The City of San Mateo Community Development Department is looking for a Housing Specialist I/II
The Department
The Community Development Department, comprised of Planning, Neighborhood Improvement and Housing, Code Enforcement, and Building, provides a broad range of functions relating to the development of the community. The Housing and Neighborhood Services Division supports development of affordable housing, administers a portfolio of rental and for-sale affordable housing, and oversees community grants. You will be joining a team of talented professionals in a dynamic, collaborative work environment dedicated to serving the San Mateo community.
You will work alongside a team of focused and highly motivated professionals who use their talent to provide essential development review and inspection services to our residents and businesses on a daily basis. The Housing Specialist I/II position is an exciting opportunity for a talented professional to join a great organization and make a valuable contribution to the Housing Division within the Community Development Department. Collaboration, innovation, respect, accountability, creativity, transparency, thoughtfulness, and informed risk-taking are attributes and competencies that we are seeking in the candidate.
The Position
The Housing Specialist performs professional level work to implement varied housing programs and policies, grant and City loan management, and community engagement. The current vacancy may be filled at either level based on experience. Depending upon class level and assignment, duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Review, analyze, and administer federal, state and local programs to meet City housing and community development needs; structure and modify programs to meet specific City circumstances.
- Conduct BMR unit transactions, including BMR sales and re-sales, refinances and loan payoffs, and leasing of BMR/affordable housing rental units, in collaboration with City’s contracted BMR real estate agent and/or property managers of BMR/affordable housing properties.
- Provide technical assistance on BMR program issues to Housing Division management and to property managers and tenants/owners of BMR housing.
- Interpret City policies, procedures, laws, and regulations in response to public inquiries and complaints about BMR and affordable housing.
- Conduct outreach and organize and lead in-person and virtual workshops with the public about housing needs in the community and policy related to housing production, preservation, and protection; attend meetings as a City representative, as assigned.
- Support the Housing & Neighborhood Services Manager with implementation of the policies and programs in the City’s 2023-31 Housing Element.
- Process housing and commercial loans and grants from application through construction completion and loan servicing; determine property improvement needs; originate loans; prepare specifications and coordinate project bidding and management stages; conduct progress inspections and authorize disbursements; mediate disputes between the property owner and the contractor.
- Publicize and prepare marketing information for the City's various housing and redevelopment projects; meet with individuals and groups to disseminate such information.
- Maintain accurate records and files of assigned projects and cases; monitor funds expended; prepare a variety of periodic and special reports related to grant, loan and City-sponsored programs; may provide input into annual budget requests and assist with monitoring the budget.
The Housing Specialist receives general supervision from the Housing Supervisor or higher-level department personnel and may exercise technical and functional supervision over lower-level staff as assigned.
For a complete list of duties, reference our job specifications at www.cityofsanmateo.org
Knowledge and Abilities
- You possess the knowledge of analytical and report preparation methods and techniques; techniques for effectively dealing with people from various socioeconomic, ethnic and age groups; and real property development and real estate financing concepts, laws and techniques;
- You have the ability to analyze, interpret, apply and explain various laws, rules, codes and regulations related to housing, and specifically affordable housing, including grant and loan administration; research and analyze technical and statistical data; evaluate alternatives and make sound recommendations, quickly learn the laws, rules, regulations and procedures related to the work; prepare clear, concise, and accurate correspondence, reports and other written materials, maintain accurate records and files, coordinate multiple projects and meet critical deadlines; represent the City effectively in meetings with others, establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of the work;
- You are a detail-oriented individual who finds it rewarding to work with the community, able to exercise good judgement and decision-making abilities, and an exceptional communicator (oral and written) with superior interpersonal skills.
- n addition to the above, for Housing Specialist II, you have the ability to interpret, apply and explain various laws, codes and regulations related to varied housing and redevelopment programs and projects, independently follow through and coordinate multiple projects concurrently, prepare and analyze construction bid documents, specifications and contracts, analyze financial statements and real property documents.
Minimum Qualifications
Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. Typical ways to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:
Housing Specialist I:
- One year of administrative support experience, preferably in a setting which provides a knowledge of housing and/or redevelopment concepts and terminology.
- Equivalent to graduation from a four year college or university with major coursework in public or business administration, finance, economics or a field related to the work. Experience in housing program or redevelopment staff support may be substituted for the education on a year for year basis to a minimum of two years.
Housing Specialist II:
- In addition to the above, two years of experience in administering housing and/or redevelopment programs and projects at a level equivalent to the City's class of Housing Specialist I.
Highly Desirable
- Experience in managing a city Below Market-Rate housing program
- Experience in administering a city-managed loan program
- Experience in community engagement and outreach involving housing policies related to housing production, preservation, and protection
Apply
Submit an online application, résumé (recommended), and supplemental questionnaire at www.calopps.org/city-of-san-mateo or to the Human Resources Department, City of San Mateo, 330 W. 20th Avenue, San Mateo, CA 94403, (650) 522-7260.
Application Deadline
Recruitment will close on Sunday, September 6, 2026, at 5 p.m. or upon receipt of the first 75 applications, résumés, and supplemental questionnaires, whichever occurs first.
Examination Process
All applications, résumés (recommended), and supplemental questionnaires received will be reviewed for minimum qualifications. Résumés are recommended but do not take the place of a completed employment application. A fully completed application is required; a résumé does not replace the information required on the employment application, including work history. Applications with "see résumé" as a substitution for the work experience description, those with none or unclear current/past employment information, or those with insufficient information to evaluate possession of minimum qualifications will not be considered; missing information cannot be assumed. A limited number of the most highly qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the examination process, which may consist of an oral panel interview, written exercise, training and experience application review, or in the form of a practical demonstration of skill and ability, or any combination of these; a virtual oral board is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, September 23, 2026.
An eligible list will be established for those who pass the examination process. Current and future vacancies may be filled from this list. The list will remain in effect for at least six months with the possibility of an extension for an additional six months. Once placed on an eligible list, and at the time a vacancy occurs, eligible candidates may be contacted by the hiring department and scheduled for additional department interviews.
Date Posted: August 7, 2025
Note: The City of San Mateo reserves the right, at its discretion, to limit the number of qualified candidates invited to the selection process. ALL RESPONSES WILL BE CONDUCTED VIA THE EMAIL ADDRESS PROVIDED IN YOUR ONLINE APPLICATION. Therefore, it is imperative that you provide an email address to which you have access, and it is recommended that you frequently check your email for notices from: sanmateo@CalOpps.org
Fine Print
Prior to hire, candidates will be required to successfully complete a pre-employment process, including a driving record review, reference check, and Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) background checks. A conviction history will not necessarily disqualify an applicant from appointment. Candidates selected by the Police Department shall successfully undergo a comprehensive background investigation prior to appointment.
The City of San Mateo is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. It is the intent and desire of the City of San Mateo that equal employment opportunity will be provided in recruiting, hiring, training, promoting, wages, benefits, and all other privileges, terms and conditions of employment.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, applicants requiring accommodations for any part of the testing or recruitment process must notify humanresources@cityofsanmateo.org or (650) 522-7260 seven (7) days in advance of the deadline for the part of the process requiring accommodations. Do not upload any documents related to your request for accommodation in CalOpps. The City of San Mateo complies with employment provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
