Housing Specialist

The Dakota County Community Development Agency is seeking a full-time Housing Specialist.

Recruitment Type: This position is open until Friday, January 2, 2026 at 4:30 p.m.

Hiring Range: $27.21 - $35.22 per hour (DOQ)

Benefit package: Medical, dental, vision, short-term, and long-term disability, life insurance, retirement, paid holidays, and paid time off.

Work Hours &

Location:

Monday - Friday flexible schedule (start time between 7-9) with the ability to work up to two days remote upon completion of probation.

Housing Specialists are part of the Housing Assistance team at the Dakota County Community Development Agency (CDA), a local and national recognized leader in affordable housing.

The Housing Assistance team administers local, state and federally funded rental assistance programs. The largest program is the federal Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program that serves over 2,800 households. The Dakota County CDA has consistently been recognized as a High Performer in the administration of the HCV Program by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Housing Specialists act as a primary contact for clients and property owners to provide program information and apply applicable regulations and procedures to deliver rent assistance to eligible individuals and families.

The Dakota County CDA is a leader in affordable housing and community development programs. The agency owns and manages over 2,900 units of affordable housing located throughout the county and additionally administers the fourth largest Housing Choice Voucher (rent assistance) program in the state. There are six departments at the CDA;
Administration, Community & Economic Development, Finance, Housing Assistance, Housing Development and Property Management. The CDA employs 146 staff who oversee local, state, and federal programs serving Dakota County. For more information about the CDA, visit (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..

Selection Process

• You submit an online application that includes supplemental questions
• We assign you a score based on your qualifications
• Top scoring candidates are referred to the hiring manager for interview consideration
• We conduct background and reference checks before hiring

Process client files in accordance with all applicable program rules and regulations.

• Conduct all new applicant, re-examination, and portability interviews and briefings to evaluate each client's initial or continued eligibility.
• Ensure applicants, selected from the waiting list for program admission, meet the selection criteria.
• Ensure rent reasonableness; determine and document that rent to property owners are reasonable based on current rents for comparable unassisted units.
• Determination of adjusted income, including properly obtaining verification of adjusted income; properly attributing the utility allowance
• Ensure the determination of adjusted income results in an accurate tenant rent calculation, resulting in accurate Housing Assistance Payments (HAP).
• Ensure accurate Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) payments within the provided systems (i.e. holding, releasing, and recouping payments, as needed).
• Request and provide information relating to Housing Quality Standards (HQS) inspections.
• Ensuring that in cases where Housing Quality Standards (HQS) deficiencies were not corrected within the required timeframe that the Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) payment is abated.
• Conduct file audits for accuracy and completeness and to ensure no audit findings.

Serve as a primary agency contact with program participants and owners of rental units.

• Provide program information as necessary to applicants, program participants and property owners.
• Educate program participants about the use of other human service agencies and encourage use of these agencies for the enhancement of their living situations.
• Assist participants in location of suitable housing by referring them to vacancy postings and other information resources.

Review and authorize cases involving interim rent changes, lease/program violations, terminations, and transfers.

• Assess the need for interim rent changes and process according to applicable policies.
• Document and report all suspected fraud to the Dakota County Sheriff's Office, after consultation and review with supervisor.
• Compose informal hearing presentations and act as representative at the hearings/reviews involving program disputes.

Perform other duties, tasks, and special projects as assigned including but not limited to:

• Provide back-up support to other Housing Specialists.
• Manage assigned workload with the provided tools and resources.
• Coordinate with Dakota County, its vendors, and the VA on programs where referrals are provided by these entities.
• Prepare monthly status reports and requisitions for Minnesota Housing Finance Agency programs.
• Prepare portability packets for out-going participants. Conduct group briefings.
• Maintain good working relationships with personnel from the county, housing authorities, and human service agencies.
• Participate in the agency,…