Housing Project Director

About the role

The salary range is $180,000 - $225,000 (plus benefits), depending on direct, relevant experience. This is a full-time, 30-month grant-funded position. This time-limited role will terminate on or about January 31, 2029, unless additional funding is secured to extend the position.

Responsibilities

• Program Leadership and Strategy
  • Provide overall leadership and strategic direction for a national technical assistance program supporting approximately 30 U.S. cities focused on housing innovation and supply.
  • Oversee program design, implementation, and continuous improvement in collaboration with AFA senior management and the program funder.
  • Ensure the program delivers a cohesive, high-quality, and impactful experience for participating cities across all phases of engagement.
  • Translate high-level program goals into clear workplans, milestones, and deliverables aligned with funder expectations and city needs.
• Stakeholder and Partner Management
  • Serve as the primary point of contact for the program funder and the administrative coordinating partner, working closely with AFA senior management to align on strategy, scope, and expectations.
  • Manage relationships across and between stakeholders, ensuring clear communication, accountability, and alignment among funders, consultants, AFA leadership, staff, and subject matter experts (SMEs).
  • Oversee all coordination with the administrative coordinating partner to ensure seamless program operations and delivery.
• City Engagement and Program Delivery
  • Inform the development, refinement, and management of the city intake, assessment, and selection process, in collaboration with the program funder and the administrative coordinating partner.
  • Ensure a coordinated and consistent experience for participating cities, including alignment of schedules, deliverables, and technical assistance activities.
  • Support city recruitment efforts, including communications related to program launch and any future recruitment cycles, in collaboration with the program funder and the administrative coordinating partner.
  • Act as a senior advisor to participating cities, drawing on deep expertise in housing development, local government operations, and federal housing programs.
• Staff Leadership and Supervision
  • Supervise four full-time staff: three full-time Program Managers who will provide technical assistance in each cohort area and a Policy and Program Analyst who will work across cohorts.
  • Foster a collaborative, high-performing team culture grounded in accountability, clarity of roles, and shared goals.
  • Provide mentorship and guidance to staff navigating complex stakeholder environments and city-level challenges.
• Subject Matter Expert (SME) Management
  • Lead recruitment, vetting, and engagement of subject matter experts. Collaborate with AFA senior management, program leadership, the administrative coordinating partner, and the program funder to ensure SMEs align with program goals and city needs.
  • Ensure effective deployment and coordination of SMEs to maximize value for participating cities.
• Financial and Operational Oversight
  • Manage the program budget in partnership with AFA senior management and the finance team, ensuring fiscal responsibility and alignment with funder requirements.
  • Manage the project’s daily operations and program performance, timelines, and resource allocation to ensure successful delivery and compliance.
• External Representation and Communications
  • Represent AFA and the program in public forums, convenings, publications, and other external engagements.
  • Support storytelling and communications efforts that highlight program outcomes, city successes, and broader impact.
  • Build and maintain credibility with national, state, and local housing leaders and partners.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to take on increasing professional responsibility with at least 10 years of relevant leadership experience in housing development or related fields.
• Hands-on experience in city or local government, including roles in mayor’s offices, city departments or close partners to local government entities, strongly desired.
• Master’s Degree or equivalent experience, expertise and knowledge in the areas of public policy, public administration, political science, economics, urban planning, project management, or business preferred. We actively value practical experience and proven capabilities in lieu of formal education.
• Experience and passion for inclusive economic growth and improving outcomes for underserved and historically disinvested people and places.
• Very strong written and oral communication skills, including demonstrated ability to understand, communicate with, and authentically engage people across a wide range of different geographies, backgrounds and lived experiences.
• Content knowledge in housing, local economic and community development, place-based innovation strategies, innovative finance and capital attraction, and federal funding sources.
• Must possess a proven track record of a minimum of 7 years and ideally more than 10 years in a senior leadership role with demonstrable experience overseeing and streamlining daily operations for a complex organization.
• Strong attention to detail, ability to plan out next steps, and successfully execute against a work plan, while remaining adaptable to changing circumstances and community or team needs.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a small, entrepreneurial, and fast-paced team in a fully-remote work environment with relentless positivity.
• Genuinely loves working in community, meeting new people, finding common ground, and respect for difference.