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Resident Liaison
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Description
The Resident Liaison is a foundational role within the SSHD, serving as the primary connection between the agency and its residents. More than an administrative function, this position plays a critical role in fostering community, supporting resident leadership, and advancing participatory governance.
The Resident Liaison ensures that residents are informed, engaged, and empowered to exercise their rights and responsibilities as outlined in the SSHD Charter. During the start-up phase, the Resident Liaison will collaborate closely with the Resident Governance Design Work Group to test and implement the agency’s governance infrastructure. As implementation progresses, the Resident Liaison will proactively gather and apply resident feedback to refine rules and regulations, fostering a culture of shared responsibility, accountability, and resident ownership.
The long-term purpose of the Resident Liaison is to embed resident voice and shared governance into the organization’s core operations. This role helps ensure that residents are active participants in decision-making, not just recipients of services. Over time, it builds leadership capacity among residents and creates systems of mutual accountability. Ultimately, the goal is to foster a community where residents take ownership and help sustain a fair, responsive, and inclusive environment.
Benefits
This full-time, salaried position includes a full package of benefits, including health, dental and vision. SSHD employees are also eligible for the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) retirement pension plan through the State of Washington.
Level of Language Proficiency
Bilingual or multilingual skills relevant to the resident population.
Location
Associated Location
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Position Details Job Title: Resident Liaison
Department: Operations
Reports To: Chief Operating Officer
FLSA Status: Exempt
Compensation & Benefits Salary Range: $85,000 - $108,000. This full-time, salaried position includes a full package of benefits, including health, dental and vision. SSHD employees are also eligible for the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) retirement pension plan through the State of Washington.
Work Schedule: This is a full-time position that requires a flexible schedule to support resident engagement, including regular evening and occasional weekend meetings such as Resident Governance Councils, elections, subcommittee meetings, and community events. The organization supports flexible scheduling within the work week to accommodate these responsibilities, and staff may adjust their schedules accordingly. This role requires a consistent on-site and in-community presence to effectively build relationships, facilitate participation, and respond to resident needs.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Resident Governance & Elections
- Facilitate and oversee nomination and election processes for building-level Resident Governance Councils and portfolio-wide governance bodies.
- Administer the Constituency process, including quorum tracking, hybrid voting systems, and ensuring timely and accessible communication of meeting notices to all residents.
- Provide ongoing logistical, technical, administrative, and capacity building support to Resident Governance Councils to ensure effective and compliant operations and resident leadership development.
Onboarding, Communication & Advocacy
- Conduct onboarding for new residents, ensuring clear understanding of the social housing model, governance structure, and resident rights and responsibilities.
- Translate complex organizational information such as policy updates, Board actions, and governance decisions, into clear, accessible, and plainlanguage materials.
- Support the resident governance infrastructure through onboarding, training, capacity building, and leadership development.
- Serve as a key bridge between residents and the property management team and the SSHD Operations Department by communicating policies, procedures, and updates (e.g., leasing, maintenance, compliance), while ensuring resident feedback informs property management practices, service delivery, and continuous improvement of operations.
- Facilitate resident engagement in decisions that impact property management (e.g., community standards, use of common spaces, conflict resolution approaches), advancing participatory governance aligned with the SSHD Charter.
Required Skills and Abilities
Community Organizing & Engagement: Demonstrated experience in resident organizing, community-led advocacy, or participatory engagement, with the ability to build trust across diverse communities.
Governance & Legal Literacy: Familiarity with renter protections, social housing models, Community Land Trusts (CLTs), and public governance frameworks. Working knowledge of the Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) and related compliance requirements preferred.
Facilitation & Inclusive Practice: Ability to support inclusive, accessible governance processes by working effectively with residents from diverse backgrounds and lived experiences
Communication Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex policy, governance decisions, and organizational updates into clear, plain-language materials.
Operational & Technical Capability: Ability to manage hybrid engagement tools (e.g., digital voting platforms), coordinate meetings and events, and support participatory processes with strong attention to detail.
Organizational Skills & Adaptability: Strong ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and communityfacing responsibilities in a dynamic environment.
Judgment & Discretion: Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive, confidential, and emotionally complex situations with professionalism and sound judgment.
Training, Support, and Capacity Building Skills: Demonstrated ability to design and facilitate trainings that support the governance infrastructure and leadership development pipeline for resident-led decision-making.
Lived Experience: Experience living in multifamily, affordable, or social housing is highly valued to support authentic engagement with the resident community.
Technology Proficiency: Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and familiarity with collaboration, communication, or engagement platforms.
Work Schedule Flexibility: Ability to work evenings and weekends and adjust schedule to support resident meetings, governance activities, and community events.
Education and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in public administration, social work, community development, political science, communications, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.
- Minimum of three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in community organizing, resident services, housing, public engagement, or related field.
- Demonstrated experience facilitating group processes, community meetings, or participatory decision-making environments.
- Experience working with diverse populations, particularly in affordable housing, multifamily housing, or community-based settings.
- Demonstrated experience in conflict resolution, mediation, or restorative justice practices.
- Experience coordinating programs, events, or initiatives that require managing multiple priorities and stakeholders.
- Ability to handle sensitive or confidential information with discretion and sound judgment.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience working within social housing models, public housing authorities, or Community Land Trusts (CLTs).
- Familiarity with Washington State housing laws, tenant protections, or landlord-tenant regulations.
- Experience supporting or participating in resident governance structures, tenant associations, or cooperative housing models.
- Knowledge of participatory governance, community-led decision-making, or democratic facilitation practices.
- Experience designing or facilitating community engagement processes across diverse populations, including multilingual or culturally responsive outreach.
- Familiarity with hybrid engagement tools, such as digital voting platforms, survey tools, or community communication systems.
- Experience working in trauma-informed or equity-centered environments.
- Bilingual or multilingual skills relevant to the resident population.
- Experience working in or with public sector or quasi-public agencies.
Other Requirements
- Must pass a background check
- Ability to travel within a 60-mile radius and work occasional evenings/weekends.
