Employment
The Lowell Housing Authority is a quasi-public organization with a mission to work in partnership with other housing providers, local government and our residents to provide quality housing and a variety of social services programs that assist residents in achieving their highest level of self-sufficiency. The Authority manages over 2,500 units of federal, state, and leased housing for individuals and families. The LHA operates under the umbrella of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) who establish regulations and provide guidance to our agency.
We are a large housing organization with approximately 83 administrative staff, and an experienced maintenance workforce, responsible for the upkeep of our properties across the City of Lowell. We consider ourselves to be A Foundation for Stability and Opportunity. We recognize that access to affordable housing is only the first step in achieving self-sufficiency, so we’ve dedicated ourselves to becoming much more. To achieve our goals, we implement or partner with a number of community organizations to create opportunities for our residents to achieve self-sufficiency. Programs and services include youth enrichment, academic scholarships, financial literacy, counseling, and homeownership.
As a team, we are data-driven, encourage innovation, and strive for excellence. We value our employees, offer excellent benefits, and support the professional growth of staff through our tuition reimbursement program, professional training, and mentorship.
Benefits
Benefits are offered for full time 35 hour/week positions and include:
- Defined pension plan
- Health and dental coverage
- Long-term disability
- Flexible spending
- Deferred compensation
- Training certifications, conference participation, and tuition reimbursement
Current Openings
Accounts Payable/Payroll Clerk
Job Summary: This is an on-site/in office, full-time, permanent position, M-F 8:30am-4:30pm. This position represents responsible and moderately complex fiscal and clerical work in which the incumbent is responsible for the reconciliation and maintenance of the accounts payable and payroll records. The incumbent receives general supervision from the Chief Financial Officer and/or his/her designee, and work is checked upon completion. The incumbent is instructed to bring any unusual matters to the attention of the supervisor for clarification and resolution. Incumbent does not give supervision to others. Essential Functions, Duties and Responsibilities:
- Examines, reviews, and analyzes all vouchers and documentation presented to the agency for accuracy in conjunction with disbursements to be made, making certain that proper certification is made as to receipt of material or services and that authorized signatures appear on documents.
- Computes discounts and follow-up to make certain that payment is made timely to take advantage of all discounts.
- Perform invoice and general ledger data entry.
- Compile and reconcile all credit card statements with invoices.
- Prepares checks and process to supervisor for signature.
- Maintains a set of accounts payable files.
- Reconciles monthly vendor statements against payment records.
- Works with vendors to resolve any account discrepancies or issues.
- Works closely with Chief Procurement Officer to ensure compliance with contracts and accurate contract rate.
- Processes monthly tenant invoices when necessary.
- Process monthly FSS escrow cash transfers.
- Record all bank transactions in the Authority’s accounting system.
- Monitor cash balances and process cash transfers as needed.
- May also perform listed duties on behalf of non-profit corporation(s) as directed from time to time by the Executive Director and/or his/her designee.
- Initiate and process all general liability, property and auto insurance claims.
- Enter and/or verify employee timesheets in payroll system.
- Verify and ensure accuracy of weekly payroll amounts.
- Update paper and electronic payroll records by entering adjustments on pay rates, employee status changes, etc.
- Maintains payroll information by collecting, calculating and entering data into the payroll system, as well as retrieving data when necessary.
- Updates payroll records by entering changes in exemptions, insurance coverage, savings deductions, and job title and department/division transfers.
- Communicates and provides the Retirement Board with needed reports and payments of weekly and monthly payroll withholding and annual appropriation.
- Run weekly and monthly payroll withholding reports to ensure all withholdings of benefits are remitted to the appropriate providers.
- Review and analyze monthly health and dental insurance to ensure accuracy of employee data.
- Resolves payroll discrepancies by collecting and analyzing information and interacting with Human Resources.
- Provides payroll information by answering questions and requests.
- Maintains payroll operations by following policies and procedures and reporting needed changes.
