Manager, Strategic Solutions

At the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA), we finance the creation and preservation of affordable housing across Illinois. As one of the state’s ten largest financial institutions, IHDA oversees more than 20 federal and state programs and serves as a primary resource for housing policy and program administration.

About the role

This position is part of the Asset Management department, which monitors long-term physical, financial, operational, and administrative compliance for IHDA-assisted developments. Within Asset Management, the Asset Operations and Strategy (AOS) team provides comprehensive oversight, sets strategic direction, leads operations and policy development, and drives cross-departmental initiatives.

The Manager – Strategic Solutions delivers enterprise-level support for data, reporting, systems readiness, workflow enhancements, closing coordination, and standardization. The role ensures AOS collaborates effectively with all Asset Management divisions to achieve departmental goals and is instrumental in implementing new software systems, fostering technical expertise, and guiding the department through system and workflow transitions.

Responsibilities

• Drive the strategic direction set by the Director and Deputy Director for the broader department and facilitate change management practices.
• Design and execute initiatives in collaboration with senior leadership, informed by a deep understanding of business practices and stakeholder influence.
• Oversee AOS daily operations, including closing processes, policy and procedure development, training, and strategic planning.
• Supervise and support full-time employees, aligning responsibilities related to policy development, closing, writing, strategy, research, technology training, and program support.
• Lead a multifaceted, cross-functional team to develop policies, procedures, and training for owner agents, staff, and partners.
• Manage work requests and assignments to ensure prioritization, staffing coverage, input/approval, coordinated handling, and workload balance.
• Ensure operations are efficient and effective, resources are optimized, processes are continually improved, and impact is maximized.
• Leverage data, systems, visualization, and reporting expertise to provide high-level guidance and directly support related work.
• Support major technology implementations, including system readiness, testing, workflow mapping, and adoption of technology.
• Develop team capacity in system navigation, data stewardship, analytics, and continuous process improvement.
• Oversee the creation and delivery of data reports, systems, project coordination, audit, and communications initiatives.
• Produce clear, insightful reports and analyses for budget discussions, panel reviews, and board presentations to support strategic decision-making.
• Serve as a high-level representative and liaison to internal and external stakeholders, presenting formally and participating in meetings.
• Build and manage relationships with other departments, external partners, and peer leadership.
• Hold signatory responsibility and conduct document review for closing processes, department memos, management bulletins, and external communications.
• Set a positive and productive leadership tone, managing and coaching staff through delegation, empowerment, feedback, and performance strategies.
• Establish and maintain a regular cadence of communication with the team and individual contributors, cascading messages as appropriate.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree desired. Relevant significant experience may substitute for a Master’s degree, subject to Director approval.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience with federally financed affordable multifamily rental housing.
• At least 3 years of daily supervisory experience managing multiple direct staff reports.
• High proficiency with the Microsoft Office Suite.
• Strong ability to create professional narratives and visuals tailored to specific audiences.
• Effective verbal presentation skills in both formal and informal settings.
• Experience managing large-scale and multiple simultaneous projects.

Preferred Qualifications

• Cross-functional leadership experience.
• Managerial style that is clear, consistent, communicative, empowering, people-centered, solution-oriented, with an appropriate sense of urgency.
• Strong technical aptitude, including the ability to learn and implement new software systems.
• Experience in change management, systems testing, and workflow mapping.
• Excellent skills in writing, presentation, communication, and analysis.
• Knowledge of IHDA operations, including portfolio analysis, compliance cycles, physical inspections, and procurement workflows.
• Certifications such as Project Management Professional (PMP), Six Sigma, Agile, or Asset Management (AM).

Skills

• Data analysis and reporting
• System readiness and workflow mapping
• Policy and procedure development
• Training and development
• Strategic planning and execution
• Stakeholder management and relationship building
• Project and change management

Physical Requirements

• Alternating between sitting, standing, and walking.
• Ascending and descending stairs.
• Crouching and stooping.
• Pushing and pulling.
• Reaching overhead or below.
• Repetitive task movements (filing, keyboarding, copying).
• Lifting, carrying, and moving objects of up to 10–15 pounds.

Benefits

• Paid time off, plus paid holidays.
• Hybrid work arrangement (candidates must reside in Illinois at time of hire).
• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans.
• Short-term and long-term disability.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Flexible spending accounts.
• 401K plan with immediate vesting.
• Eligibility for federal loan forgiveness programs.

Pay

$94,997.50 – $118,746.88 annually.

Schedule

Flexible scheduling available upon completion of a six-month probationary period.