Housing Policy Manager

Boston Planning & Development Agency

**BOSTON RESIDENCY IS A CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT**

TITLE: HOUSING POLICY MANAGER

GRADE: K

DIVISION/DEPARTMENT:  Housing Policy & Compliance

ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW:

The BPDA plans and guides inclusive growth in our city - creating opportunities for everyone to live, work and connect. Through our future-focused, city-wide lens, we engage communities, implement new solutions, partner for greater impact, and track progress. In Boston, achieving citywide resilience means addressing racial equity along with the physical, environmental, and economic growth to ensure that opportunities are accessible to everyone in our City.  Today, the BPDA uses our citywide master plan, Imagine Boston 2030, as a framework to support equity by creating affordable housing, good jobs, and open space in every neighborhood, leveraging funding from large real estate development to support workforce development and training, supporting equitable procurement policies and requiring diversity criteria for developing publicly-owned land.

POSITION OVERVIEW:  

Under the direction of the Deputy Director of Housing Policy and Compliance, administer the Boston Planning and Development Agency’s (BPDA) housing programs and policies; oversee the implementation of the BPDA’s Inclusionary Development Program (IDP); direct and participate in the management and coordination of complex residential and mixed-use projects.

GENERAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

General duties and responsibilities of the position are included in but not limited to the information listed below

• Under the direction of the Deputy Director of Housing Policy and Compliance, administer the BPDA’s housing programs. 
• Oversee the implementation of the IDP by working in conjunction with the Development Review, Legal and Planning departments, and project development teams to ensure that the stated goals of the IDP are met.

• With the assistance of the Mayor’s Office of Housing, the Inspectional Services Department and/or the BPDA Planning division, identify and track development projects subject to IDP compliance but not necessarily other BPDA review.  This work will require preparation of memoranda for and presentation to the BPDA so that compliance with IDP requirements can be memorialized in legal agreements.

• With the assistant of the Housing Policy & Compliance team, ensure that development projects remain in compliance with BPDA guidelines and any applicable state and federal laws and regulations.  Continuously review policies and guidelines ensuring that the stated goals of the IDP are met.
• Participate in meetings with community groups, citizen advisory groups or task forces, abutters, and other interested public entities to present and discuss housing aspects of proposed projects. Participate in meetings with developers and architects to negotiate agreements and revisions to project program and development. Participate in negotiation of agreements between developers or their representatives and community groups to achieve consensus and make joint recommendations.
• With the Assistance of the Deputy Director of Housing Policy & Compliance, plan and formulate financing strategies for projects; identify projects that would benefit from public financing; and-with the assistance of BPDA and/or City staff-conduct financial feasibility studies for projects requesting public funding and land.  Understand the various public-financing strategies that are available to effectuate revitalization and housing projects.
• Prepare annual IDP Report, memoranda, recommendations, and other materials for Board review.  Lead and/or participate in Board presentations. 
• Assist with the data and document collection activities with the Housing Policy & Compliance department.
• Assist with the preparation of reports and other request for information related to the BPDA’s housing work.
• Perform other related duties as required-including the possible supervision of staff. 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in City Planning, Urban Design, Public Policy or related field-Master’s preferred-and a minimum of 7-10 years of relevant experience.
• Familiarity with Boston’s housing market and neighborhoods is required.
• Familiarity with public financing structures and housing subsidy utilization is required.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to analyze proposals and distill complex information down into easy-to-under terms.
• Exceptional communication and public speaking skills and comfort speaking with a diverse array of stakeholders from constituents interested in housing development in Boston to elected officials who are experts in the field.
• Exceptional time management, organizational skills, and an ability to be a self-starter are vital to success in the Housing Policy Manager position.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Normal office environment

SCOPE:

Manage staff of one (1) or more and interface with Boston communities and make public presentations to various audiences