Job Description

Our Mission

At The Portal Youth Outreach Association, our mission is to support and empower at-risk youth in the Annapolis Valley by providing advocacy and ensuring easy, relational, and timely access to essential services. We envision a community where every young person has a safe, supportive, and loving home.

The

Landlord Engagement Specialist identifies appropriate private rental housing opportunities for low and moderate?income individuals and families in the Annapolis Valley (Kings, Annapolis and West Hants). The successful candidate will develop a network of contacts consisting of private, nonprofit, and cooperative housing landlords and property managers, and using social media and Viewpoint tools, and encourage them to participate in the program. Maintaining good relationships with these landlords is essential. They/she/he will support all organizations that have housing support workers (HSW).

Unlike traditional Housing Locator roles that primarily advocate for tenants, this new model treats landlords and housing providers as the primary clients. By addressing the needs, concerns, and risks of landlords, the program creates a stronger and more reliable supply of housing units, which directly benefits vulnerable tenants through improved access and retention.

RESPONSIBILITIES

? Proactively identify and cultivate relationships with landlords, property managers, and developers.

? Maintain an active inventory of available units and match vacancies through Coordinated Access.

? Provide landlords with curated tenant shortlists, ensuring subsidy access and supports are in place.

? Act as a single point of contact for landlords, coordinating with HSWs to resolve tenant issues.

? Deliver quarterly landlord forums and provide onboarding and recognition resources.

? Ensure landlord compliance with housing laws, fair housing requirements, and duty to accommodate.

? Collect and report performance metrics (leases, retention, satisfaction) to funders and partners.

? Possess working knowledge of and efficiency in the Homeless Individual and Family Information System (HIFIS), housing subsidies and information on housing assistance programs.

? Attend Coordinated Access meetings.

? Approve Eviction Prevention applications.

? Maintain stats and records for the Department of Opportunities and Social Developments (OSD) using HIFIS.

? Complete and generate monthly and annual reports.

? Work in partnership with the Housing and Homelessness Services teams within and outside the Portal Youth Outreach Association.

? Work collaboratively with The Portal finance team to ensure accurate accounting of financial activities.

CORE COMPETENCIES

? Time Management

? Creative Problem Solving

? Accountability

? Planning and Organizing

? Mediating, Negotiating, and Communication

? Collaboration

? Computer literacy (Microsoft Office and Google)

ROLE OUTCOMES

The Landlord Engagement Specialist program will:

? Expand the supply of safe and affordable rental units in the Annapolis Valley.

? Improve landlord retention through consistent, trusted support and risk reduction.

? Shorten the time it takes for individuals to move from homelessness into permanent housing.

? Increase tenancy stability and reduce evictions.

? Strengthen community collaboration through Coordinated Access and shared accountability for housing outcomes.

Requirements

? Must have a clear Criminal Records Check and Child Abuse Registry Check.

? Commitment to maintaining strict confidentiality in all aspects of work.

? Flexibility and willingness to work occasional evening and weekend hours as required.

? Possession of a valid driver's license and reliable access to a vehicle.

? Experience developing and establishing innovative community-based programs.

? Ability to build and maintain collaborative working relationships and partnerships with all internal and external stakeholders in areas of influence and oversight.

? Experience in successfully leading self, others, and diverse teams comprised of employees, funders, participants, partners, and volunteers with varying skill sets.

? Ability to motivate, encourage, and provide non-directive coaching and development of people contributing to a healthy workplace culture.

Qualifications

? Background in sales, business development, or account management; or

? Experience as a landlord, property manager, or real estate professional; or

? Demonstrated success in landlord/client engagement, negotiation, and relationship management.

Core Skills

? Strong communication, interpersonal, and negotiation abilities.

? Proven track record of business-to-business relationship building.

? Knowledge of rental markets, landlord-tenant law (Nova Scotia), and housing subsidies.

? Ability to manage pipelines, track data, and report outcomes using HIFIS and other tools.

Personal Attributes

? Entrepreneurial mindset with adaptability and creative problem-solving skills.

? Sensitivity to vulnerable populations and equity-driven engagement.

? Valid driver's license and reliable transportation.

? Resilience and the ability to work independently while collaborating across agencies.

? Proven track record of exceptional work ethics and practices.

? Effective communicator

? Proactive, responsive, and strong problem-solving skills.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging

The Portal Youth Outreach Association fosters a workplace environment that embraces diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. We celebrate all individuals' unique perspectives and contributions, creating a culture where everyone feels valued and respected. Our commitment to diversity enriches our organization, fostering innovation, collaboration, and empathy across all facets of our work.

We actively promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in our daily practices and initiatives at The Portal Youth Outreach Association. This includes cultivating a workplace culture where every voice is heard, prioritizing professional development opportunities, emphasizing diversity training, and engaging in community partnerships promoting equitable access to resources.

Working Conditions

The Landlord Engagement Specialisthas an office located in Kentville with some travel around the Annapolis Valley during standard business hours, Monday through Friday, but may also involve evenings as needed for meetings. Additional travel may be required to attend meetings with outside stakeholders.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The Portal Youth Outreach Association is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination based on race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $46,800.00 per year

Benefits:

Casual dress Company events Dental care Disability insurance Employee assistance program Extended health care Life insurance On-site parking Paid time off RRSP match Vision care
Work Location: In person