Executive Director

Community Partners for Affordable Housing; Portland (OR); Hybrid; USD 160,000 - 167,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Wellness time (36-hour week)

Vacation time 3–4 weeks

Paid holidays

Sick time

Sabbatical after 7 years

Employer-paid medical/dental/vision

Job summary

Community Partners for Affordable Housing (CPAH) seeks an Executive Director to provide visionary leadership, oversee strategic framework, and align organizational efforts with its mission of affordable housing and resident services. The ED partners with the Board to set strategy, ensure financial health, and lead cross‑sector collaborations.

The role entails guiding housing development, program oversight, grant strategy, and workforce development while representing CPAH in policy discussions

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent combination of education lived experience and professional background.
• Minimum of 5 years of leadership, management, or supervisory experience in a nonprofit organization or mission-driven government agency.
• Experience with diverse communities and a strong commitment to diversity equity inclusion belonging and justice (DEIBJ) principles in leadership program development and organizational culture.
• Financial acumen including experience in budget development financial reporting and resource stewardship.
• Demonstrated leadership in managing teams developing staff and cultivating an inclusive and engaged workplace culture.
• Ability to organize plan and implement initiatives that advance CPAH’s mission and strategic goals.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills with a wide range of stakeholders including government agencies funders and community partners.

Responsibilities

• Vision and Planning – Lead the strategic direction of CPAH ensuring alignment with mission vision and values.
• Community Engagement Advocacy and Resource Development – Build relationships with government agencies housing advocates nonprofit partners and residents; oversee fundraising strategies and external communications.
• Housing Development and Asset Management – Guide housing development and asset management in collaboration with Housing Director and external partners.
• Services Program Oversight and Grant Management – Ensure resident services homeless services program effectiveness and grant strategy and compliance.
• Finance and Operational Oversight – Monitor budgets and financial health in partnership with the Board Finance Committee.
• Organizational Leadership and Board Engagement – Act as liaison between Board of Directors and staff and support board development and governance.
• Workforce Strategy and Development – Oversee staffing strategy promote inclusive culture and professional development.
• Other duties as assigned by the Board.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

DEIBJ

Strategic planning

Communication

Team development

Fundraising

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Job description

Job Title: Executive Director

Reports To: Board of Directors

FLSA Status: Exempt

Job Type: Full-Time

Work Location: Hybrid, Onsite 3 Days/Week

Salary Range: $160,000 – $167,000

Position Summary

Community Partners for Affordable Housing (CPAH) was founded to address theurgent need for safe, stable, and affordable housing in our region. Guided by a deepcommitment to equity, resident voice, and long-term community impact, CPAHdevelops and preserves affordable housing and provides supportive services thatstrengthen lives and neighborhoods.

The Executive Director (ED) provides visionary and strategic leadership to advancethis mission. They are responsible for overseeing the development andimplementation of CPAH’s Strategic Framework and aligning all organizationalefforts with its core values and long-term vision. The ED also oversees CPAH’s programs, including its affordable housing development and resident serviceprograms; cultivates cross-sector partnerships; and ensures strong financial andoperational health.

As CPAH’s primary ambassador, the ED represents the organization in policyconversations, public forums, and community collaborations. They work closely withthe Board of Directors to set and implement strategy, strengthen governance, andposition CPAH as a leader in affordable housing, resident and supportive services,and community development.

Additionally, the ED oversees grant strategy, organizational sustainability, andworkforce development, ensuring CPAH is powered by a skilled, mission-driven, andequity-focused team. The ED reports directly to the Board of Directors.

Essential Functions

• Vision and Planning – Lead the strategic direction of CPAH, ensuringalignment with the organization's mission, vision, and values. Work with theBoard of Directors to develop long-term and short-term goals, track agency wide outcomes, and adapt strategies to meet evolving community needs.
• Community Engagement, Advocacy, and Resource Development –Strengthen CPAH’s role as a community leader by building and maintainingrelationships with government agencies, housing advocates, nonprofitpartners, and residents. Represent CPAH in local and regional policydiscussions and housing coalitions. Oversee fundraising strategies, includingdonor cultivation, corporate and foundation partnerships, and individualgiving campaigns. Ensure CPAH’s communications, outreach efforts, andpublic messaging reflect the organization's mission and priorities.
• Housing Development and Asset Management - Work in partnership withthe Housing Director to provide strategic leadership on housing developmentand asset management initiatives. Support project planning, assess newdevelopment opportunities, help navigate agreements, and collaborate with internal and external partners, including developers, property managers, andservice providers, to advance CPAH’s housing goals.
• Services Program Oversight and Grant Management – Work in partnershipwith the Director of Programs to ensure the development, sustainability, andeffectiveness of CPAH’s resident services and homeless services programs. Setgoals, expand impact, and integrate trauma-informed, culturally responsivebest practices. Lead grant strategy, including identifying fundingopportunities, overseeing grant proposals, and ensuring compliance withreporting and funder expectations.
• Finance and Operational Oversight – Work in partnership with BoardFinance Committee and finance staff to maintain CPAH’s financial health.Review financial reports, manage budgets, and ensure responsiblestewardship of resources. Provide strategic oversight of housing developmentand asset management, ensuring CPAH’s properties remain financially viableand well-maintained.
• Organizational Leadership and Board Engagement – Serve as the primaryliaison between the Board of Directors and staff, providing transparentreporting and engaging board members in CPAH’s work. Support boarddevelopment, including recruitment, orientation, and leveraging boardexpertise for strategic initiatives. Support leadership development andmeaningful, inclusive engagement specifically for resident Board Members.
• Workforce Strategy and Development – Provide high-level oversight ofCPAH’s staffing strategy, ensuring the organization attracts, retains, anddevelops a diverse and skilled workforce. Support leadership in fostering ahealthy workplace culture, ensuring equitable policies, and championing professional development opportunities for staff.
• Other duties as assigned by the Board.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or an equivalent combination of education,lived experience, and professional background.
• Minimum of 5 years of leadership, management, or supervisory experience ina nonprofit organization or mission-driven government agency.
• Experience with diverse communities and a strong commitment to diversity,equity, inclusion, belonging, and justice (DEIBJ) principles in leadership,program development, and organizational culture.
• Financial acumen, including experience in budget development, financialreporting, and resource stewardship.
• Demonstrated leadership in managing teams, developing staff, andcultivating an inclusive and engaged workplace culture.
• Ability to organize, plan, and implement initiatives that advance CPAH’smission and strategic goals.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills with a wide range ofstakeholders, including government agencies, funders, and communitypartners.

Preferred

• Strong knowledge of affordable housing, real estate development, andcommunity development practices is highly preferred.
• Experience administering, providing, or collaborating with human servicesprograms.
• Proven ability to work effectively with a volunteer Board of Directors andcommittees, fostering collaboration and strategic alignment.
• Experience in fundraising, grant oversight, and donor relations

Salary, Employee Status, and Benefits Information

• Full-time, exempt employee status
• 36-hour work week with four hours of wellness time (compensation based on 40 hours)
• 3 weeks of vacation, Years 1-2 / 4 weeks, Years 3-4 / 4.5 weeks, Years 5+
• 6 paid holidays with the option to substitute for a preferred holiday at the employee's choice: Martin Luther King Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, and Thanksgiving Day. Christmas Day and New Year's Day are included in our annual office closure, Dec 25 - Jan 1.
• 120 hours of sick time, accrual basis
• Four-week paid sabbatical after seven years
• 100% employer-covered medical, dental, and vision insurance (employees only; options available for employees to pay to add spouse and children)