Principal, Homelessness Practice: Inclusive Cities

About the role

The Principal will:

• Run complex projects for our clients inside and outside of government;
• Help expand our work to end homelessness to new cities and counties across the country;
• Contribute to the firm’s overall culture and impact.

Responsibilities

Serve as the day-to-day project lead for public-sector, philanthropic, and non-profit clients, ensuring work is grounded in political, fiscal, and operational realities.

Lead complex client engagements from scoping through delivery, managing budgets, timelines, and multidisciplinary teams to produce clear, actionable analyses and support implementation that will improve how homelessness response is delivered.

Translate policy goals into executable strategies, including program design, governance frameworks, capital strategies, and implementation roadmaps.

Oversee rigorous analysis and deliverable production, maintaining high standards of clarity, accuracy, and usefulness for senior decision-makers.

Manage and mentor project teams, providing direction, feedback, and support while fostering a culture of rigor, inclusion, and respect.

Engage directly with senior public-sector and philanthropic leaders, supporting decision-making through developing structured options and implementation-focused guidance.

Actively support business development by cultivating client relationships, contributing to proposals, and identifying opportunities aligned with the Inclusive Cities practice and its growing focus on ending homelessness.

Help define the direction and priorities of HR&A’s work to end homelessness, including refining methodologies, strengthening public-sector advisory capabilities, and supporting HR&A’s growth.

Requirements

12+ years of relevant experience.

Substantial experience working in government on program design and implementation, with a strong understanding of local government operations, budgets, and decision-making processes.

Expertise in homelessness policymaking at the local or regional level, including an understanding of how homelessness response is funded, homelessness data systems, the range of programs and services, and strategies to measure and improve the effectiveness of homelessness response.

Additional expertise in policymaking in related fields is also welcome: deeply affordable housing; physical and behavioral health systems; criminal legal system reform; workforce development, etc.

Demonstrated track record of effectively engaging public-sector leaders, philanthropy, community-based organizations, and civic institutions and helping partners move toward a specific goal.

Experience navigating local government’s political, regulatory, and operational processes to move work from ambition to implementation.

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to evaluate trade-offs and design actionable strategies.

Excellent writing and presentation skills, tailored to policymakers, funders, and institutional leaders.

Experience engaging communities in trust-building, non-extractive ways.

Demonstrated commitment to racial and economic justice, collaborative leadership, and public service.

Qualifications

Master’s degree in a relevant field such as urban planning, public policy, economics, or a related discipline.

Professional certifications in relevant fields such as Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Financial Planner (CFP), or Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

Experience with grant writing and proposal development.

Experience with data analysis and reporting tools such as Tableau, Power BI, or similar software.

Experience with project management software such as Asana, Monday.com, or Trello.

Skills

Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.

Experience with stakeholder engagement and community outreach.

Experience with budgeting and financial management.

Experience with public sector procurement processes.

Benefits

Flexible work schedule.

Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurance.

Discretionary year-end bonus.

Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) contribution.

Retirement savings plans.

Professional development opportunities.

Pay

The annual base salary range for this position is between $155,600 and $184,260.

This role is also eligible for a discretionary year-end bonus. Where an offer falls inside this pay range is dependent on experience.

We offer competitive compensation packages, based on qualifications and experience.

Schedule

Hybrid work policy.

Employees work from the office at least three days a week, which allows individuals the freedom to balance their professional and personal lives while maintaining a strong connection to their teams.