Community Engagement Manager

Seattle Social Housing Developer; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

Seattle Social Housing Developer is seeking a Community Engagement Manager to build trust with future residents and neighboring communities. The role drives outreach, story-telling, and coalition-building to ensure inclusive access to SSHD housing opportunities across Seattle.

The position collaborates with acquisitions, development, and resident engagement teams, translating complex information into accessible communications while supporting equity in housing growth.

Qualifications

• Experience in community organizing, outreach, or resident services.
• Experience engaging historically underserved or protected-class communities.
• Ability to communicate clearly to diverse audiences in both written and verbal form.
• Experience coordinating events or initiatives with multiple stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead affirmative marketing and outreach efforts and partner with communities.
• Hold community meetings and maintain relationships with residents and neighbors.
• Develop visuals, narratives, and materials for varied audiences across channels.
• Power map community support and relationships to guide outreach strategy.

Skills

Community Organizing

Cross-Cultural Communication

Communication Skills

Program Development

Adaptability Under Pressure

Event Planning & Execution

Housing Experience

Technology Proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree in communications or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Community Engagement Manager

ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW

The Seattle Social Housing Developer (SSHD) is a Public Development Authority (PDA) committed to creating, owning, and stewarding permanently affordable, mixed-income social housing that is publicly financed, publicly controlled, and free from market speculation. As we lay the foundation for this transformative model, guided by international examples and rooted in public accountability, we are building a team to define a new standard for equitable, sustainable, and community-centered social housing development in Seattle. Our goal is to expand access, strengthen the social fabric of our city, and ensure housing that is affordable forever and inclusive by design for current and future generations.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Community Engagement Manager is responsible for building and sustaining trust between SSHD and the communities it serves — both the future residents of SSHD's acquisitions and the neighbors surrounding its new construction sites. This role leads the deployment of SSHD's Affi… ensuring equitable outreach and access to housing opportunities for protected classes and historically underserved communities, and leads lottery pop-up events that bring information about SSHD's housing directly to residents across the city.

The Community Engagement Manager also holds community meetings with future residents of SSHD acquisitions and with neighbors near new construction sites, translating SSHD's work into clear, accessible visuals, narrative, and communications materials for audiences that vary widely in class, race, ethnicity, and ability. A central part of the role is power mapping community support in neighborhoods surrounding new construction areas, helping SSHD anticipate concerns, build coalitions, and engage proactively rather than reactively.

This role sits within the Communications and Public Affairs Department and works in close partnership with property acquisitions, development, and resident engagement staff to ensure community voice and support are built into SSHD's growth from the earliest stages.

POSITION DETAILS

Job Title: Community Engagement Manager

Department: Operations – Communications and Public Affairs

Reports To: Director of Communications and Public Affairs

Direct Reports: None at this time

FLSA Status: Exempt

Employment Type: Full-Time

Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $100,000-$135,000. This full-time, salaried position includes a full package of benefits, including health, dental, and vision. SSHD employees are also eligible for the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) retirement pension plan through the State of Washington.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Affirmative Marketing & Outreach

• Lead deployment of SSHD's Affi…
• Lead lottery pop-up events around the city to raise awareness of, and access to, SSHD's housing opportunities.

Community & Resident Engagement

• Hold community meetings with future residents of SSHD acquisitions and with neighbors near new construction sites, building trust and communicating clear, accurate information about SSHD's projects.
• Serve as a visible, approachable point of contact for future residents and surrounding community members throughout pre-development and acquisition phases.

Communications & Storytelling

• Develop and use visuals, narrative, and other communications mediums such as print, digital, and in-person meetings to translate SSHD's work into accessible information for the communities it serves.
• Tailor messaging and materials for audiences that vary in class, race, ethnicity, and ability, ensuring communications are inclusive and effective.

Community Power Mapping & Relationship Building

• Power map community support and opposition in neighborhoods surrounding new construction sites to inform outreach and engagement strategy.
• Build and maintain relationships with community organizations, resident groups, and local stakeholders to strengthen SSHD's standing and support base.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Community Organizing: Demonstrated organizing experience, with a track record of building trust and relationships across diverse communities.
• Cross-Cultural Communication: Demonstrated ability to speak effectively to audiences that vary in class, race, ethnicity, and ability.
• Communication Skills: Excellent and disciplined written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex information into clear, accessible materials and narratives for varied audiences.
• Program Development: Strong program development skills, with the ability to design and execute community engagement initiatives from concept to completion.
• Adaptability Under Pressure: Demonstrated ability to excel in high-paced, high-conflict environments while maintaining professionalism and sound judgment.
• Event Planning & Execution: Demonstrated ability to organize and execute community events for audiences with varying levels of support for SSHD's mission, including logistics, promotion, and facilitation.
• Housing Experience: Experience working in housing, affordable housing, or a related field.
• Technology Proficiency: Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and familiarity with communications, design, or community engagement platforms.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree in communications, public administration, community development, urban planning, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.
• Demonstrated professional experience in community organizing, community engagement, or resident services, ideally within housing or a related field.
• Experience developing and executing outreach or affirmative marketing efforts, particularly with historically underserved or protected-class communities.
• Experience working with diverse populations, particularly in affordable housing, multifamily housing, or community-based settings.
• Experience coordinating events or initiatives that require managing multiple priorities and stakeholders.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

1. Bilingual or multilingual skills relevant to the communities SSHD serves.
2. Experience working within social housing models, public housing authorities, or Community Land Trusts (CLTs).
3. Familiarity with fair housing law and affirmative marketing requirements.
4. Experience with power mapping, coalition building, or stakeholder analysis.
5. Experience working in or with public sector or quasi-public agencies.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

1. Must pass a background check.
2. Ability to work evenings and weekends and adjust schedule to support community meetings, lottery pop-ups, and events.
3. Ability to travel within the Seattle area as needed for meetings, pop-ups, and site visits.
4. Ability to adapt to shifting priorities and take on additional responsibilities as the role and organization evolve.

OUR CULTURE OF CONSTRUCTIVE CLARITY

We are carrying out a bold mandate, which requires us to be exceptionally honest and clear with one another. We actively value different perspectives and expect our team members to share constructive disagreements and challenge ideas during our planning stages. We know that brilliant minds process and share information differently. Whether you prefer to speak up in a meeting, share written feedback after digesting a proposal, or discuss ideas one-on-one with your manager, we welcome and support your communication style. What matters most to us is that we don't ignore unresolved issues. Once we have weighed all viewpoints and made a decision, we align and move forward as a unified team. If you value transparency, structured feedback, and committing to shared goals, we would love to have you join us.

BUILDING EQUITY THROUGH HOUSING AND HIRING

As part of Seattle Social Housing's overall commitment to racial equity, we work for affordable housing development that is grounded in justice. We see the hiring of this position, and all positions, as an opportunity to be a more equitable and racially just organization.

Seattle Social Housing is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, or other legally protected status. People of color, Native and Indigenous people, trans and LGBQIA people, people with disabilities, and other individuals who bring critical perspectives from historically marginalized communities are strongly encouraged to apply.