Director of Housing Stabilization and Financial Empowerment

Position Summary:

Just A Start is seeking a dynamic and mission-driven Director of Housing Stabilization and Financial Empowerment to lead and strengthen programs that provide critical support to individuals and families striving for housing stability and financial security. This role is pivotal in advancing Just A Start’s vision of integrating stable housing with supportive services and workforce training to foster long-term economic mobility. We are seeking an experienced leader and collaborator who is passionate about economic mobility and housing, skilled in program management, and committed to fostering a culture of innovation, impact, and empowerment. The Director will work closely with internal teams, funders, and external partners to expand resources, enhance service delivery, and ensure measurable outcomes that advance housing and financial stability for the communities we serve.

Organizational Background:

Just A Start believes that access to stable housing and sustainable careers are the essential building blocks of equitable communities. For 56 years, we have addressed the fundamental needs of individuals and families who have been systemically denied opportunities to realize their full potential.

Our programs include affordable housing, education and job training, and comprehensive support services spanning Cambridge and beyond. We have developed and currently operate 645 affordable apartments. We also provide financial and technical assistance to support stable housing for low- and moderate-income tenants and homeowners. Finally, we prepare individuals of all ages and circumstances with the skills and knowledge they need to secure family-sustaining careers, leveraging their talents to achieve economic mobility and strengthen the region’s workforce.

Just A Start’s recently completed strategic plan reaffirms our commitment to meeting the evolving needs of the people we serve, including advancing an integrated model that combines housing with access to a  continuum of supportive services and workforce training that allow for personal growth and economic mobility. To do so will require that we build our capacity to learn and adapt. 

Key Job Activities:

Your role in contributing to Just A Start’s success, and that of the people we serve, is to lead a talented and experienced team of 15 staff members providing services in four programmatic areas:

• Resident Services
• Financial Empowerment
• Housing Stabilization & Mediation
• Homeownership Programs

All the programs lead with respect for participants and prioritizing their goals, and our success is driven by expertise in navigation, empowerment, and conflict resolution.

1. Resident Services

• Provide services to our 1,500 (and growing) residents of Just A Start’s housing portfolio to support tenants housing stability and wellbeing.  
• Foster a strong sense of community and give tenants a voice.

Role Priorities:

• Strengthen resident engagement: Expand Resident Advisory Boards, ensuring diverse tenant representation and meaningful input into programming and policy.
• Increase accessibility and inclusion: Enhance language access, digital navigation services, and wraparound services to better serve residents’ needs.
• Expand economic mobility initiatives: Increase participation in financial empowerment and workforce development programs, measuring long-term outcomes.
• Collaboration with property managers: Ensure excellent working relationships with our property managers as we pursue continuous improvement.
• Plan for program growth: Assess staffing needs and service models to support an expanding housing portfolio.

2. Financial Empowerment

• Support families to pursue their financial goals through financial coaching, tax preparation, and/or our Families Moving Forward mobility mentoring program.

Role Priorities:  

• Secure program sustainability: Work with the Resource Development team to identify new funding opportunities and secure long-term financial support.
• Expand community reach: Leverage our existing storefront space to increase accessibility and engagement in financial coaching and asset-building programs.
• Enhance impact measurement: Improve data collection and evaluation to track financial progress, advocate for systemic change, and strengthen program effectiveness.
• Increase asset-building opportunities: Expand access to matched savings programs and other wealth-building strategies for participants.

3. Housing Stabilization & Mediation:

• Assist over 400 households per year via conflict resolution, coaching, and mediation services in the community.
• Court mediation in four Metro North District Courts. 
• Provide rental assistance via private and public funding sources to eligible tenants whose housing is at risk. 
• Provide condominium stewardship services including facilitation and conflict resolution.

Role Priorities:  

• Expand impact and reach: Identify and secure additional funding sources to increase the number of households served through rental assistance and mediation services.
• Enhance data-driven storytelling: Strengthen impact measurement and reporting to effectively communicate program successes and advocate for policy changes.

4. Homeownership Programs

• Administer the Home Improvement Program to help Cambridge homeowners repair/ retain their housing through access to loans, grants and TA. 
• Ensure that Cambridge’s stock of deed-restricted homeownership remains affordable through the Condo Buy-Back Program.

Role Priorities:  

• Advance equitable access: Increase the participation of minority- and women-owned vendors in home repair and improvement programs.
• Support long-term homeownership: Develop educational resources to assist new homeowners with condo stewardship, financial planning, and property maintenance.

Keys to Success: Qualifications and Skills

Leadership & Strategic Vision

• Passion for housing stability, economic mobility, and equity-driven services with a deep understanding of systemic barriers faced by low- and moderate-income communities.
• Proven ability to develop, lead, and innovate in multi-service programs, balancing direct service impact with long-term strategic goals.
• Ability to balance strategic decision-making with hands-on program oversight, ensuring quality service delivery across multiple divisions.

Ability to collaboratively contribute as a member of the Leadership Team and report on programs to the Board.

Program and People Management

• Strong leadership skills with the ability to mentor and develop staff, build leadership pipelines, and support a positive workplace culture.
• Non-profit experience managing diverse, mission-driven teams, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning.

Financial and Fund Development Expertise

• Strong budget management skills, including experience overseeing multi-source funding and monitoring financial sustainability.
• Experience working with fundraising and development teams to identify and secure program funding, including grants and corporate partnerships.

Impact Measurement and Data-Driven Decision Making

• Proficiency in program evaluation, including setting meaningful impact metrics, analyzing data, and using insights to drive program improvements.  Experience with Salesforce or similar CRMs and data systems.
• Ability to tell the story of impact through data, qualitative insights, and participant outcomes, strengthening Just A Start’s case for funding and policy advocacy.

Partnerships and Community Engagement

• Track record of building and sustaining strategic relationships with funders, policymakers, community partners, and other stakeholders.
• Ability to represent Just A Start externally, advocating for policies and initiatives that align with the organization's mission.

Technical and Subject Matter Expertise

• Understanding of affordable housing, housing stability, eviction prevention strategies, and financial empowerment services.  Legal background helpful but not required.
• Experience with equity-driven service delivery models and a commitment to advancing racial and economic justice.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including public speaking, grant writing, and stakeholder engagement.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and to use standard office equipment, including a computer; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The noise level in the work environment is quiet to moderate.

Salary and Benefits:

This is a 37.5-hour per week hybrid remote/in-the-office position with a salary range of $120,000- $140,000. The typical schedule is Monday through Friday, 9am-5 pm, with a minimum of 3 days in the office, with team meetings at the office on Mondays.

In addition to a competitive salary, Just A Start offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical insurance, dental insurance, short-term disability insurance, long-term disability insurance, life insurance, transportation benefits, early release at 2 pm every Friday, 20 PTO days in the first year, 13 paid holidays, volunteer time off, employee assistance program and a 401k savings plan with a 3% employer contribution.

Salary : $120,000 - $140,000