Occupancy Specialist

About the role

We are searching for an Occupancy Compliance Specialist that will be responsible for ensuring that residential properties under management are in full compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local occupancy regulations, housing codes, and lease requirements. Under the supervision of the Director of Property, they support communication with regulatory matters, maintain compliance records, and partner cross-functionally with property managers, leasing teams to uphold company standards.

Responsibilities

• Compliance Monitoring and Inspections
• Audit lease agreements and tenant files to ensure documentation aligns with occupancy regulations (HUD, Fair Housing Act, local housing ordinances).
• Identify and document compliance deficiencies; coordinate corrective action plans with property management teams.
• Track inspection schedules and ensure timely resolution of outstanding violations.
• Regulatory Reporting and Documentation
• Prepare and submit required occupancy and compliance reports to government agencies and internal stakeholders.
• Maintain accurate, audit-ready records of all inspections, violations, corrective actions, and certifications.
• Monitor regulatory updates and proactively communicate policy changes to affected teams.
• Aid in preparing documentation for third-party audits, HUD reviews, and tax credit compliance reviews (LIHTC, Section 8, HOME, HOPWA, etc.)
• Tenant and Stakeholder Interaction
• Respond to tenant inquiries and complaints related to occupancy and habitability standards.
• Coordinate with property management team to ensure proper tenant qualification and move-in/move-out compliance.
• Serve as liaison between property staff and regulatory agencies during inspections or investigations.
• Training and Process Improvement
• As directed by manager, conduct compliance training to property management and leasing staff on Fair Housing, occupancy standards, and related regulations.
• Aid in standard operating procedures (SOPs) updates for compliance workflows.
• Identify process gaps and recommend system or policy improvements to reduce compliance risk and escalate recommendations to manager for approval.

Requirements

• Must successfully pass a criminal background check
• Must provide TB test clearance

Qualifications

• 1-3 years of experience in property management, housing compliance, MOR and REAC, or a related regulatory role.
• Working knowledge of Fair Housing laws, HUD regulations, and local occupancy codes.
• Experience with affordable housing programs (LIHTC, Section 8, HOME) strongly preferred.
• Proficiency with property management software (Yardi) and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to clearly convey regulatory requirements.
• High attention to detail and strong organizational skills; ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Certified Occupancy Specialist (COS), Housing Credit Certified Professional (HCCP), or similar designation highly desired.
• Experience working with government housing agencies highly desired.
• Familiarity with accessibility standards (ADA, Section 504) preferred.

Benefits

• 18 days of Paid Time Off
• 15 paid holidays, including your birthday!
• 100% paid medical insurance (Kaiser, Anthem Blue Cross), dental, vision for employees, 50% for your dependents.
• 100% paid Group Term Life insurance, Accidental Death & Dismemberment, Long-term disability insurance
• Up to $3,000 Tuition Reimbursement a year
• 403b with SHELTER Inc., matching contribution
• Pet Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Discount Marketplace
• Internal growth opportunities

Position Requirements

• Must successfully pass a criminal background check
• Must provide TB test clearance

What we offer

• 18 days of Paid Time Off
• 15 paid holidays, including your birthday!
• 100% paid medical insurance (Kaiser, Anthem Blue Cross), dental, vision for employees, 50% for your dependents.
• 100% paid Group Term Life insurance, Accidental Death & Dismemberment, Long-term disability insurance
• Up to $3,000 Tuition Reimbursement a year
• 403b with SHELTER Inc., matching contribution
• Pet Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Discount Marketplace
• Internal growth opportunities

Notice

This description is a guide only. Upon hire, you will receive a formal job description.