Managing Director, Housing Policy Solutions

ORGANIZATIONAL BACKGROUND

National Housing Trust (NHT) has been dedicated to creating and preserving affordable housing for almost 40 years. Our mission is to create and preserve affordable homes to provide opportunity, advance racial equity, reduce economic disparities, and strengthen community resilience through our integrated policy-plus-practice approach. We build, preserve, and finance affordable housing and use that expertise to inform and advance resident-focused solutions to strengthen the broader affordable housing industry.

NHT has a staff of 60 across five program areas: Policy, Lending, Real Estate Development, Community Outreach and Impact, and Energy Solutions. Our hallmark is our cross-functional, integrated approach to innovating, demonstrating, and amplifying solutions to the affordable housing crisis in the U.S.

NHT was founded as a policy organization and throughout its history has influenced and impacted affordable housing policy through advocacy, innovation, demonstration, and amplification.  NHT has been the country’s lead voice for affordable housing preservation.  Our efforts have led most states to prioritize preservation in their Qualified Allocation Plans (for LIHTCs) and the federal government to continue to appropriate funds to preserve affordable housing.  We also lead the field at the intersection of energy and affordable housing. In our own portfolio and in policy recommendations, NHT highlights and demonstrates the benefits of decarbonization to resident health, resident and owner economics and to stemming climate change.  Most recently, NHT is thoughtfully balancing housing preservation with mobility and access to resource rich neighborhoods.

POSITION

The Managing Director, Housing Policy Solutions will lead, envision, and direct NHT’s affordable housing policy influence and portfolio for the future, informed by our legacy of innovating, demonstrating, and amplifying bold ideas. Guided by NHT’s strategic plan, the Managing Director, Housing Policy Solutions will evolve NHT’s legacy into new ideas, channels and areas of influence for the organization. 

The Managing Director, Housing Policy and Solutions reports to the CEO and oversees the Policy Team. The role is a member of NHT’s Senior Leadership team, comprised of the CEO, CFO and program leads across the organization. The Managing Director will foster a culture of thought leadership, collaboration, and measurable impact. This requires a forward-thinking leader who will shape and execute policy strategies, ensuring NHT remains at the forefront of housing policy innovation.

This position is based in Washington, DC and qualifies for a hybrid work schedule.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Think boldly about new ideas and strategies for affordable housing and disrupt conventional ideas and long held tenets. Channel these bold ideas into strategic priorities and actionable steps for NHT.
• Directly oversee, lead and motivate a team of seven policy staff, with expertise in federal, state and local housing policy and familiarity with sustainability
• Develop and implement policy solutions and support others in implementation through writing, tools, demonstrations, and external collaboration.
• Enhance the profile of NHT through ideas, events, conversations, and publications.
• Engage and lead with external peer affordable housing leaders.
• Forge new partnerships for NHT.
• Collaborate with all NHT program areas, notably real estate development, lending, resident programming, energy solutions and finance to leverage full organizational capabilities.
• Market and fundraise for revenue to support your ideas.
• Manage a budget and P&L, in partnership with the NHT Finance team (current operating budget for Policy Division is approximately $2.37 million.

SUCCESS IN THIS POSITION WILL

• Elevate NHT’s influence on the future of affordable housing through new ideas, demonstrations and tools.
• Develop and socialize new policy ideas and pathways for the organization.
• Expand the organization’s revenue streams, including adding new philanthropic funders fee-for-service engagements.
• Inspire and motivate the NHT Policy team to generate and implement their ideas through writing, demonstration, partnership, and advocacy.
• Expand NHT’s relationships with peers and federal, state, and local policy leaders.
• Represent NHT in the current national dialogue by exercising thought leadership through writings, speaking engagements and other external presence.
• Project manage existing engagements, including by developing new ideas and revenue streams.

DOES THIS SOUND LIKE YOU?

This is an extraordinary opportunity for a committed leader with at least 10 years of forward-thinking policy experience. Candidates will ideally have experience in nonprofit affordable housing. Other qualifications include:

• Passion for solutions for affordable housing. Your care for the millions of residents who struggle to pay rent, inspire and motivate you to create solutions for the housing crisis.
•  Professionalism and integrity. You lead by example, treat all people with respect, and seek and give constructive feedback. 
•  Experience and expertise. You have worked on issues related to housing, social impact, business development, and thought leadership focused on transformational systems change. Experience having either lived in affordable housing and/or having worked with the communities we serve is highly valued.
• Commitment to NHT’s mission, including a deep dedication to assisting low-income families.
• Inclusivity.  You model the values of inclusivity, creating the conditions for those around you to collaborate effectively and share their perspectives and opinions.
• Unconventionalism. You are motivated to maximize impact through new ideas and challenging current ones.
• Collaborative spirit.  You are energized by working with others, co-creating, and teamwork.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills. You are an active listener; communicate concisely and evocatively in written text; and can present to board members and peers.
•  Project management and communication skills. You are detail- and deadline-focused and can manage competing demands and complex projects by organizing your time, producing high-quality work, coordinating across a broad set of people, and over-communicating to partners.
• Strong computer aptitude skills, including knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite Programs
• Excellent interpersonal skills, verbal and written; a commitment to be a part of the larger NHT organizational culture; and a collaborative and team-oriented approach.

COMPENSATION

Salary and benefits are competitive and commensurate with experience. The salary range for this position is $179,172.86 to $236,954.50.

For details on employee benefits, please refer to NHT's Summary of Benefits.  

JOIN US

Apply for this job. No phone calls, please.

NHT is committed to providing equal employment opportunity in all our employment programs and decisions, including, but not limited to recruitment and hiring. Equal employment opportunity is provided to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, national origin or ancestry, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, political affiliation, disability, matriculation, genetic information, covered veteran’s status or any other protected characteristic under federal, state, or local law. BIPOC applicants, women, and persons with disabilities are especially encouraged to apply.

Salary : $179,173 - $236,955