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Housing Development Planner

City of Cambridge Massachusetts

Cambridge, MA

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JOB DETAILS
SKILLS
Affordable Housing, Analysis Skills, Best Practices, Communication Skills, Community Development, Computer Skills, Construction, Data Collection, Detail Oriented, Disbursements, Diversity, Economic Planning, Establish Priorities, Feasibility Analysis, Finance, Financial Analysis, Financial Planning, Financial Projections, Funding, Government, Green Business, Green Construction, Interpersonal Skills, Legal Documents, Loan Closing, Loan Funding, Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), Maintain Compliance, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Word, Multitasking, Nonprofit, Organizational Skills, Physical Demands, Policy Development, Policy Evaluation, Presentation/Verbal Skills, Program Evaluation, Project Evaluation, Real Estate, Real Estate Development, Regulations, Regulatory Compliance, Regulatory Requirements, Reporting Skills, Residential Construction, Site Evaluation, Sustainability, Team Player, Technical Support, Time Management, Underwriting, Urban Planning, Writing Skills, Zoning
LOCATION
Cambridge, MA
POSTED
Today

Posting Date:

4/22/26

Department:

Housing

Job Code:

M592 (ID #1701)

Salary Plan/Grade:

704

Number of Hours Per Week:

37.5

Additional Work Hours Information:

Union Affiliation:

None

# of openings:

1

Type of Employment:

Regular

Civil Service Type:

None

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT:

The Housing Department works to promote and maintain the socioeconomic diversity of the city by managing and implementing the City's efforts to meet the housing needs of low-, and moderate-, and middle-income residents, managing affordable housing programs, developing initiatives to preserve and expand the City's stock of affordable housing, and provides assistance and support for residents with housing challenges or who are unhoused.

The Housing Department works closely with the Community Development Department (CDD), the planning agency for the City of Cambridge. CDD's mission is to foster a livable, sustainable, just, and equitable community. The Housing Department and CDD engage and collaborate with community partners, other government agencies, and residents to make Cambridge a desirable place to live, work, learn, play, and innovate.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Under the supervision of the Senior Manager for Housing Development, the Housing Development Planner will be an essential member of the 5-person affordable housing development and preservation team whose work involves creating and preserving affordable housing in Cambridge.

The responsibilities of the Housing Development Planner are varied but will be focused on working with local affordable housing developers to move projects through all phases of development. The Housing Development Planner will work both independently as well as collaboratively with members of the development and preservation team, other City staff, non-profit and private housing developers, Cambridge Housing Authority, housing advocates and service providers, neighborhood groups, and residents.

Primary responsibilities include:

  • Working with affordable housing developers and owners to use city resources to create new affordable housing;
  • Identifying and analyzing new affordable housing development opportunities;
  • Assessing project feasibility and financing needs, including site assessment, proposed City funding, permitting and entitlement plans, design concepts, and overall consistency with City housing goals;
  • Evaluating requests for City funding for affordable housing including underwriting development pro formas, analyzing operating projections and financing plans, and preparing financial analyses and funding recommendations;
  • Managing funding commitment, loan closing, and disbursement processes;
  • Maintaining familiarity with federal, state, regional, and local housing programs, policies, and regulations; analyzing and ensuring compliance with applicable requirements;
  • Identifying and examining new and creative financing and housing production strategies;
  • Maintaining, collecting and assembling data on assisted developments; preparing reports on program achievements and outcomes to assist with program evaluation and policy development;
  • Providing technical assistance to development sponsors and property owners; providing information to residents and community groups;
  • Assisting with other City housing programs and special projects as needed; participating in outreach efforts to publicize the City's housing programs;
  • Performing other duties as required.
Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
  • The Housing Development Planner should be a self-motivated, detail-oriented professional who is ready to work as part of a team to preserve and create affordable housing for residents. We seek candidates with a strong commitment to equity and respect, both in the provision of services and in the workplace.
Essential Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree with 7 years of experience in affordable housing finance and/or development, or comparable professional experience; a Master's degree in real estate finance or development, urban planning, economics, or a related field may be substituted for 2 years of work experience;
  • Experience and expertise in affordable housing finance and/or managing development of affordable housing;
  • Experience with real estate finance and affordable housing capital subsidy programs (e.g. LIHTC, HOME), including familiarity with supportive housing.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
  • Excellent organizational and time management skills; ability to manage and prioritize workloads, multi-task and meet deadlines while working in a fast-paced environment;
  • Self-motivated and detail-oriented; capacity to work independently, and to work collaboratively and cooperatively with colleagues;
  • Ability to exercise good judgment and focus on detail as required by the job;
  • Strong computer skills including proficiency with Microsoft Office software (Outlook, Word, Excel) and familiarity with or ability to master other software applications, programs and data systems relevant to the job;
  • Ability to develop, research, analyze, interpret and communicate written program guidance, requirements, and regulations;
  • Ability to understand and navigate zoning requirements and familiarity with green building/sustainable development practices, programs, and resources;
  • Ability to prepare, analyze, interpret and summarize complex financial projections;
  • Excellent communication skills, both written and oral; ability to communicate with people from all backgrounds in a courteous, compassionate, and professional manner;
  • Commitment to anti-racism, diversity, equity and inclusion. The City of Cambridge's workforce, like the community it serves, is diverse. Applicants must have the ability to work and interact effectively with individuals and groups with a variety of identities, cultures, backgrounds and ideologies.
Preferred Qualifications:
  • Knowledge of local, state and federal affordable housing programs and requirements;
  • Experience reviewing and understanding legal documents
  • Knowledge of the Cambridge community
PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Work requires ability to access, input, and retrieve information from a computer. Work involves occasional evening meetings, travelling throughout the city, driving, walking, and climbing stairs. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: Work involved is primarily indoors in a professional office setting, public meetings to discuss and gather comments on housing development plans, studies, etc., and visits to housing and building sites, some of which may be under construction. This position may be eligible for a hybrid work schedule (in-office and remote) under the City's Telework Policy, depending on operational needs. .

BENEFITS SUMMARY:
  • Competitive health, dental, and vision insurance.
  • Vacation and Sick leave eligible.
  • Sick Incentive Pay Eligible.
  • 3 Personal days.
  • 14 Paid Holidays.
  • Management Allowance, $2700 year.
  • City employee transportation benefits (T-Pass reimbursement, Bluebikes membership, EZRide Shuttle).
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

Please upload the following documents to complete your application:
  • Resume
  • Cover Letter


ABOUT THE CITY OF CAMBRIDGE

The City of Cambridge is a diverse and vibrant community that 120,000 residents of different ethnic, racial, religious, U.S. nationals and other backgrounds call home. We take pride in our City's diversity and strive to create a workplace that is reflective of the community we serve -- one in which all employees can thrive. The City is also deeply committed to creating an environment in which all our employees are treated equitably and feel included. In joining our team, you would work in a workplace environment that advances and values antiracism, diversity, equity, and inclusion (ADEI), and that is committed to embedding ADEI best practices and tenets in all aspects of our work. City of Cambridge residents are especially encouraged to apply to job openings.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY / AFFIRMATIVE ACTION

The City of Cambridge is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, disability, or any other protected category. Women, minorities, veterans, members of the LGBTQ+ Community, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. The City is committed to advancing a workforce culture of antiracism, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Auxiliary aids and services, written materials in alternative formats, and reasonable modifications in policies and procedures will be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities free of charge, upon request by contacting Human Resources at humanresources@cambridgema.gov.

About the Company

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City of Cambridge Massachusetts

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