Certification Specialist II

Job Summary

We offer competitive salaries, great benefits, and work that matters to our community.

The Organization: The Seattle Housing Authority (SHA) is a mission-driven leader in affordable housing, headquartered on Elliot Ave West with sweeping views of Elliot Bay and the Puget Sound. With additional field offices across Seattle, we are committed to expanding housing opportunities, strengthening communities, and supporting a workplace where people grow and thrive.

The position: We are looking for a certification specialist 2 to join our team! This role is perfect for someone who can support applicants and participants in successfully navigating program rules and regulations of the housing program to obtain and retain housing resources.

The Location: 101 Elliot Ave W, Seattle, WA 98109

The ideal candidate will have:

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Two years of college-level course work in social services, bookkeeping, business, or a related field
  • May substitute two years of relevant work experience for the college-level course work
• Four years of experience in social services, data entry, government administration, or housing
  • OR one year of experience as a certification specialist 1 at SHA
  • OR 18 months of experience in a similar position outside of SHA

What will you do?

• Administer, interpret, apply, and explain rules, regulations, policies, and procedures needed for eligibility and continuing assistance
• Meet high customer service standards, including prompt return of phone calls and meeting with walk-in clients
• Partner with all interested parties, including family members, landlords, caseworkers, and SHA staff to ensure completeness, accuracy, and timeliness of responses during the housing program process
• Evaluate program eligibility and guide applicants through the voucher application process
• Issue vouchers to eligible program applicants and transfers. Conduct voucher issuance briefings and counsel about subsidy calculations and unit affordability
• Assist participants in navigating the leasing and move-in process according to program rules
• Partner with other housing authorities to assist families when moving between jurisdictions
• Educate participants about reporting and documentation requirements for income
• Ensure accurate payment is made to landlords in a timely manner
• Maintain recordkeeping and file completeness and accuracy for all processes to meet program and audit standards
• Review and process contract rent increase requests in accordance with Housing and Urban Development regulations and agency policy
• Evaluate rent reasonableness using approved comparables and market analysis tools
• Demonstrate concise presentation abilities to explain complex technical details

For additional information on the job, please see the full job description.

How to Apply: To apply, complete the online NeoGov application by clicking the Apply button in the upper right-hand corner of this posting.

Application Tips:

• Update the Work Experience and Education sections with your most current information. Note: SHA does not accept external attachments, such as resumes or cover letters.
• Complete the Agency-Wide questions. Even if you have applied to SHA before, please review and update your responses.
• Respond to any Supplemental Questions, if applicable.

Why Should You Apply?

• Our Culture: SHA offers a supportive, energetic workplace where collaboration and growth thrive. Our talented team has helped make us a nationally recognized leader in affordable housing and community development.
• Competitive Salary
• Comprehensive Benefits
  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance
  • Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS)
  • Generous paid leave and holidays
• Work-Life Balance
  • Reasonable hours
  • Opportunity for part-time remote work
• Professional Development
  • On-the-job training and growth opportunities

Our Commitment to Equity

SHA values your unique background and perspective – we encourage you to apply even if you do not meet every listed qualification. Learn more in our diversity (Download PDF reader) and application equity (Download PDF reader) statement.