Director of Housing Development

Venice Community Housing (VCH), a community-based, nonprofit organization, supports and builds equitable and inclusive communities by providing affordable housing with supportive services, education, employment programs, and public policy advocacy. With housing development as its core service, VCH believes that we must challenge the root causes of housing injustice and homelessness, and actively confront all forms of racism, in order to ensure equitable communities with access to healthy, safe, and affordable homes for all. Just as it is important for low-income and unhoused people to have access to stable housing, it is also important that our Westside communities be inclusive and restore access for communities of color that have been forcibly removed. We unite our community with passion and commitment to equity.

Currently, VCH is engaged in a variety of housing and community development programs, owning and managing 346 units of affordable and supportive housing. As part of a nationwide focus on the crisis of homelessness and housing affordability, VCH is in a growth phase with an additional 400 units in the predevelopment/construction stages. Our vision is that our compassionate approach to these solutions will serve as a model to other communities across the country.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Director of Housing Development has lead responsibility for the full range of development activities for all VCH housing and community development projects, including but not limited to identifying and managing new projects as well as potential refinance and rehabilitation of VCH’s existing housing portfolio.   

This position will report directly to the Co-Executive Director and will supervise four current housing development staff, including an Associate Director (vacant), two Project Managers, a Project Management Associate-Lead, and a Community Design and Engagement Manager.  The Housing Director is responsible for planning and managing the team composition and growth.  

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Lead the Housing Development team, including staff supervision, training and support, as well as representation on the VCH leadership team and, at times, the Board of Directors.  
• Ensure the Housing Development team is performing at a high level and continues to grow VCH’s pipeline and successfully develop new housing. 
• Manage staff to ensure and/or directly perform the following development functions as needed:
  • Acquisition and due diligence process by ensuring preliminary feasibility analyses for new development opportunities; supervision of brokers and attorneys in the negotiation of purchase and sale agreements; preliminary site due diligence; initial development concepts; and management of escrow closing and loan disbursement process.
  • Preparation of competitive proposals for land dispositions, including work with public agencies to determine RFP/ RFQ requirements and preparation of development proposals in response.
  • Entitlement and land use approval process: ensure staff effectively supervise third party consultants, including architects and entitlement consultants; prepare and submit entitlement development applications, and work with city officials to secure approval; and participate in community outreach and public hearings.
  • Secure financing via oversight of successful preparation of loan and grant applications; work with public agencies and conventional lenders and investors to secure predevelopment, construction and permanent financing; and public agency and lender compliance requirements.
  • Manage project design by working with architects to develop program requirements and establish overall project vision; communicating design standards; consulting with Asset Management and Resident Services staff to ensure design and specifications meet long-term operational needs; coordinating third-party consultants, such as sustainability and accessibility; and working with general contractor to estimate project costs and ensure conceptual design is within budget.
  • Manage construction administration: manage the project budget; attend construction job site meetings; and act as Owner’s Representative during construction.
  • Manage transition to operations: coordinate with the Directors of Property Management and Resident Services and Asset Manager on initial lease-up, construction close-out, and punch-list and warranty items.
  • Oversee the development and updates of financial proformas, budgets for each development phase, and development schedules.
  • Manage the negotiation with lenders, investors, sellers, architects, contractors and consultants on legal agreements, loan documents and contracts;
• Support the community engagement process through activities such as attending stakeholder meetings, presenting at public hearings, and other public-facing efforts in coordination with the Executive Director.
• Seek and build long-term collaborative relationships with development partners to build capacity in BIPOC-led community-based organizations.
• Collaborate with finance, asset management, property management, and resident services during the predevelopment, construction, and lease-up phases to ensure accurate budgets, high quality designs and smooth transitions to the operational phase.
• Complete administrative tasks as needed to complete essential duties and responsibilities.
• Perform well under multiple deadlines and interact well with others.
• Provide regular project updates for the Co-Executive Directors, Management Team and/or Board of Directors.
• Other duties as assigned or required.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s Degree in Real Estate, Urban Planning/Studies, Finance, or Public Policy. Graduate Degree preferred. 
• At least one year of experience as a Housing Director managing low-income housing tax credit projects, or an equivalent combination, with a preference for supportive housing development experience; at least five years of experience as a Project Manager/Senior Project Manager will be considered.  
• Experience with supervising and training Project Managers.
• Extensive experience and knowledge of proforma financials for low-income multifamily housing developments.
• Experience in all phases of the affordable housing development process.
• Good public presentation skills, with experience in community meetings and hearings preferred.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse community groups (including VCH tenants) and respond to community input and concerns.
• Ability to independently travel to/from office, to job sites, meetings, etc. and maintain a valid California driver’s license and auto insurance, or alternative mode of travel.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Stationary position 50% of the time. Operates a computer and other office machinery such as fax, copy machine, phone. Occasionally ascends/descends stairs, move inside and outside the office, apartments, buildings, etc.   Frequently moves objects weighing up to 30 pounds. Required to have visual acuity to perform the following tasks: operate a motor vehicle, viewing a computer terminal, reading and writing, conduct building and unit inspections etc.  

SALARY & BENEFITS

Salary range is $130,000 – $150,000; benefits include medical, dental, vision, basic life, voluntary life, long-term disability, optional Aflac, 403(b) retirement plan, professional development budget, coaching programs, vacation and sick time, 15 paid holidays and 2 personal days. This is a full-time, exempt position.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

Please apply through the listing on Betterteam, or email your resume with a cover letter describing your qualifications to Human Resources at: [email protected].  You can also fax your resume to (310) 399-1130 or mail it to Venice Community Housing Corporation, 200 Lincoln Blvd, Venice, CA 90291.  NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE.