Rental Services Assistant Housing Program Specialist - Updated at City of Portland – Portland, Oregon

About the position

Job Appointment: Regular, full-time
Work Schedule: Monday – Friday, 8 am-5 pm. An alternate schedule may be available.
Work Location: Hybrid; In-person work is to be conducted at 1900 SW 4th Ave, Suite 7007, Portland, OR 97201. Remote work must be performed within Oregon or Washington. For more information, click here.
Benefits: Please check our benefits tab for an overview of benefits for this position.
Union Representation: This classification is represented by AFSCME 189. To view this labor agreement, please click here. Applicants start at the entry salary rate. If you are an AFSCME-represented employee, see the labor agreement for additional information or talk to your union representative.
Language Pay Premium Eligible: This position may be eligible for Language Pay Differential for qualifying employees.

Application Material: Please click APPLY to submit your application via the City of Portland’s online portal. You will need respond to the supplemental questions and attach a resume.

Position Summary

The Rental Services Office oversees landlord-tenant policy and planning, including staffing the Fair Housing Advocacy Committee and Rental Services Commission. Responsibilities include contracting for services, program development, and administration of city codes and rules such as mandatory relocation assistance exemptions and rental unit registration. The office also provides information and technical assistance to the public via phone, email, and walk-in office hours. Individuals in these positions primarily provide technical assistance on local landlord-tenant laws and administer city regulations. They collaborate regularly with the public, city staff, industry representatives, and community leaders to fulfill these responsibilities.

As a Rental Services Assistant Housing Program Specialist, you will:

• Provide responsive technical assistance to the public on landlord-tenant laws, addressing inquiries with a solutions-oriented approach and strong customer service.
• Administer and enforce city codes and rules related to landlord-tenant regulations, recommending administrative policies, procedures, and rules as needed.
• Prepare detailed reports, correspondence, and recommendations based on research, data analysis, and public inquiries.
• Conduct research, analyze data, and stay updated on local, state, and federal laws impacting landlord-tenant issues.
• Collaborate to advance the City's racial equity goals and strategies through policy implementation and community engagement efforts.

Our Ideal Candidate is:

• Inclusive: Someone who values and respects diversity and has a desire or experience working with and serving people from a variety of backgrounds.
• Collaborative: An outgoing professional who values partnership and develops and supports relationships to get things done.
• Solutions Oriented: Uses strong communication skills to work with a variety of internal and external stakeholders to create, implement, and document solutions.
• Emotionally Intelligent: Motivated, passionate, team-oriented, and empathetic.

About the Bureau:

Since 2009, the Portland Housing Bureau (PHB) has worked toward a vision that "all Portlanders can find affordable homes...and have equitable access to housing." To that end, we are charged with developing citywide housing policy, delivering programs that increase the supply of affordable housing and promote stable homeownership, and administering a broad range of federal and local resources. Through our policies, plans, and funding, PHB works to stabilize families in their current homes, provide new affordable housing opportunities, and foster equitable, integrated, and diverse communities.

The mission of the Portland Housing Bureau is to solve the unmet housing needs of the people of Portland. The Bureau accomplishes its mission by building and preserving quality, affordable rental, and owner-occupied housing; supporting and sponsoring programs that help low-income Portlanders find, rent, buy, retain, and repair their homes; bringing together partners and leading them to assess the city's housing needs, choose sustainable solutions to efficiently meet them, and identify how best to pay for them; and reaching out to Communities of Color to ensure their participation in the economic opportunities that quality housing investments create.

Have a question?

Contact Information:

Tamela Ressler, Recruiter

Bureau of Human Resources

Tamela.Ressler@portlandoregon.gov

The following minimum qualifications are required for this position:

1. Experience applying the methods of program, administrative, and procedural analysis.

1. Experience using sound, effective business communication in both oral and written formats.

1. Experience using standard data management and office software to maintain files, records, and documentation.

1. Experience collecting, evaluating, and interpreting data, either in statistical or narrative form.

1. Experience preparing clear, concise, and comprehensive reports, correspondence, and other documents for diverse audiences.

1. Ability to analyze, interpret, explain, and apply relevant laws, regulations, ordinances, and/or policies.

Applicant must also possess:

• A valid state driver's license and acceptable driving record, or ability to use public transit or ride share.

Preferred Qualifications
Although not required, you may have the following:

• Proficiency in a second language (e.g., Spanish, Mandarin, Vietnamese) to effectively communicate with diverse community members and stakeholders, enhancing our ability to provide inclusive and equitable services.

STEP 1: Apply online between August 11, 2025 - August 25, 2025

Required Application Materials:

• Resume
• Answer to the Supplemental Questions (click on the Questions tab to preview the questions)

Optional Application Materials:

• If you wish to request Veteran's Preference, please submit your veteran documents (e.g., DD214-Member 4, VA Benefit Letter) by the recruitment's closing date.

We have recently updated our veteran preference process. As of March 3rd, 2025 if you made the eligible list and met the eligibility to receive veteran preference, you will no longer need to submit veteran documents for future recruitments.

If you need to update or remove your veteran preference for a specific recruitment or from your master profile, please contact the recruiter listed in the job announcement.

Application Tips:

• Your responses to the supplemental questions should include details describing your education, training and/or experience, and where obtained, which clearly reflects your qualifications for each of the numbered items in the "To Qualify" section of this announcement.
• Your résumé should support the details described in your responses to the supplemental questions.

• How We Determine Pay: The City of Portland is covered by the Oregon Equal Pay Act. Your salary is determined based on the experience listed in your resume that is directly related and equivalent to the position for which you are applying. It is strongly encouraged to include any transferable experience (paid or unpaid regardless of how recent) to ensure your offer is reflective of all your relevant experience.

• Do not attach any additional documents.
• Please note, all completed applications for this position must be submitted no later than on the closing date and time of this recruitment.
• You can use AI tools to assist with your job application, but please make sure to personalize your responses to supplemental questions. Avoid copying and pasting. We encourage using AI to generate ideas and then tailor them to reflect your own experiences and skills.
• All applications must be submitted via the City's online application process.
• E-mailed and/or faxed applications will not be accepted.

Step 2: Minimum Qualification Evaluation: Week of August 25, 2025

• An evaluation of each applicant's training and paid and unpaid experience, as demonstrated in their resume and supplemental questions, weighted 100%.
• Your résumé and responses to the supplemental questions will be the basis for our evaluation of your qualifications for this position. Incomplete or inappropriate information may result in disqualification.
• You have 14 days from the notice of the minimum qualification evaluation results to let us know if you would like to review and discuss your evaluation result. Please read the City of Portland Administrative Rule 3.01 for complete information.
• Additional evaluation may be required prior to establishment of the eligible list and/or final selection.

Step 3: Establishment of Eligible List: Week of September 1, 2025

• Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will be placed on the equally ranked eligible list. (Update if a Ranked list or other type of list is used)

Step 4: Selection (Interview): Mid / Late September 2025

• Hiring bureau will review and select candidates for an interview

Step 5: Offer of Employment: October 2025

• Some positions will require those offered employment to complete and sign a criminal background statement before being considered for employment. (Include if requires an in-depth background investigation.)

Step 6: Start Date: TBD

• A start date will be determined after all conditions of employment have been met.

*Timeline is approximate and subject to change.

Click here for additional information regarding the following:

• Veteran Preference
• ADA, Pregnancy, and Religious Accommodations
• Work Status
• Equal Employment Opportunity