Director

The Maine Affordable Housing Coalition is seeking a motivated and strategic Director to lead the organization into the next decade of housing policy advocacy. We seek a leader who is enthusiastic about the impact housing has on healthy and meaningful lives and our commitment to expand safe and affordable housing in Maine communities.

About the Maine Affordable Housing Coalition (MAHC)

MAHC is a diverse coalition of more than 135 private and public sector organizations including developers, architects, engineers, builders, investors, community action programs, public housing authorities, housing and service providers, advocates, and others. For over 15 years, the Coalition has led successful advocacy campaigns to advance solutions that create and preserve affordable housing in Maine.

Maine faces significant obstacles in creating affordable housing opportunities. Over the past few decades, demographic changes and market trends created increased demand, but new construction of affordable housing had not kept pace, resulting in a shortage of an estimated 20,000 affordable homes. MAHC’s work has sought to address this mismatch between housing demand and supply.

MAHC’s successful campaigns have included securing new bond funding for affordable housing such as the Green Affordable Housing Bond and the Senior Housing Bond, as well as creating a new State Affordable Housing Tax Credit. MAHC’s advocacy has resulted in significant new standards and resources dramatically reducing rates of childhood lead poisoning. These campaigns have benefitted thousands of low-income Maine households and have helped to ensure that Maine people have access to one of the most fundamental human needs: a safe and affordable home.

OPPORTUNITY

The Director has lead responsibility to chart the strategic priorities for our coalition with the Board of Directors and the membership. The Executive Director will direct the organization’s operations and programs in line with the goals and objectives, ensuring the implementation and execution of plans and policies.

With the Board of Directors, the Director will oversee the organization’s legislative advocacy efforts, coordinate activities and share information with hired lobbyist(s), and lead strategies to raise funds from members, foundations and other institutions for operating support and special projects. The Director coordinates regular membership meetings and conferences, maintains the organization’s website, conducts outreach to potential new members and oversees the collection of annual membership dues.

In addition, s/he leads new project development, coordinates MAHC’s participation in other relevant state, regional and national organizations such as the National Low Income Housing Coalition, and monitors industry trends to identify issues for MAHC’s consideration and action.

The Ideal Candidate MAHC seeks a leader who will help our coalition articulate strategies and initiatives to expand the development of affordable housing with the skills, maturity, and background to coordinate a diverse coalition of members. Ideal applicants will exemplify a number of these attributes, skills, and experiences:

• Passion for and commitment to the mission of MAHC.

• Knowledge of affordable housing development, finance, and policy.

• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively with Board of Directors, members, policy makers, governmental agencies, and others who contribute to the MAHC’s mission.

• Experience with cultivating and maintaining trusting relationships and connections with members, Board members, funders and key leaders in the community.

• Present and accessible leader with experience in motivating and organizing member stakeholders.

• Exceptional communication (oral and written) skills and the ability to serve as a compelling representative of the organization with a variety of stakeholders.

• Creative and strategic thinker.

• Demonstrated success in identifying and securing resources to support an organization.

• Financial management skills and experience with budgeting. • Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects.

• Competent with technology and comfortable with all forms of media and public environments.

MAHC is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer and looks forward to an inclusive hiring process. MAHC is committed to incorporating principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice in all aspects of our work in order to promote the equitable distribution of housing access and opportunities in Maine. We celebrate diversity and encourage a broad range of applicants, including candidates from diverse backgrounds and cultures, particularly candidates of color and/or candidates with lived experience that will inform our work to develop and expand affordable housing opportunities to low-income and marginalized populations.

Job is based in Maine, though the specific location is flexible. Must be willing to travel in and, from time to time, out of state.