Job Description

SUMMARY:

The Director of Rental Housing Services is responsible for overseeing the experience of people applying for and renting housing from OPAL Community Land Trust. The position provides some direct service to renters who ask for support, supervises the team who provides direct services to renters; and collaborates with other staff members and contractors who provide financial management, facilities maintenance and compliance with funder requirements. The Director for Rental Housing Services will be part of a team to transition management of two of OPAL’s properties from a property management firm to in-house management and to strengthen OPAL’s rental property management team and systems.

This position is year-round full-time (40 hours) based in the Eastsound, WA office. The work schedule is flexible with the goal of maintaining team cohesion and effectiveness while also accommodating renters’ availability for in-person meetings. The position is at-will, supervised by the Executive Director.

ORGANIZATIONAL PROFILE:

The mission of OPAL Community Land Trust is to help sustain Orcas Island as a healthy, economically diverse community by providing permanently affordable homes and related education and support for islanders—families, seniors and singles—whose housing needs are not met by the traditional market.

To accomplish its mission OPAL: (1) acquires land and buildings; (2) develops land in an environmentally and socially responsible manner; (3) constructs or renovates buildings to be healthy, durable and energy efficient; (4) educates and counsels homebuyers and rental tenants; (5) facilitates financing for mortgages and home repairs, and (6) stewards what it creates for current and future generations.

As of November 2026, OPAL stewards 120 ownership homes, 104 rental homes, four commercial spaces and more than 100 acres of land. There are eleven employees working 9.2 FTE and regularly contracted professional services for I.T. management, payroll processing, accounting system management, website hosting and graphic design. In addition, OPAL has relationships with an H.R. consultant and attorneys for different needs.  

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:

Oversee the experience of people applying to rent from OPAL.

1. Ensure OPAL’s application process is streamlined, transparent, equitable and in compliance with Fair Housing Guidelines. This includes surveying applicants about their experience, interfacing with consultants for I.T. and website design, and utilizing the Salesforce, Public House and HomeKeeper.
2. Manage OPAL’s applicant pool to ensure potential eligible and qualified rental applicants are offered homes that align with requirements and regulations of the funders and OPAL’s policies.
3. Rent vacant apartments to new renters after certifying household income in a manner consistent with funder requirements, obtaining third-party verifications, and coordinating with other members of the rental management team to ensure the apartment is ready to rent.

Oversee the experience of people renting from OPAL.

1. Ensure that renters at all OPAL properties have reliable access to OPAL staff members who are able to provide answers to questions, provide services or facilitate access to services.
2. When requested by the renter, provide services to help renters be successful rental tenants and facilitate their access to services from partner organizations such as San Juan County, the Opportunity Council, the Orcas Community Resource Center, the Orcas Senior Center, the Orcas Island Food Bank and others.
3. Work one-on-one or in group settings with clients to help them follow through on achieving their self-identified goals, including help with completing paperwork, scheduling appointments, basic financial planning, etc.
4. Monitor renters’ adherence to their lease, which includes working with renters who are out of compliance to develop plans for getting back into compliance, and, when necessary, working with other members of OPAL’s rental property management team to enforce the lease.
5. Keep up to date with all social service resources available to those in need in San Juan County, including housing, healthcare, hunger, job support, mental health, education, etc.

Manage Relationships:

1. Supervise, train and coach staff members who provide direct services to rental tenants.
2. Coordinate with third-party certification firm and funders to assure OPAL’s procedures and processes adhere to their requirements.
3. Maintain positive relationships with funding partners, stay up to date on associated regulations, and advocate for procedures that work for OPAL, its properties and renters.

Maintain administrative records and file compliance reports:

1. Oversee annual re-certification of renter household incomes in accordance with funder requirements.  
2. Maintain up-to-date data in Salesforce and Real Page regarding client needs, status and services provided. Work with OPAL’s compliance team to file reports required by funders and regulatory agencies.
3. Work with other staff to develop budgets and monitor annual financial performance of rental properties.
4. Provide data and help write grant applications for supportive housing services and new rental housing development.
5. Help configure and implement new systems and software to streamline processes.
6. Recommend refinements to existing policies and legal documents and help to implement necessary policy changes.
   
   

Support Office Operations:

1. Attend staff meetings and occasional meetings of the board of trustees or committees.
2. Implement OPAL’s policies and procedures for rental housing and when those policies and procedures are not clear or effective, recommend changes.
3. Represent OPAL at community events and within the existing social service network.
4. Provide supervisor with regular written updates on successes and pain points, and work with the team to develop and implement improvements.
5. Pitch in with events and help communicate OPAL’s work to the community and supporters.
6. Work as part of the OPAL team.

SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS:

Desired characteristics include:

1. Training and experience in social work, community organizing and/or case management. Have the ability to listen, communicate clearly, mediate and work as part of a team.
2. Be direct and compassionate. Have the ability to have difficult conversations and maintain confidentiality.
3. A critical thinker, adaptable, and with a can-do attitude.
4. MSW, LSW or social work degree or certification preferred.
5. The ability to speak and understand Spanish preferred.
6. Property management experience a plus.
7. Commitment to affordable housing, OPAL’s mission and the island community.
8. Knowledge of affordable housing programs (USDA RD, LIHTC, HUD) preferred. If no experience, attend trainings to gain knowledge and proficiency in the first year.
9. Proficient with Microsoft 365, including Word, Excel, Outlook and Teams, as well as familiar with CRM management and a willingness to learn. Salesforce and/or Real Page experience preferred.

LOCATION: Reside on Orcas Island. The place of work is OPAL’s office in Eastsound.

WORK CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS:  Work is performed indoors.  Sitting for one or more hours at a time.  Occasional standing and walking on level surfaces indoors or outdoors.  Occasional lifting and carrying of 10 pounds maximum.  Seeing, reaching, handling and fingering to use PC, printer/copier/scanner and calculator, and file documents. Hearing and talking to use telephone and for electronic meetings.

SALARY and BENEFITS: Annual Salary is $120,000 – $130,000 depending on experience. Benefits include health insurance, retirement matching, holidays, PTO, sabbatical and other leave options.

To apply, email lisa@opalclt.org.