Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Housing Supervisor

🎯 Role Definition

Are you a compassionate leader with a passion for creating stable, supportive living environments? This role requires a dedicated and experienced Housing Supervisor to lead our residential services team. In this pivotal role, you will oversee the day-to-day operations of our housing facilities, ensuring a safe, well-maintained, and welcoming community for our residents. You will be the cornerstone of our housing program, responsible for staff supervision, resident relations, and regulatory compliance. This is a chance to make a tangible impact, guiding both your team and the residents we serve toward success and stability.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Lead Case Manager
Senior Resident Advisor
Property Manager

Advancement To:

Housing Program Manager
Director of Housing Services
Regional Property Manager

Lateral Moves:

Compliance Manager
Program Coordinator

Core Responsibilities

Provide daily leadership, supervision, training, and performance evaluation for a team of housing staff, including case managers, resident assistants, and administrative personnel.
Oversee the comprehensive day-to-day operations of multiple residential sites, ensuring a high standard of living and program integrity.
Develop and manage staff schedules to guarantee adequate 24/7 coverage, including on-call rotations for emergency situations.
Ensure strict compliance with all federal, state, local, and funding-specific regulations, including HUD, Fair Housing, LIHTC, and VA guidelines.
Manage the entire resident lifecycle, from initial application and intake processing to lease orientation, recertification, and move-out procedures.
Conduct frequent and thorough inspections of residential units, common areas, and building exteriors to maintain health, safety, and sanitation standards.
Act as the primary liaison with the maintenance department to coordinate timely work order completion, unit turnovers for new residents, and preventative maintenance projects.
Develop and meticulously manage the annual operating budget for the housing program, tracking expenditures, monitoring revenue streams, and preparing financial variance reports.
Serve as the lead for conflict resolution, skillfully mediating disputes between residents and addressing grievances in a fair, confidential, and timely manner.
Enforce lease agreements and community policies consistently and equitably, initiating corrective action or eviction proceedings when necessary and in accordance with legal protocols.
Maintain highly accurate, organized, and confidential resident files and program data, ensuring all documentation is audit-ready.
Lead and coordinate emergency response and crisis intervention efforts, providing decisive direction and support to staff and residents during critical incidents.
Foster a positive, inclusive, and trauma-informed community environment that promotes resident well-being, stability, and personal growth.
Collaborate closely with clinical and supportive services teams to ensure residents are connected to necessary resources, such as mental health counseling, employment assistance, and benefits advocacy.
Prepare and submit comprehensive, data-driven reports on program performance, occupancy rates, and key outcomes to senior leadership and external funding bodies.
Manage relationships and contracts with third-party vendors, including security services, pest control, and landscaping, to ensure quality and cost-effectiveness.
Oversee the rent collection process, including managing delinquencies, negotiating repayment plans, and maintaining accurate financial ledgers.
Actively participate in community outreach and build strategic partnerships with local agencies, landlords, and service providers to enhance the housing program's network and resources.
Develop, implement, and evaluate resident engagement initiatives, workshops, and community-building activities to enhance the resident experience.
Spearhead preparations for and successfully navigate physical and administrative audits from regulatory agencies like REAC, MOR, and local housing authorities.
Stay abreast of emerging trends, regulations, and best practices in supportive housing, affordable housing, and property management to drive continuous program improvement.
Assist in the strategic development and implementation of new housing policies, operational procedures, and program models to better serve resident needs.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Proficiency in Property Management Software (e.g., Yardi, RealPage, BostonPost).
In-depth knowledge of housing regulations, including Fair Housing, HUD, LIHTC, and Section 8.
Budget development, financial management, and reporting.
Strong command of the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams).
Experience with crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques.
Competency in using Homeless Management Information Systems (HMIS) or similar client databases.
Expertise in compliance monitoring, auditing, and regulatory reporting.

Soft Skills

Exceptional leadership and staff supervision abilities with a focus on mentoring and development.
Advanced conflict resolution, mediation, and negotiation skills.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal, with diverse populations.
High degree of empathy, cultural competency, and a trauma-informed approach.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and critical-thinking capabilities.
Superior organizational and time-management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
Sound judgment and decisive decision-making, especially under pressure.
A collaborative spirit and the ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's Degree from an accredited institution.

Preferred Education:

Master's Degree.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Social Work
Public Administration
Business Administration
Human Services
Urban Planning

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

A minimum of 3-5 years of progressive experience in property management, social services, or a related field, with at least 1-2 years in a supervisory or leadership capacity.

Preferred:

Experience directly supervising staff in a residential or supportive housing setting is highly preferred. Certified Property Manager (CPM) or similar credentials are a significant plus.