National Low Income Housing Coalition in DC is hiring a Campaign Director

[Joseph Lindstrom]

NLIHC Seeks National Multisector Housing Campaign Director

NLIHC and a group of other leading national organizations seeks a campaign director to lead the building and implementation of a new, long-term multi-sector campaign that will address the housing needs of the nation’s most vulnerable households. 

Background:  After a year-long planning process and with the input from education, health, children’s, anti-poverty, faith-based, and civil rights organizations, the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC), the National Alliance to End Homelessness, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Make Room, and Children’s Health Watch have initiated a dynamic, long-term, multisector Campaign to meet the housing needs of the lowest-income people.

This is a critical moment in federal housing policy. Support for addressing rental affordability has gained momentum over the past several years.  Potentially powerful new constituencies -- in the health care, education, veterans, aging, child welfare, child poverty, faith, and other communities -- are recognizing the impact the inability to afford decent housing has on the wellbeing of the people they serve.   At the same time, there are unprecedented threats to federal housing assistance. 

In the face of these opportunities and challenges, multi-sector advocates have come together to launch a long-term Campaign to address the entrenched shortage of housing affordable for the lowest income people. Together, strengthened and expanded coalitions nationally and in priority states will pursue a coordinated strategy to educate policymakers, the media, and the public about the problem and its practical solutions and the impact the solutions will have on the quality of life not only of low-income people, but of the country more broadly.  

The Campaign will be a long-term, multi-faceted effort to create a new national multisector coalition that works closely with strengthened state-based organizations to impact federal policy. It will deploy policy analysis and development, communications, and informing to impact opinion leaders and policymakers. It will be staffed and operated out of NLIHC. The Campaign’s steering committee will represent education, civil rights, anti-poverty, children’s issues, faith based, disability, seniors, veterans, city/state government associations and veterans, and resident leaders, among others.  The goals of the Campaign will be to:

1. Fill the gap between rents and incomes for the most vulnerable households through a variety of rental assistance strategies that include rental subsidies to landlords and tax credits.
2. Prevent destabilizing housing crises through the creation of flexible short-term tools for low-income homeowners and renters for whom short-term crises like the loss of a job or a health emergency can jeopardize housing stability.
3. Create more housing affordable to the lowest income people through deeply income-targeted production programs such as the national Housing Trust Fund.  
4. Defend against funding cuts and harmful policy changes in existing low-income housing programs.

Job Description: The Campaign director will have a leadership role in building a long-term national, multi-sector Campaign to meet the rental housing needs of the nation’s most vulnerable households.  The director will work closely with the Campaign’s five principal partners and Steering Committee members to create a robust national movement around the Campaign’s goals and plan.  With the principals and the Steering committee, the director will create a national Campaign structure, reach out to potential partners, develop and implement communications strategies, coordinate state grantee partners, undertake national policy informing efforts, coordinate events, and act as a principal spokesperson.  In addition, the director will administer the Campaign, supervise Campaign staff, coordinate the work of the principal partners, and lead fundraising efforts (with strong support of the principal partners).  The Campaign director will be a national voice for affordable housing for the most vulnerable people and a leader capable of developing and sustaining a national movement. 

Responsibilities:  The Campaign director will provide day-to-day direction and oversight of the Campaign, including the following responsibilities.

• Coordinate and oversee the work of the Campaign staff;
• Help to build and maintain a cooperative, productive coalition structure, including close coordination with the Campaign’s partners, the Steering Committee, and a larger network of cooperating organizations;
• Refine and carry out the Campaign plan in coordination with the Campaign’s partners;
• Develop creative and effective communications and policy Campaign plans and take oversight responsibility for implementing those plans;
• Ensure the effective integration of a state-based Campaign infrastructure into national efforts;
• Ensure effective partner sub-grants management: ensure sub-grantees are carrying out the terms of their grants and are effectively and appropriately using the grants provided to achieve intended deliverables and outcomes;
• Assist in, and provide strategic guidance for, ongoing fundraising efforts (including the development of proposals) that enable the Campaign to grow;
• Provide periodic reports to the Campaign’s partners, Steering Committee members, and relevant others about the Campaign’s progress, including comprehensive donor reports;
• Engage in public speaking in support of the Campaign and represent the Campaign with the media, as needed;
• Manage the Campaign’s budget and expenditures; and
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• A bachelor’s degree in a pertinent field, advanced degree preferred;
• A minimum of five years previous experience leading, or playing a critical role in, one or more campaigns;
• Proven experience building or leading a large, diverse coalition of cooperating organizations;
• Significant experience in building partnerships between organizations with different substantive priorities;
• Substantial experience developing and implementing integrated strategies involving coalition-building, grassroots infrastructure deployment, creative communications, and political mobilization;
• A demonstrated capacity as a strategic thinker as well as a creative formulator of ongoing tactics pursuant to an overall strategy;
• An effective communicator, both orally and in writing;
• Experience in leading, or significantly assisting in, philanthropic fundraising;
• Previous experience harmonizing substantive ideals with the practical pursuit of achievable, incremental opportunities; and
• An ability to work in a diverse, high-speed environment.

Compensation and Benefits: An equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, NLIHC offers a competitive salary and benefits package. This is a full-time position located in Washington, DC.  It is a contract position with the possibility of extension.  

Status:  Full-time (exempt) contract position

Reports to: President and CEO of NLIHC

Job Application Process: Candidates for the Campaign director position should send a cover letter, resume, and two writing samples to: Paul Kealey, Chief Operating Officer, NLIHC, 1000 Vermont Avenue, N.W., Suite 500, Washington, D.C. 20005 at pke...@nlihc.org. The cover letter should describe the candidate’s interest in, and relevant experiences for, the position, and it should include salary requirements and the names and contact information for at least three people serving as candidate references. (NLIHC will not contact references before consulting with the candidate.)