Recertification Specialist

Affordable housing compliance runs on paperwork, deadlines, and a very specific kind of attention to detail. Recertification is the annual (or more frequent) process that keeps income-restricted residents in compliance with HUD, LIHTC, or other program requirements. When it slips, properties face findings, corrective action plans, and potential funding risk. This role exists to keep that process moving cleanly at Westcott Terrace in West Warwick, RI.

What This Role Actually Involves

John M. Corcoran and Company, a New England real estate firm operating since 1951, is hiring a part-time Recertification Specialist at roughly 20 hours per week. Eight of those hours fall on Saturday, with the remaining hours scheduled flexibly across other days. That Saturday requirement is worth thinking through before you apply. It's a real commitment, even at part-time volume.

The core work centers on the tenant recertification cycle: scheduling interviews with residents, collecting documentation, maintaining compliant resident files, and coordinating apartment inspections tied to recertification. You'll also support waitlist management and applicant processing, which adds another layer of regulatory care. Beyond the compliance-specific work, you'll pitch in on general office tasks when needed, including rent collection, phones, maintenance request intake, and resident event support.

The pay range runs from $25.75 to $31.00 per hour, and there's a $2,500 sign-on bonus. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, paid time off, holidays, and a 401(k) with company match.

Who Fits This Role Well

• At least two years in an administrative role, ideally one with regulatory or compliance documentation
• Strong written and verbal communication skills. You'll be working directly with residents who may be anxious about the recertification process
• Organized enough to track multiple files at different stages of the certification cycle simultaneously
• Comfortable with property management or compliance software
• Familiarity with affordable housing regulations (HUD, LIHTC, or similar) is a genuine advantage here, not just a nice-to-have

What separates a strong candidate from an average one in this role is the ability to handle residents who are stressed or confused about what they need to provide. Recertification interviews can surface sensitive household information. Residents sometimes push back, go quiet, or miss deadlines. The person who does this job well stays organized under that friction, communicates clearly without being cold, and doesn't let one difficult interaction back up the whole pipeline.

If you're building a career in affordable housing compliance, this role gives you direct exposure to the recertification workflow at an established firm. That experience translates well toward housing compliance coordinator or property manager roles at affordable communities, where recertification knowledge is increasingly specialized and in demand.