Rental Housing Programs Manager

City of Santa Barbara•Santa Barbara, CA

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The City of Santa Barbara is seeking an experienced and collaborative Rental Housing Programs Manager to lead the City’s newly established and integrated rental housing program. This role will help advance effective, equitable, and legally compliant tenant and landlord protection services. Under administrative direction, the manager will oversee program staff, operations, contracts, and strategic initiatives related to residential rent stabilization, rental registry administration, short term rental administration, rental support and mediation, tenant and landlord education, regulatory compliance, and enforcement. The position serves as a key liaison to tenants, property owners, housing advocates, community organizations, legal service providers, and regulatory agencies, while providing direct staff support to the Rent Stabilization Board. This is an opportunity for a thoughtful, solutions-oriented public-sector leader to manage a complex and highly visible program, develop sound policies and procedures, strengthen customer service and operational performance, and foster constructive relationships across a diverse range of stakeholders.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in public administration, business administration, urban planning, housing, economics, real estate, or a related field.
Five (5) years of increasingly responsible professional experience in affordable housing programs, economic development, public administration, community development, regulatory compliance, rent stabilization, real estate, or a related field.
Two (2) years in a lead or supervisory capacity.
Knowledge of California residential landlord-tenant law, including the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act, the Tenant Protection Act of 2019 (AB 1482), Civil Code sections governing rent, security deposits, and evictions, and applicable provisions of the California Code of Civil Procedure.
Knowledge of principles, practices, and legal frameworks of local rent stabilization ordinances, including rent adjustment methodologies, petition processes, just cause eviction protections, and Rental Registry administration.
Knowledge of principles and practices of mediation and alternative dispute resolution applicable to residential tenancy disputes.
Knowledge of Federal, state, and local fair housing laws and regulations, including the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and the federal Fair Housing Act.
Knowledge of principles and practices of public administration, including municipal budgeting, procurement, program evaluation, and performance measurement.
Knowledge of principles and practices of quasi-judicial administrative hearing procedures, due process requirements, and administrative adjudication.
Knowledge of California Public Records Act and CCPA/CPRA requirements as applied to program records and data systems.
Knowledge of principles of public outreach, community engagement, and multilingual communication in diverse urban communities.
Knowledge of current technology platforms for rental registry administration, case management, and public-facing program portals.
Knowledge of principles of supervision, training, and personnel management.
Skill in interpreting and applying complex laws, regulations, ordinances, policies, and administrative requirements.
Skill in analyzing complex regulatory, operational, policy, and administrative issues and developing effective solutions.
Skill in applying logic and reasoning to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions and recommendations.
Skill in planning, organizing, managing, and evaluating multiple programs and projects.
Skill in communicating effectively, both in writing and orally.
Skill in preparing and presenting clear and concise reports, recommendations, policies, procedures, and public information.
Skill in public speaking and presenting information to City Council, boards and commissions, community organizations, and members of the public.
Skill in managing complex and sensitive interactions involving tenants, property owners, advocates, community organizations, and other stakeholders.
Skill in coordinating and monitoring the work of others.
Skill in managing budgets, contracts, program resources, and performance measures.
Skill in using data and information systems to evaluate program performance and support operational decision-making.

Nice To Haves

Rental registry management
Overseeing staff with administrative and regulatory enforcement responsibilities
Regulatory compliance and administration
Public policy development

Responsibilities

Oversees program staff, operations, contracts, and strategic initiatives related to residential rent stabilization, rental registry administration, short term rental administration, rental support and mediation, tenant and landlord education, regulatory compliance, and enforcement.
Serves as a key liaison to tenants, property owners, housing advocates, community organizations, legal service providers, and regulatory agencies.
Provides direct staff support to the Rent Stabilization Board.
Develops implementing regulations, program policies, and administrative procedures that comply with applicable law and effectively advance program objectives.
Prepares clear, well-organized staff reports, agenda materials, policy analyses, and public communications for City Council, the Rent Stabilization Board, and external audiences.
Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with City leadership, elected officials, legal counsel, landlords, tenants, community organizations, and the general public.
Manages complex budgets, tracks expenditures, and prepares accurate financial reports.
Supervises, motivates, and evaluates professional and technical staff.
Exercises sound independent judgment within established policies and legal frameworks and identifies and resolves complex regulatory and legal issues.
Communicates effectively, both orally and in writing; reads and interprets complex legal and policy documents; analyzes data; and prepares comprehensive reports.
Works flexible hours, including evenings and weekends, to attend public meetings, Board hearings, community events, and City Council sessions.