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Genesis Harbor of Opportunities Promoting Excellence (GenesisHOPE) seeks a founding CLT Director in Detroit, MI to lead a ground-floor community land trust focused on affordable housing and policy change. The role blends real estate/operations with advocacy, coalition-building, and fundraising.
During incubation, GenesisHOPE serves as fiscal sponsor; the CLT aims to operate independently with dual accountability to the CLT Board and GenesisHOPE ED.
Common Grounds Community Land Trust Director
Genesis Harbor of Opportunities Promoting Excellence (GenesisHOPE) is a 501(c)3 community development corporation advancing health equity plans, programs and policies so everyone has a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible—Healthy People + Healthy Places.At GenesisHOPE, you’ll find meaningful work, caring culture, and a dynamic team focused on promoting healthy living and creating healthy resilient communities for the residents of Islandview, the Villages of Detroit, and surrounding neighborhoods.And, you’ll enjoy:
CLT Director
Common Grounds Community Land Trust — Detroit, MI
Employment Type Full-Time Exempt (Executive)
Reports To GenesisHOPE Executive Director (solid line); Common Grounds CLT Board of Trustees
Location Detroit, MI (on-site/hybrid; frequent local travel)
The Role
Common Grounds CLT is hiring its founding CLT Director to lead a ground-floor community land trust in a city where CLTs are brand new, no state enabling statute or ground-lease tax treatment yet exists, and the Detroit Land Bank Authority relationship is still forming. The role is half real estate/operations, half policy and coalition-building. GenesisHOPE serves as fiscal sponsor during incubation; the title converts to Executive Director, Common Grounds CLT once the CLT operates independently.
Key Responsibilities
Policy & Advocacy: Primary advocate before City Council, DLBA, and state legislators; advance the state CLT enabling statute and favorable tax treatment through the Michigan CLT Coalition.
Membership & Governance: Grow the membership base from near zero; support the Board of Trustees across all three governance seats.
Beals Street Project: Deliver the CLT’s first project (10 DLBA lots) through contracted project managers and developers; structure ground leases and resale restrictions.
Fundraising: Blend public grants (CDBG, MSHDA), philanthropy, and CDFI capital; manage the annual operating budget.
Leadership & Operations: Represent the CLT publicly; ensure legal/regulatory compliance; report to both the GenesisHOPE ED and the CLT Board.
Qualifications
5+ years of leadership experience in affordable housing, community development, real estate, or nonprofit/policy work.
Experience navigating government relationships and advocating for policy change.
Working knowledge of affordable housing finance (CDBG, HOME, LIHTC, MSHDA); comfort with ground-lease/shared-equity models a plus.
Strong community-organizing and fundraising skills; comfort operating within a fiscal sponsorship structure with dual accountability.
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent lived/professional experience. CLT experience and existing Detroit/Michigan housing relationships preferred.