Housing & Community Services Specialist

Housing & Community Services Specialist

Pay Range: $35.45 – $44.75 per hour

Deadline to Apply: 6/18/2026 by 8:30 am (central time)

Review Applications: By 6/18/2026

Virtual Interviews: Week of 6/18/2026-6/22/2026

In-Person Final Interviews: Week of 7/6/2026

Pre-Employment Process: July 2026

Expected Start Date: July 2026

Details

• Full-Time, Non-Exempt
• Benefits Eligible Date of Hire
• Reports to Community Services Manager
• Located at City Center (8080 Mitchell Road Eden Prairie, MN 55344)
• Typical hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Hours may vary based on business need.

Responsibilities

The Housing and Community Services Specialist is responsible for supporting the administration of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds and other public funds for housing and social service programs by coordinating and management of the fund programs, including annual plan preparation, fund distribution, quarterly reporting and access to the federal treasury. This position is also responsible for conducting audits of grantees, maintaining local and federal databases for the proper reporting of eligible activities, preparing and submitting required reports throughout the federal fiscal year to assist in the forecasting of how the funds will be expended. The primary position responsibilities and areas of impact are:

• Administers the City’s housing programs to determine program eligibility. Administer the loan application process by meeting with perspective homeowners and ensuring the necessary documents are properly signed and completed. Coordinates the necessary procedures of the loan application process by conducting title searches, ensuring a City Inspector visit to the property, communicating with all necessary parties. Maintains forms and files by making sure documents are in proper order and are filed in accordance with the City retention schedule. Conducts inclusionary housing compliance.
• Prepare and submits required reports throughout the year, assist in the forecasting of funds, and maintains local and federal databases for the proper reporting of activities.
• Reviews the completed applications to ensure applicants qualify for the program. Prepares financial documents and money transfers for the closing process. Conducts Request for Proposal (RFP) processes. Prepares documentation for City Council action to approve spending.
• Conducts on-site audits of funded agencies to ensure compliance with local and federal government requirements. Tracks spending and services provided to ensure agencies are performing to meet city expectations.
• Develops and maintains strong working relationships within the key partners in the community. Develops educational material/presentations on issues that impact the quality of life in the community. Monitors changing community trends related to housing and community services and conducts research to understand what programs and resources are needed to manage the changes.
• Promotes collaboration among service providers and property managers by providing resolution strategies and connects residents to community service providers. Assists with the coordination of meeting/training of property managers and other City departments or third parties.
• Provides timely and accurate customer service and support to the division and department.

While these areas are the primary focus of the position, we believe strongly in teamwork and employees will be called upon to perform a variety of duties as a part of their role with the City.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or minimum of three years of experience in coordinating housing programs and compliance preferred.
• Minimum of three years of relevant work experience required
• Experience with grant management or program administration preferred.
• Experience utilizing technology including Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets required.
• Physical effort is light for most of the work with lifting or carrying limited to 25 pounds intermittently.
• Candidates must successfully complete and pass the City’s evaluation of the pre-employment process prior to their first day of employment. Pre-employment processes for this position include professional reference checks, a background check, work history verification, and education verification.

Skills

• Accountability: Follows through on commitments. Focuses on appropriate tasks throughout the shift. Is prepared and punctual to all scheduled shifts. Actions and words are in sync. Follows all policies and procedures. Take responsibility for actions. Shares the right information. Maintains confidentiality.
• Attention to Detail: Produces work that includes minimal errors. Spends the necessary time to review work. Ensures high quality and best product is delivered.
• Organization: Able to keep activities, responsibilities, and tasks moving along to achieve results in a timely manner. Keeps things neat and orderly. Utilizes tools for efficiency. Plans ahead according to the task/project/work deadlines.
• Process Management: Knows how to get things done within an organization. Understands who to partner with to maximize efficiency. Establishes and utilizes checklists and tools to ensure consistency when completing tasks. Can simplify a process so the least number of steps are completed while still producing a high-quality product. Informs others of the established process so impacting areas are working together.
• Technical Learning: Consistently achieves the technical knowledge necessary to be effective. Stays up to date with laws, statutes, industry standards, organization, and product information. Able to learn and apply knowledge to work. Utilizes technology to achieve goals/results.
• Communication: Able to convey a message to get a point across; communicates in a clear and concise manner; able to write clearly and succinctly; tailors message to a variety of communication settings and styles.

Our Values

We are a service organization. We take pride in what we do. We cultivate a supportive, encouraging and productive culture with a strong customer focus. We promote wellness and plan work/life balance into our goals. We value differences and foster inclusion. We achieve success by exhibiting our core values: collaboration, innovation, integrity, performance and relationships.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights (https://www.eeoc.gov/poster) notice from the Department of Labor.