- Maintains employe confidence and protects payroll operations by keeping information confidential.
- Works with outside labor unions to report and remit payroll hours, dollars and withholdings in accordance with each unions reporting requirements.
- Obtain updated union rates from outside unions as needed.
- Prepare and compile all necessary documentation for annual workers compensation audit and/or any payroll related audit.
- Performs other related duties as assigned.
- Knowledge of bookkeeping principles and practices.
- Strong mathematical skills.
- Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
- Strong attention to detail.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office, Word and Excel.
- Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with vendors and clients.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality.
- Experience with accounting and payroll software systems.
- Associate’s Degree or two (2) years of equivalent experience in finance or accounts payable.
Mechanic Aide / Heating
Job Summary: The incumbent performs skilled and semi-skilled maintenance and repair tasks on buildings, apartments, grounds and equipment. He/she is required to demonstrate knowledge of plumbing, electricity, and heating, in the performance of responsibilities. He/she is required to possess, as a minimum requirement, one of the following licensees: Mass State 2nd Class Firemen's License, State Pipefitter's License, or Gasfitters License. This position is a highly responsible position requiring the incumbent to work independently and exercise good judgment. The shift assignment is based on the workload requirement, and scheduling may be changed with proper notice. The incumbent of this position receives work direction and guidance from the Management/Facilities Director or Plumbing and Heating Supervisor, associated with the maintenance and repairs to buildings, apartments, grounds, equipment, and heating components. Normally, no supervision is given but the incumbent occasionally may supervise a small number of maintenance aides and grounds keepers in the absence of senior maintenance employee(s). Important Note: This is a night-shift position with a work schedule of Tuesday through Saturday from 3:30pm-12:00am. Night shift differential will be added to hourly wage. Initial training will be provided on day shift. Essential Functions, Duties and Responsibilities:
- Performs maintenance and repair.
- Performs plumbing and heating tasks such as changing faucet washers, stems, seats, etc., and repairing toilets by changing tank bulbs, overflow tubes, guide wires, etc., repairing Paloma Pacs as required.
- Performs minor electrical tasks such as resetting circuit breakers, changing plates covers on switches and outlets, replacing light bulbs, globes, etc.
- Cleans and paints vacant apartments by washing walls, ceilings, windows, floors, cupboards, lavatories.
- Performs floor tile installation by removing the old tile, scraping down floor surface and then laying the tile properly.
- Performs building and grounds maintenance and repairs through the use of such tools and equipment as common hand tools, glass cutters, wrenches, pipe cutters, drain augers, shovels, rakes, lawnmowers, snow blowers, caulking guns, trowels, etc.
- Clears snow and ice from buildings and grounds by shoveling, operating a snowplow, snow blower, etc., to ensure tenant safety.
- Assists in moving heavy objects such as refrigerators, stoves, etc.
- Performs maintenance of grounds by cleaning up debris, mowing lawns, raking grass and leaves, trimming shrubs and trees,
- Performs other related duties as required.
- Knowledge of general maintenance.
- Knowledge of materials and equipment used in buildings and grounds.
- Skilled in the use of hand tools and equipment used for buildings and grounds.
- Ability to perform maintenance and repairs of buildings, grounds, equipment, and heating components.
- Ability to operate a snowplow.
- Ability to operate motor vehicles (pick-up truck and dump truck).
- Ability to follow oral and written instructions.
- Ability to lift heavy objects.
- Shall possess valid Driver’s license.
- Knowledge of occupational hazards and safety measures.
- Must have a minimum of three (3) years’ experience in heating or a related field.
- Certification in the handling of hazardous materials and/or occupational safety training advantageous, i.e. OSHA or National Safety Board approved.
- Candidate shall possess a valid Driver's License.
- One of the following licensees: Mass State 2nd Class Firemen's License, State Pipefitter's License, or Gasfitters License.
- OSHA certification advantageous.