Director, Housing Counseling and Homeownership

ABOUT THE HOUSING PARTNERSHIP NETWORK

Housing Partnership Network (HPN) is an award-winning membership network of over 100 of the nation’s leading affordable housing and community development nonprofits. Together, our mission is to help millions of people gain access to affordable homes and thriving communities that offer economic opportunity and an enhanced quality of life. We firmly believe everyone deserves to live in a vibrant community where housing fosters dignity, opportunity, and well-being.

Since our founding in 1992, HPN has collectively served over 11 million people; developed, rehabilitated, or preserved about 400,000 affordable homes; and launched 14 successful social enterprises. Our work has been recognized with honors including the MacArthur Award for Creative & Effective Institutions and Wells Fargo NEXT Award for Opportunity Finance. Learn more at www.housingpartnership.net.

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY AND EQUITY

HPN is committed to creating a diverse and equitable environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. HPN recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status and other protected status. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. We aspire to build a diverse team, one that better reflects the people and communities we serve. Applicants who contribute to this diversity are strongly encouraged to apply.

WE VALUE

Collaboration - We are a true network. We believe in the power and benefits of broad engagement, empowerment and collaboration.

Connection - We actively build relationships that connect people, ideas, and organizations to forge new paths for improving communities.

Racial Equity - We are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion at HPN, and helping members advance initiatives that dismantle long-standing systemic racial biases and discrimination to achieve economic and social justice.

Inclusion - We recognize our power comes from the collective and cooperative nature of our work, based on an environment that is inclusive of diverse experiences, backgrounds and perspectives.

Respect - We are open, honest, and respectful in all of our interactions which strengthens our relationships, our mission, our work with colleagues and members, and ultimately the lives of the people we all serve.

Transformation - We work with our members to transform our industry by creating systemic solutions to help people who live in our communities to thrive.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Director of Housing Counseling and Homeownership will be responsible for managing housing counseling programs and advancing homeownership initiatives.  The Director will have overall management responsibility for the success of housing counseling programs and contracts, including HUD Housing Counseling Program (HCP).  This position reports to the VP of Affordable Housing & Consumer Empowerment, and they will work closely with the VP in the development, implementation, and management of initiatives that support members’ efforts to increase homeownership opportunities and reduce the racial homeownership and wealth gaps.  Responsibilities will also include supporting the team’s efforts around asset building and financial capability programs. The Director will lead peer exchange activities among members. The Director will work with colleagues throughout HPN and the network of members to foster collaboration and innovation across the network and within the sector. 
 
We are looking for a naturally empathetic, creative, and entrepreneurial person. You must be a highly organized and adept project manager with a strong ability to work collaboratively and efficiently on highly detailed, fast-paced projects under tight deadlines.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Work in collaboration with the VP of Affordable Housing and Consumer Empowerment to manage HPN’s housing counseling programs and develop strategies to increase access to sustainable homeownership and reduce the racial wealth gap.
• Responsible for the management and success of counseling programs. This includes ensuring compliance with all federal program law, regulations, and guidance, as well as all terms and conditions in philanthropic contracts. The Director will develop systems and processes to meet grant requirements, and assign tasks and oversee the day-to-day operations of all housing counseling programs: applications for funds, sub allocations to members, reporting and close out. 
• Develop and advance strategies for housing counseling business development and innovation and help build policy support of new business models for counseling in collaboration with VP and policy staff.

• Manage fee-for-service programs for housing counseling programs, and work with members and industry peers on opportunities to increase revenue for counseling initiatives.
• Work with members, the VP and the Capital Markets to identify models to scale homeownership development and financing, with a focus on reducing the racial homeownership gap.  Specific areas of exploration include opportunities to expand access to down payment assistance and increasing mortgage lending among Community Development Financial Institutions.
• Structure and implement ongoing peer exchange as a vehicle to achieve HPN’s strategic goals and encourage, stimulate, and develop new business ideas.  Specific support of the team’s peer exchange includes: organizing and creating peer exchange content, facilitating virtual and in-person meetings, managing online communities of practice, and driving member engagement through ongoing interaction.
• Lead the HPN Housing Counseling Meeting, including working HPN colleagues on conference logistics and budgeting, crafting an agenda, and facilitating peer exchange.
• Represent HPN and its members in national discussions around homeownership and housing counseling, and maintain an awareness and understanding of major policy initiatives and industry advancements in the areas of homeownership development, mortgage lending, secondary markets, economic mobility, asset building, and housing counseling, and share key updates with HPN staff and members.
• Work with VP of Philanthropy & Communications to identify and secure new resources to support HPN and member work around homeownership, economic mobility, and counseling efforts, including developing concept notes, identifying and applying for new funding, and fostering funder relationships.
• Assist VP in new project/program development and implementation as applicable, including: developing and monitoring of project plans and schedules to ensure project delivery on a timely basis; planning meetings, preparing deliverables, and communicating project status to internal and external stakeholders.
• Assist with oversight and management of program associate including assigning projects and monitoring performance, and providing overall engagement and support around data tracking, project management, and systems development.
• Oversee counseling budget and support VP in overall team budgeting process across homeownership initiatives, developing team goals, and facilitating meetings.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree required and 5 or more years of experience, with a preference for housing counseling or mortgage lending experience.
• Knowledge of and experience with grants management strongly preferred.  Experience with asset building programs a plus.
• Excellent interpersonal skills to develop strong and productive relationships with grantors and HPN staff and members.
• Exceptional organizational skills, demonstrated experience in grant or project management/coordination, and an ability to juggle multiple priorities.
• Strategic and critical thinker able to focus on operations, systems and procedures
• An entrepreneurial spirit with a demonstrated ability to plan and work independently and flexibly in a dynamic environment.
• Passion for learning, synthesizing ideas and integrating ideas into practice
• Experience in meeting planning and discussion facilitation
• Collaborative nature and ability to work within a team while maintaining accountability and responsibility for goals as an independent individual is critical.
• A clear commitment to and an appreciation for the work, mission and entrepreneurial culture of HPN, and the ability to articulate it eloquently.
• Strong communications and excellent writing skills with an ability to craft high quality reports, correspondence and other materials.

OTHER

• HPN is headquartered in Boston, MA but location of this position is flexible.
• Hybrid schedule for local based employees
• Moderate travel required, when conditions permit
• New employees need to either (1) provide proof that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or (2) granted an exemption prior to beginning work at HPN. At this time, HPN considers an employee “fully vaccinated” when they have completed their primary COVID-19 vaccination series and received a COVID-19 booster. Employees will have four weeks from their “due date” (five or six months, depending on vaccine type, from completing their primary COVID-19 vaccination series) to get the COVID-19 booster.

COMPENSATION:

• Salary: $92,800-$139,000. Commensurate with education and experience with a bonus potential

BENEFITS:

• 15 vacation days, 12 sick days, 12 paid holidays, paid personal day, medical, dental and vision insurance, health savings account, flexible spending account, dependent care flexible spending account, retirement and savings plan/401(k) match, group life insurance, short and long term disability, parental leave, sabbatical leave, professional development and more!