Community Development Associate

Africatown Community Land Trust; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employer paid health coverage

Generous vacation and sick leave

401(k) matching up to 4%

Annual HRA of $1,000

FSAs

Life and AD&D insurance

Disability insurance

Professional development stipends

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Positive community impact

Job summary

Africatown Community Land Trust is seeking a dynamic professional to support resident services, community engagement, and homeownership initiatives in Seattle. You will bridge residents with development activities, ensuring inclusive engagement and progression toward affordable homeownership.

The role spans relationship-based community work and the administrative tasks of real estate development, requiring adaptability to changing priorities and strong collaboration with residents and partners.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent education & experience; Finance, Real Estate, Urban Planning preferred.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills under tight deadlines.
• Experience with HUD standards reporting and compliance.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to travel within the Greater Seattle area; lifting up to 30 lbs; flexible schedule.

Responsibilities

• Serve as primary contact for residents and homeowners regarding ACLT programs and housing opportunities.
• Build relationships with residents, legacy homeowners, community organizations and partners.
• Support homeownership and anti-displacement initiatives with counseling referrals and resources.
• Assist residents with applications, eligibility, referrals, workshops, and program requirements.
• Coordinate community engagement activities: meetings, workshops, surveys, focus groups, updates.
• Communicate development plans in clear language and relay feedback to leadership and development team.
• Support Real Estate Development with meetings, schedules, contracts, and reporting tasks.
• Maintain relationships with housing counselors, lenders, public agencies, and nonprofits.
• Track engagement, referrals, program participation, and project-related activities.

Skills

Community development

HUD compliance

Budget tools

Effective communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance/Real Estate/Urban Planning

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

HUD reporting systems

Job description

***Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. and not require visa sponsorship******Local candidates may receive preference***

Onsite position, located in Seattle, WA

ABOUT US

Africatown Community Land Trust is working for community ownership of land in the Central District. This can support the cultural and economic thriving of people who are part of the African diaspora in the Greater Seattle area. The Africatown Community Land Trust board is comprised of real estate professionals, business executives, entrepreneurs, business professionals, and long-time community members from the Central District.

ABOUT THE POSITION

Africatown Community Land Trust (ACLT) is seeking a dynamic professional to support resident services, community engagement, homeownership initiatives, and community-centered real estate development. This position will serve as a bridge between ACLT's residents and community members and its real estate development activities, with a particular focus on creating pathways to homeownership, supporting legacy homeowners, preventing displacement, and ensuring that residents and community stakeholders are meaningfully engaged in ACLT development projects.

The successful candidate will work directly with residents, homeowners, prospective homeowners, neighborhood stakeholders, and development partners. The position requires someone who can move comfortably between relationship-based community engagement, program coordination, resident services, and the technical and administrative work associated with real estate development.

The successful candidate will be passionate about the revitalization of underserved communities, and able to work effectively in an environment with continually changing priorities and objectives across both functions.

TYPICAL DUTIES MAY INCLUDE

Community Building, Resident Services and Real Estate Development

• Serve as a primary point of contact for residents, homeowners, prospective homeowners, and community members seeking information about ACLT programs, housing opportunities, and development projects.
• Build and maintain relationships with residents, legacy homeowners, community organizations, small businesses, neighborhood stakeholders, and service partners.
• Support homeownership and anti-displacement initiatives by connecting residents and legacy homeowners with appropriate housing counseling, financial, legal, home-repair, estate-planning, tax-relief, and other resources.
• Assist residents and prospective homeowners with navigating applications, eligibility requirements, referrals, workshops, and other program requirements.
• Coordinate community engagement activities related to ACLT development projects, including meetings, workshops, surveys, focus groups, project updates, and other outreach.
• Help communicate development plans and technical project information in clear, accessible language and bring resident and community feedback back to ACLT leadership and the development team.
• Support the Real Estate Development team by participating in project meetings and assisting with project schedules, consultant coordination, contracts, invoices, reporting, and other development-related tasks.
• Maintain relationships with housing counselors, lenders, legal-service providers, public agencies, nonprofit organizations, and other partners that support residents, homeowners, and ACLT development activities.
• Track resident engagement, referrals, program participation, and project-related community activities, and maintain appropriate files and records.
• Assist with grant applications, funding proposals, reporting, compliance, and data collection related to community development, resident services, homeownership, and real estate projects.
• Represent ACLT at community meetings, public meetings, neighborhood events, and industry events as needed.
• Perform other related duties that support ACLT's community development, homeownership, anti-displacement, and real estate goals.

MINIMUM POSITION REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent education & experience (Bachelor's degree in Finance, Real Estate, Urban Planning, or related field preferred);
• Foundational knowledge of and passion for community and economic development, small business development, urban planning, public health, and public policy, as well as real estate development;
• Successful demonstration of superior organizational and time management skills, with strong attention to detail and the ability to handle multiple tasks across both functions under tight deadlines;
• Self-directed, able to develop a personal work plan balancing both functions, and to work both independently and collaboratively with partners;
• Strong written, verbal, and tactical communication skills;
• Experience developing reports and compliance information in accordance with HUD standards;
• Experience with policy and program analysis methods, including budget tools;
• Proficient computer skills, including Microsoft Office Suite, social media, and search engines;
• Ability to communicate respectfully, easily, and well with people of all social and cultural backgrounds, ages, and experience levels;
• Contributes to creating a work and learning environment and culture that is positive, inclusive, and committed to serving the needs of the community;
• Ability to maintain discretion, particularly when dealing with constituents in the community;
• Flexible, adaptable, positive attitude, open to feedback and willing to learn new tools and techniques;
• Ability to travel within the Greater Seattle area;
• Ability to lift equipment (up to 30 lbs.);
• Ability to work some nights, weekends, and a flexible schedule as needed by either function.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Two years of experience in Commercial Real Estate, Urban Planning, Engineering, or a related field;
• Project management experience;

BENEFITS PACKAGE

• 100% Employer medical, dental, and vision paid coverage
• Generous Vacation (PTO) and Sick Leave
• 11 Paid Holidays and 2 Personal Holidays
• Matching 401(K) Plan up to 4%
• Annual Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) of $1,000
• Flex Spending Account (FSA)
• Employer paid Life and AD&D insurance
• Employer paid Long-term and Short-term Disability insurance
• Professional Development Stipends
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Opportunity to support a great life purpose and make a positive impact in the Seattle community

TO BE CONSIDERED

• Complete an online ACLT job application;
• Attach a resume that details your professional and lived experience related to the position;
• Attach a cover letter detailing how you meet the qualifications of the position;
• Attach a one-page max response to the supplemental questions below (please email response to [e-mail]):
• What strategies do you believe are most effective for helping existing homeowners remain in rapidly changing neighborhoods?
• Describe how you would engage residents and community members in the planning of a new affordable housing or community development project.
• Optional: What do you see as the major barriers to homeownership for Black households, and what role can a community land trust play in addressing them?

ACLT is an Affimative Action Employer and does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, color, national origin, ancestry, familial status, age, disability, marital status, or status with regard to public assistance.