Assistant Housing Program Specialist

About the role

The City of Portland is seeking an Assistant Housing Program Specialist to join the Preference Policy team of the Portland Housing Bureau. As part of its N/NE Housing Strategy, the Housing Bureau has developed a program to identify and prioritize Portland residents who have been disproportionately harmed by the city's urban renewal actions over the last 5‑7 decades for affordable home ownership and rental housing programs. This position requires excellent communication skills, and the exercise of tact and diplomacy. Individuals applying for this position should have a strong understanding of Racial Equity and integrating Racial Equity into policy and programs. The role is hybrid‑based, reporting to 1900 SW 4th Ave., with remote work permitted only within Oregon or Washington. The position is represented by AFSCME‑189.

Responsibilities

• Developing policies and planning for program implementation.
• Administering education, outreach, and technical assistance to the public.
• Administering the application process and managing the case files of applicants on the prioritized service list.
• Developing data sets and analyzing program performance and results.
• Working regularly with members of the public, city staff, industry representatives, and community leaders.
• Providing recommendations on administrative policies, program rules and funding levels.

Requirements

• Knowledge and ability to apply the methods of program, administrative and procedural analysis.
• Experience effectively communicating in both oral and written formats, including preparing clear, concise, and comprehensive reports, correspondence, and other documents appropriate to diverse audiences.
• Knowledge and ability to analyze, explain and apply relevant laws, regulations, ordinances, and policies.
• Experience using standard data management, and office software to maintain files, records, and documentation.
• Experience collecting, evaluating, and interpreting data, either in statistical or narrative form.

Skills

• Collaborative: an authentic professional who values partnership and develops and supports relationships to get things done.
• Solutions oriented: possesses and uses strong communication skills to work with a variety of internal and external stakeholders to create, implement, document solutions, and problem solve.
• Values Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI): embraces anti‑racist approaches through intentional partnership, self‑awareness, and action, showing cultural humility, advocacy, and mindfulness; understands the importance of using DEI concepts to guide and inform work.
• Emotionally intelligent: motivated, passionate, team‑oriented, and empathetic, works to create the same characteristics in their team.

Pay

Applicants start at the entry rate. If you are an AFSCME‑represented employee, see the labor agreement or contact your labor representative for additional information.

Schedule

Work schedule: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Alternate schedules may be available. The position is hybrid‑based; remote work must be performed within Oregon or Washington.