ability to give oral and written instructions in a precise understandable manner.

21. Ability to exercise sound judgment.

22. Ability to exercise discretion in handling confidential information.

23. Ability to work independently.

24. Ability to provide training or instruction.

How To Apply:

Please mail 2 copies of both your cover letter and resume referencing CEO ID J39646 EXT RES to:

Department of Housing and Community Development
Human Resources Department
Reference: State Rental Assistance Programs Specialist
100 Cambridge Street, Suite 300
Boston, MA 02114-2524

Fax: (617) 573-1299
TTY: (617) 573-1140

To ensure consideration, resume and cover letter must be postmarked by midnight on the deadline date. Please reference posting ID number on all correspondence.

Please help the environment, by not mailing and faxing your resume and cover letter – only do one or the other. Thank you for your help.

For non-United States citizens working in the United States on a work visa, this position does not qualify as a specialty occupation.

Agency Web Address:

http://www.mass.gov/dhcd/

Diversity Officer:

Ms. Nancy DePaul, (617) 573-1100

An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.