Assistant Vice President, Housing and Development

GGWash; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 115,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Smart Growth America in Washington, DC seeks an Assistant Vice President, Housing and Development to lead housing policy, zoning reform, and the Center for Zoning Solutions. The role involves directing technical assistance to local and state governments and coordinating research on housing and land use.

The ideal candidate has extensive leadership in zoning reform, strong writing and communication skills, and the ability to manage budgets, fundraising, and cross‑disciplinary teams while

Qualifications

• Eight+ years of experience in housing, zoning, land use, or related policy field.
• Technical knowledge of zoning, housing, and land use policy; ability to draft model ordinances.
• Experience working with city staff, elected officials, and advocates on zoning reform.

Responsibilities

• Lead TA to local and state governments on zoning, housing, and community development.
• Draft model ordinances and technical policy language; develop strategies for political support.
• Lead research and writing projects on zoning, housing, and community development.
• Develop strategy for growth and impact of the Center for Zoning Solutions.
• Coordinate housing and land use work with transportation policy and investment.

Skills

Zoning reform

Housing policy

Leadership

Policy analysis

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Advanced degree in public policy or urban planning

Tools

Geospatial software

Data visualization

Job description

Assistant Vice President, Housing and Development

• Smart Growth America
• Washington, D.C.
• Full Time
• $115,000-$130,000

SGA is seeking a highly skilled and motivated individual with deep knowledge and experience in zoning, housing, and land use policy to lead our housing work and the Center for Zoning Solutions (CZS).The ideal candidate will be: an established leader in zoning reform who is eager to grow the movement to build more housing at the right place, type, and price. The work will include leading direct technical assistance to local and state governments, leading TA to advocates, building out SGA’s research strategy on housing and land use, integrating zoning into our federal advocacy strategy, and convening leaders in the field.

Key responsibilities include:

Land Use, Housing, and Zoning Knowledge and Leadership

Lead technical assistance and direct partnerships on zoning, housing, and community development topics with local governments, community-based organizations, state legislators, and advocates;

Assess zoning codes for barriers to housing development, inclusionary zoning, and smart growth; draft model ordinances and technical policy language; and develop strategies to build political support for these changes;

Lead research and writing projects on zoning, housing, and community development;

Develop strategy for growth and impact of the Center for Zoning Solutions;

Connect SGA’s housing and land use work with transportation policy and investment, including transit-oriented development, Complete Streets, and walkability.

Outreach & Communications

Speak on behalf of SGA at conferences, convenings and public events for technical assistance projects;

Represent SGA’s work on housing and land use topics to the press and media as needed;

Draft or oversee the development of compelling communications materials such as reports, blogs and social media content including materials which are accessible to a non-practitioner audience;

Represent SGA through participation in external coalitions.

Supervise and mentor staff and support a strong team culture;

Oversee team budget including grant management and reporting;

Collaborate with the management team on fundraising strategy, identify fundraising leads, and build relationships with funders;

Contribute to and design effective administrative processes;

Other duties as assigned.

Required Knowledge and Skills:

Commitment to Smart Growth America’s vision and mission and housing framework;

Minimum of eight years' experience in housing, zoning, land use, or a closely related policy field;

Technical knowledge of zoning, housing, and land use policy and ability to draft model ordinances as well as experience working closely with city staff, elected officials, and advocates on zoning reform, permitting, land use, and housing policy;

Excellent written/verbal skills, with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail;

Experience supervising staff and supporting professional development and growth;

Experience with budget management such as grant management and reporting;

Excellent time management, organization, and ability to strategically prioritize workload and complete multiple tasks;

Strong existing network in the pro-housing, smart growth and community development fields;

Ability to translate technical information to many different types of audiences including residents, elected officials, advocates and policymakers.

Preferred Knowledge and Skills:

Experience working in city government;

An advanced degree in public policy, political science, urban planning, or other related field;

Quantitative research experience and knowledge of geospatial and data visualization software;

Knowledge of the broader SGA set of issues, including transportation policy;

Experience with and an existing network in federal advocacy.