James “Jim” Wong has been selected to be Pasadena’s acting housing director, the city announced.

Wong’s job started Monday as he took the baton from retiring, longtime director Bill Huang.

Wong will oversee a department with an annual budget of $46.3 million and 91 full-time employees.

He will occupy the role until the recruitment for a permanent director is completed in early spring of 2025, city officials said.

“I feel fortunate to have sustained a career in affordable housing and am grateful for the opportunity to continue serving the city of Pasadena in this new capacity,” Wong said.

Wong brings 40 years of experience in housing programs and administration. He’d been senior project manager with the the city of Pasadena since 2004. He has been with the city’s Housing Department since 1990, when he began as a program coordinator, where he administered a homebuyer-assistance loan program.

Wong has a bachelor’s degree in economics and a master’s degree in architecture and urban planning from UCLA.

“Jim will be a tremendous asset to our city as an acting director due to his strong background in housing administration, a proven track record of delivering critical housing programs, and being a respected presence within the housing community,” City Manager Miguel Márquez said in a statement. “I am confident he will build on the exceptional work established by Bill Huang, our retiring Housing Director. Jim works effectively with both the community he serves and his team, leveraging their expertise to develop creative solutions to the housing challenges ahead.”