Leasing Specialist - Applicant Services in Portland, Maine at Avesta

Are you passionate about helping people navigate the housing process with clarity, respect, and care? Do you enjoy working directly with applicants, solving problems, and ensuring every interaction is welcoming and informative? Avesta Housing is seeking a detail-oriented and service-driven Leasing Specialist to support applicant services and help connect individuals with affordable housing opportunities.

In this hands-on role, you'll guide applicants through the leasing and application process, support eligibility determinations, and manage waitlists and documentation to ensure accuracy and compliance. You'll collaborate with Property Management to market available homes, process certifications, and provide timely updates to applicants while delivering a high level of customer service. Every day, your work will help create a positive experience for applicants and support Avesta's mission of creating and maintaining quality, affordable homes for people in need.

This role is a great fit if you:

• Enjoy working directly with applicants and providing clear, helpful guidance
• Bring strong organizational skills and attention to detail in administrative work
• Thrive in a fast-paced environment managing multiple priorities
• Are committed to customer service, fairness, and supporting diverse communities

About Avesta Housing

Avesta Housing is a local leader in housing development, property management, and assisted living solutions. Founded in 1972, our nonprofit organization serves individuals and families in need of quality affordable housing in Maine and New Hampshire.

What it's Like to Work Here

Our team members have positive attitudes, are creative problem solvers, and share a dedication to housing equity and inclusion for all. Our shared commitment to improving the lives of others and strengthening our communities through affordable housing gives us purpose and inspires our best work. Our workplace culture and continuous opportunities for growth have resulted in Avesta Housing being a popular place to work.

Our employees selected Avesta Housing as a 2025 Best Places to Work in Maine because of our opportunities for career advancement, friendly workplace culture, impressive benefits and compensation, responsive managers, and company values!

What We're Looking For

The person who is ready for this opportunity will meet the following requirements:

• Excellent customer service skills.
• Proactive critical thinking ability.
• Excellent keyboard skills and proficiency in major office software applications.
• Flexibility to organize and reprioritize work as business needs shift.
• Superior written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent judgment and ability to make sound decisions based on information at hand.

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Experience working with disadvantaged populations and familiarity with eligibility determination preferred.
• Understanding of fair housing practices and regulations preferred. COS certification must be attained within one year of hire.
• Minimum two years’ experience working in office setting.

Click HERE to view the full Leasing Specialist job description. This is a full-time, non-exempt position. Hourly wage is $23.50 - $25.50/hour.

Benefits

We have excellent employee benefits, including:

• Employer-paid health and dental plans for employees
• Flexible spending and dependent care accounts
• 401(k) retirement savings plan with immediate vested match of up to 6%
• Employer-paid basic life, long-term and short-term disability
• Free mental wellness services for benefits-eligible employees
• 13 paid holidays
• Generous earned time, starting with 19 days in first year of employment
• Professional development assistance
• Employee referral program
• Tuition reimbursement

Ready to Apply?

If this job sounds like a fit for you, please click through to our Employment Application. A resume that tells us how your experience is relevant to this role is required.

Avesta Housing Corp. is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to being an inclusive community that values diversity in people, backgrounds, and ideas, and ensures fair treatment, access, and advancement for each person.

We welcome applicants of all backgrounds and lived experiences, including differences in race, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, socioeconomic background, veteran status, and family structure. We also recognize and value diversity in thought, communication styles, education, and career paths.

We believe our work is strengthened by a team that reflects the communities we serve. If you are passionate about our mission, we encourage you to apply.