Managing Director - MicroBuild Impact & Innovation Hub

Habitat for Humanity International; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 290,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

International travel up to 40%

Job summary

Habitat for Humanity International is seeking an accomplished Managing Director for the MicroBuild Impact and Innovation Hub. This executive will shape and execute the long-term strategy, align resources, and drive partnerships to expand affordable housing finance globally.

The role requires leading cross-functional teams, managing governance, and delivering social and financial impact across diverse markets, with a hybrid work arrangement and up to 40% international travel.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Finance, Economics, Business Administration, International Development, Public Policy, or related field.
• 10–12 years of progressively responsible experience in impact investing, blended finance, affordable housing finance, international development finance, or related field.
• Proven success partnering with cross-functional stakeholders across legal, finance, compliance, and program functions.

Responsibilities

• Lead the strategic growth, innovation, and operational excellence of the MicroBuild Initiative.
• Oversee product development, program management, and innovation functions.
• Drive measurable social and financial impact and scale partnerships with financial institutions and investors.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Strategic planning

Cross-functional collaboration

Change management

Education

Master's degree

Tools

Financial modeling

Program management software

Job description

The MicroBuild Initiative is a cornerstone of Habitat’s impact strategy over the next decade. The MicroBuild Initiative builds on the success of MicroBuild Fund 1, which leveraged $100 million to catalyze more than $1.2 billion in affordable housing finance for almost 240,000 families across 33 countries since 2012. As part of the MicroBuild Initiative, the second fund is expected to be significantly larger — in the range of $300 million to $500 million. Alongside the Fund, the initiative will be comprised of the Impact & Innovation Hub which will deliver technical assistance, innovation, and advocacy to help transform housing systems globally. The initiative aims to directly benefit more than 2.5 million people in emerging and developing economies as they work to improve their homes.

About the Role

Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) is seeking an accomplished and visionary leader to serve as Managing Director, MicroBuild Impact and Innovation Hub. This leadership role is responsible for advancing the strategic growth, innovation, and operational excellence of the MicroBuild Initiative which is dedicated to expanding access to affordable housing finance for underserved communities around the world. The Managing Director will provide executive oversight of the product development, program management, and innovation functions of the MicroBuild Initiative, establishing the strategic vision, priorities, and governance frameworks necessary to drive the successful development and delivery of impactful products, programs, and investment initiatives. This leader will shape and execute the long-term strategy of the Microbuild Initiative, ensuring alignment between organizational objectives, market opportunities, and mission-driven outcomes.

Working across a diverse network of internal and external stakeholders, the Managing Director will lead the execution of MicroBuild’s strategic objectives by aligning resources, fostering cross-functional collaboration, and driving operational effectiveness. The role will be accountable for delivering measurable social and financial impact, strengthening partnerships with financial institutions and investors, identifying opportunities for innovation and growth, and expanding the reach of housing finance solutions that empower low-income families to build, improve, and secure adequate housing.

This position may be based in Washington, DC, Atlanta, Georgia, Nairobi, Kenya, or London, United Kingdom, and follows a hybrid work arrangement, requiring a combination of in-office and remote work with up to 40% international travel.

Key Responsibilities

1. Oversight of Hub Commitments & Support Services (25%)

• Ensure quality delivery of all Hub commitments and agreed services.
• Ensure Hub services evolve to meet changing Fund needs and strategic priorities.
• Establish and maintain systems to track delivery against agreed commitments, performance expectations, funding arrangements, governance decisions, and stakeholder expectations.

2. Relationship Management & Fund Coordination (25%)

• Serve as Habitat's primary day-to-day counterpart to Symbiotics regarding Hub-supported activities and delivery of commitments to the MicroBuild Fund and for the MicroBuild Initiative.
• Lead regular planning, coordination, and implementation review discussions with Symbiotics to monitor delivery of Hub-supported services, assess progress against agreed commitments, and identify emerging resource needs, risks, lessons learned, and opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Lead the annual pipeline planning process with Symbiotics, in partnership with the Senior Director, Terwilliger Center Innovation in Shelter (TCIS) Housing Finance Systems and relevant Housing Finance Solutions (HFS) and other TCIS leaders.
• Coordinate with the Senior Director, TCIS Housing Finance Systems and relevant Habitat teams to align technical expertise, staffing capacity, budget requirements, and technical assistance resources with anticipated Fund pipeline needs.
• Ensure effective coordination between the Fund, Hub, TCIS, and Housing Finance Systems teams to support deployment of resources and successful delivery of agreed commitments.
• Identify emerging risks, opportunities, and institutional support needs and facilitate timely decision-making.
• Establish and maintain annual and quarterly planning processes with HFS leadership, together with mechanisms for technical collaboration, knowledge transfer, and coordinated deployment of resources in support of Fund priorities.

3. Hub Governance, Compliance & Organizational Leadership (20%)

• Lead overall management and performance of the Hub LLC.
• Develop annual operating plans, budgets, and strategic priorities.
• Prepare Board materials, performance reports, and strategic recommendations.
• Ensure compliance with all contractual, legal, operational, financial, governance, and reporting requirements.
• Lead staffing, organizational development, and resource allocation processes.
• Ensure appropriate risk management practices are established and maintained.

4. Operational Platform & Shared Services Leadership (15%)

• Lead establishment and continuous improvement of the Hub's operational platform.
• Coordinate with Finance, Legal, Human Resources, Information Technology, Procurement, Compliance, Risk Management, and Communications functions.
• Establish and oversee service agreements between the Hub LLC and Habitat support functions.
• Ensure strong operational controls, compliance standards, and governance procedures are maintained.

5. Impact Reporting, Learning & Performance Management (10%)

• Oversee preparation and publication of the Hub's annual report and oversee periodic reporting to the MicroBuild Fund on the implementation, effectiveness, outcomes, and lessons learned from technical assistance and other Hub-supported services.
• Partner with the MEAL Manager and Head of Technical Assistance to establish frameworks that measure technical assistance quality, effectiveness, scalability, and impact.
• Present findings, recommendations, and strategic insights to the Hub Board of Directors and Fund stakeholders.
• Ensure Fund-generated insights inform Habitat's broader housing finance programming and strategic priorities.

6. Risk Mitigation Facility Coordination (5%)

• Serve as Habitat's primary coordination point with Symbiotics regarding the Risk Mitigation Facility.
• Monitor facility utilization, lessons learned, and portfolio-level outcomes.
• Ensure relevant facility performance information is incorporated into learning.

Key Requirements

• Master's degree in Finance, Economics, Business Administration, International Development, Public Policy, or a related field.
• At least 10-12 years of progressively responsible experience in impact investing, blended finance, affordable housing finance, international development finance, or a related field, including leadership of complex global programs and investment initiatives.
• Demonstrated success partnering with cross-functional stakeholders across legal, finance, compliance, and program functions, building strategic partnerships, managing diverse stakeholder relationships, and delivering measurable social and financial impact, particularly within emerging markets and international settings.
• Proven people management experience, including the ability to lead, coach, and develop high-performing teams in a global and geographically dispersed environment.
• Demonstrated ability to drive innovation, operational excellence, and measurable impact within mission-driven organizations.
• Understanding investment management, technical assistance delivery, financial institution strengthening, portfolio performance monitoring, and risk management.
• Experience developing partnerships that generate both social impact and financial sustainability.
• Ability to translate market opportunities into scalable products, programs, and investment solutions.
• Strong communication skills for leading teams and building coalitions.