Sr. Director, Housing Solutions
About the Company
Habitat for Humanity is a global nonprofit housing organization working in local communities across all 50 states in the U.S. and in approximately 70 countries. Habitat’s vision is of a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Habitat works toward our vision by building strength, stability and self-reliance in partnership with families in need of decent and affordable housing. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage.
About the Job
Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) is seeking a passionate, purpose-driven, systems-thinking leader with a deep commitment to affordable housing, community development, climate resilience, and environmental justice. This individual will fill the role of Senior Director, Housing Solutions within the organization’s Housing and Community Strategy (HCS) team. The HCS team works with Habitat for Humanity local offices across the United States primarily through thought partnership, capacity building and strategic investments. The team’s efforts are grounded in social justice and equity and focused on identifying, investing in, and scaling innovative approaches to affordable housing, economic mobility, and neighborhood transformation.
As a key leader on the HCS team and in the US Office, this position will hire and lead the newly forming Housing Solutions team. The role will oversee strategy, research, initiatives and tools that support HFHI and local Habitat affiliates to understand and leverage housing market conditions, financing (including public subsidies), regulatory environment, and entitlement process for affordable homeownership projects. In addition, the Senior Director will ensure that Habitat affiliates are equipped with the tools and knowledge to implement climate resilience and environmental justice practices in housing development. This includes promoting sustainable construction techniques, resilient site design, and strategies that protect vulnerable communities from the impacts of extreme weather, rising sea levels, and environmental degradation.
The role will also focus on addressing the intersection of housing affordability and environmental inequities, striving to create homes that are not only affordable but also healthy, sustainable, and safe. The Senior Director will manage a diverse team of subject matter experts specializing in affordable housing development, market analysis, construction, long-term affordability, housing preservation, climate resilience, and environmental justice policy. The individual in this position will act as a thought leader, representing HFHI to donors, housing sector partners, and Habitat affiliates, while also ensuring that climate and environmental justice considerations are embedded in every aspect of the team’s work.
Responsibilities
Execute and amplify sustainable housing and community development solutions that incorporate climate resilience and environmental justice and respond to the needs and experiences of excluded and marginalized groups (20%)
Assess available and emerging financing resources and develop homeownership financing opportunities that create broader impact for target homebuyers (20%)
Develop strategies to advance Habitat’s Racial Equity goals by creating opportunities for families of color to build intergenerational wealth (20%)
Set and develop strategies that bring market intelligence to Habitat affiliates in a scaled way to better inform affiliate project strategy and mission (10%)
Maintain familiarity with federal, state, regional, and local housing programs, policies, and regulations (5%)
Lead the team in developing policies, technical assistance, procedures, and capacity building to design and scale innovative housing and community solutions (5%)
Develop and share best practices, provide technical assistance, and support capacity building for Habitat affiliates (10%)
Cultivate and manage external relationships and national partnerships to advance Habitat for Humanity’s goals (10%)
Qualifications
Minimum Requirements:
Master’s degree in urban studies, architecture, urban design, real estate, urban planning, or related field with coursework equivalent combination of education and work experience
10-15+ years of professional experience engaged in affordable housing design, development, construction and/or policy work
Mix of experience and education is relevant to years of experience
Experience with climate related /energy for used development approaches
Experience in public and private sector
Ability to navigate a complex affiliated network and HQ world
Preferred Requirements:
Master’s degree in one of above fields
Moderate or advanced knowledge of placed-based community strategies, affordable housing, human-centered design, and/or developmental evaluation
Experience with principles of equitable development or social/economic/environmental justice frameworks
