Director of Housing Development

LCSNW; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

37.5 hour work week

Medical, dental, vision, and Rx

Employer-paid disability insurance

Life insurance

2 weeks vacation

2 weeks sick leave

12 paid holidays

2 floating holidays

403(b) retirement plan

Employee Assistance Program

Student Loan Forgiveness eligibility

Job summary

Compass Housing Alliance is seeking a Director of Housing Development to lead a multi-year pipeline of affordable housing projects in the Puget Sound region. You will steer strategy, financing, and construction while aligning with LCSNW’s Compass mission to provide safe, dignified housing options.

You will oversee entitlement, permitting, and coordination with public agencies, lenders, and partners, directing teams and maintaining strong stakeholder engagement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in real estate, finance, urban planning or related field.
• 8+ years of progressive experience in affordable housing development or related housing/real estate work.
• Experience leading multiple projects from acquisition through construction and financing.
• Ability to develop and present financial models to funders and leadership.
• Comfort supervising staff and cross-functional project teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead the strategy and implementation of a pipeline of affordable housing development from site identification through construction.
• Identify and evaluate land and property acquisition opportunities with feasibility and market analyses.
• Structure and secure project financing, including LIHTC and public/private sources.
• Direct entitlement and permitting with public agencies and navigate regulatory requirements.
• Oversee all development phases, including design, construction, and closeout.
• Negotiate contracts with lenders, investors, consultants, and partners.
• Supervise staff and represent the division with stakeholders and funders.

Skills

Fluent English

Financial modeling

Staff leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in real estate, finance, urban planning

Tools

Financial analysis software

Job description

Compass Housing Alliance is the housing, essential services, and emergency shelter division of Lutheran Community Services Northwest (LCSNW). Compass is guided by the belief that “Everyone Deserves a Home”. We envision a world in which every person lives in a safe, caring community. In this role, you will be employed by Lutheran Community Services Northwest, but work in the Compass division, supporting a 105-year legacy of housing, shelter, and caring in the Puget Sound region.

To learn more about the agency, visit www.compasshousingalliance.org

WHAT WE WILL DO FOR YOU:

As an employer of choice, we’re deeply committed to supporting our employees, because when you’re empowered, our mission thrives. We provide resources, tools, and care that allow you to focus on what matters most: delivering Health, Justice, and Hope to the communities we serve. We’re proud to offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your well-being, growth, and peace of mind.

• A 37.5 per hour work week to ensure work/life balance
• Medical, dental, vision, and prescription benefits to keep you and your loved ones healthy
• Employer-paid short- and long-term disability insurance
• Life insurance coverage at no cost to you
• Up to 2 weeks of vacation in your first year (based on hours worked)
• Up to 2 weeks of sick leave (based on hours worked)
• 12 paid agency recognized holidays
• 2 floating holidays to use your way
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer matching (eligibility applies)
• Access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for you and your family
• Potential eligibility for Student Loan Forgiveness through our 501(c)(3) nonprofit status

HOW YOU WILL MAKE AN IMPACT:

All LCSNW team members will contribute to our mission of partnering with individuals, families and communities for health,justiceand hope.The Director of Housing Development leads theagency’sreal estate development program, guiding projects frominitialstrategy through financing, construction, and stabilization.Inpartnershipwith thedivisional president, this role would oversee the multi-year development pipeline,managecomplex affordable housing financingand ensure all projects advance Compass’s mission to provide safe, dignified housingoptions.Byadvancing asteadypipeline of projects, this position enables the CompassHousingdivisionand LCSNWto deliver housingacross multiple statesthatsupports community stability and long-term well-being.

• In partnership with theCompass president, this rolewillleadthe strategy and implementation ofa pipeline of affordable housing development and preservation projects from site identification through construction and project completion
• Identify and evaluateasset-basedacquisition opportunities, including land and existing properties, and conduct feasibility, market, and financial analyses
• Structure and secure project financing, including Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) and other public and private funding sources
• Direct entitlement and permitting processes, working with public agencies to obtain approvals and navigate regulatory requirements
• Oversee all phases of development, including consultant selection, design coordination, construction oversight, and project closeout
• Negotiate and manage contracts with lenders, investors, consultants, and development partners
• Supervise and support staff while representing the division with community stakeholders, funders, and partners

HOW YOU WILL BE A GREAT FIT:

• Bachelor’s degree in real estate, finance, urban planning, or related field; substantial relevant experience will be considered in place of degree
• 8 years of progressively responsible experience in affordable housing development or closely related housing/real estate work, including managing projects from acquisition through construction
• Demonstrated expertise in 9% and 4% bond LIHTC structuring and layered affordable housing financing, including federal and Washington State funding sources and programs such as WSHFC competitive and combined funding rounds, HOME, Washington State Housing Trust Fund, King County and Seattle Office of Housing funds, CDBG, and other applicable sources. Substantially similar experience with comparable programs and funding structures in other states may be considered.
• Experience leading multiple affordable housing projects and navigating entitlement, regulatory, and public funding processes
• Demonstrated competency in underwriting and pro forma analysis, including the ability to direct consultant financial modeling and present financial analyses to funders and organizational leadership
• Demonstrated success managing architects, general contractors, and consultant teams through entitlement, permitting, and construction
• Minimum 3 years’ experience supervising staff and leading cross-functional project teams
• Demonstrated ability to develop and advance housing opportunities from concept through execution, building support among organizational, community, funding, and other external stakeholders
• Demonstrated experience representing development projects with stakeholders and in public and community engagement processes
• Fluency in English, both spoken and written, with ability to communicate effectively with community stakeholders, public partners, funders, and financial partners
• Intermediate mastery of business applications and productivity suites, with proficiency in financial analysis and modeling
• Demonstrates sound judgment, resilience, awareness, and self-regulation in navigating complex priorities, challenges, conflict, and project risk
• Thrives in LCSNW’s complex organizational environment and works effectively across functions, communities, and external partnerships
• Travels regularly between worksites and works in a variety of settings, including office, community, partner, outdoor, construction/development environments, and faith-based settings such as churches
• Performs work in-person and through technology, which regularly requires stationary activity and communication with others and occasionally requires walking, standing, navigating construction or development sites and uneven surfaces, and moving materials weighing up to 25 pounds
• Meets LCSNW criminal background clearance requirements and other job-relevant clearances as required by the State or program

Thank you!

We sincerely appreciate your interest in joining the Lutheran Community Services NW team and thank all applicants for taking the time to apply. While we’re unable to respond to every candidate individually, please note that only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Lutheran Community Services NW is deeply committed to our mission of Health, Justice and Hope in all aspects of our work. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds and experiences to help us build a stronger, more compassionate community.