CLT Director

About the role

Common Grounds CLT is hiring its founding CLT Director to lead a ground‑floor community land trust in a city where CLTs are brand new, with no state enabling statute or ground‑lease tax treatment yet in place, and where the relationship with the Detroit Land Bank Authority is still forming. The position splits time evenly between real estate/operations and policy/coalition‑building. GenesisHOPE serves as fiscal sponsor during incubation; the title will convert to Executive Director, Common Grounds CLT once the CLT operates independently.

Responsibilities

• Policy and Advocacy: Primary advocate before City Council, DLBA, and state legislators; advance the state CLT enabling statute and favorable tax treatment through the Michigan CLT Coalition.
• Membership & Governance: Grow the membership base from near zero; support the Board of Trustees across all three governance seats.
• Beals Street Project: Deliver the CLT’s first project (10 DLBA lots) through contracted project managers and developers; structure ground leases and resale restrictions.
• Fundraising: Blend public grants (CDBG, MSHDA), philanthropy, and CDFI capital; manage the annual operating budget.
• Leadership and Operations: Represent the CLT publicly; ensure legal/regulatory compliance; report to both the GenesisHOPE ED and the CLT Board.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of leadership experience in affordable housing, community development, real estate, or nonprofit/policy work.
• Experience navigating government relationships and advocating for policy change.
• Working knowledge of affordable housing finance (CDBG, HOME, LIHTC, MSHDA); comfort with ground‑lease/shared‑equity models a plus.
• Strong community‑organizing and fundraising skills; comfort operating within a fiscal sponsorship structure with dual accountability.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent lived/professional experience.
• CLT experience and existing Detroit/Michigan housing relationships preferred.