The Habitat Company, LLC is a leader in residential multi-family real estate management and development. We are looking for talented individuals to join our team as we continue to expand and develop our company nationwide. We are a multi-state organization of over six hundred team members specializing in asset management, property management and project management of market rate, affordable rentals, condominiums, public housing, and commercial real estate.
The Leasing and Occupancy Coordinator - The role's main focus will concentrate on leasing and occupancy. This is essential for implementing and ensuring that The Habitat Company’s Affordable Housing portfolio properties maintain high occupancy levels (98%) while complying with the Chicago Housing Authority, Illinois Housing Development Authority, United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, and any other rental assistance program, and or governing agencies occupancy and admission policies. The manager’s primary responsibility is to monitor occupancy and wait list compliance throughout the portfolio. Here is an overview of their main responsibilities:
Leasing Management:
o Marketing and Outreach: Work with the Senior Compliance Manager and VP of Affordable Housing and Marketing Team to develop strategies to attract tenants, often focusing on targeted outreach to low-income and affordable housing applicants. As required by the Tenant Selection plan and Affirmative Fair Housing Marketing Plan.
o Screening and Selection: Oversee the applicant screening process, ensuring compliance with income eligibility and other criteria set by regulatory agencies.
o Leasing Execution: Assist with move-in processes, ensuring managers understand Habitat processes and proper use of Yardi/Rent Café.
o Waiting List Management: Assist and Monitor Community Managers in handling admissions waiting lists.
o Community Outreach: Performs quarterly outreach to area agencies and alderman offices via email about housing opportunities as needed.
o Quality Control: Performs Periodic QC inspections of vacant units scheduled for HQS inspections and monitor performance.
Resident Relations:
o Tenant Retention and Support: Provides feedback on the development of tenant retention strategies to minimize vacancies.
o Applicant: Meet with applicants and residents to resolve occupancy issues, approve transfers, or to discuss other rejection appeals.
Financial Performance:
o Occupancy Rate Optimization: Collaborate with property managers to maintain occupancy targets that meet funding or revenue requirements.
o Budget Management: Track expenses related to leasing activities and work to minimize vacancy loss.
Collaboration with Other Teams:
o Work with Compliance Officers and Property Management: Coordinate with compliance teams to ensure adherence to local and federal regulations and work with Regional Managers to ensure units are prepared for occupancy.
o Coordination with Development Teams: For new projects, help align lease-up timing with construction and project completion schedules, particularly in affordable housing developments where occupancy targets are closely tied to funding timelines.
Data Analysis, Strategy Development, and Reports
o Use data analysis to identify trends in occupancy, and strategies to optimize asset performance.
o Set and monitor KPIs related to occupancy, adjusting strategies as necessary to meet organizational goals.
o Submit monthly detailed occupancy summary and vacancy report to the Senior Compliance Manager and Habitat VP of Affordable Housing for all properties.
o Collaborate with on-site teams to prepare detailed and accurate vacancy reports for distribution to Habitat’s Regional team.
Skills and Qualifications:
· Experience in affordable and public housing management
· Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
· Experience in community outreach and advertising
· Advanced proficient in Excel and strong proficiency in Word, PowerPoint, Outlook
· Expertise in verbal and written communication skills.
· Strong Yardi Voyager database skills
· Preferred Housing Management Certifications such as Public Housing Rent Calculation (RIM), Certified Occupancy Specialist (COS), Tax Credit Specialist (TCS), Illinois Leasing License (must be obtained within 120 days (about 4 months of hire)
Work Environment:
This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely involves standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.
Physical Demands:
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to
finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, sit, and
reach with hands and arms. Some filing is required, this would require the ability to occasionally lift and/or move up to ten pounds
