Associate Vice President, Housing Policy

Position Summary

The Associate Vice President of Housing Policy is a results-driven and experienced professional committed to advancing fair housing and civil rights principles in housing and financial services. This position will report to the Executive Vice President (EVP). The AVP of Housing Policy will serve on NFHA’s Public Policy team, playing a key role in developing and advocating policies to advance fair housing, including HUD’s Affirmative Furthering Fair Housing rule, tenants’ rights, climate and environmental justice in housing, and zoning. The AVP of Housing Policy will collaborate closely with other members of NFHA’s Public Policy division to promote equitable housing policies, advancing solutions that create well-resourced communities and infrastructure for all people to thrive. The AVP of Housing Policy will liaise with policymakers, civil rights and consumer protection advocates, industry, and media while supporting our member organizations to further fair housing and equitable opportunities. Remote candidates will be considered but must reside in the DMV area.

Duties & Responsibilities

Issue Expertise

• Serve as an issue expert on AFFH, climate and environmental justice, and equitable financial services, including insurance on behalf of NFHA.
• A creative and analytical thought partner with the EVP, Public Policy division, and other departments and brings innovative, transformational approaches for effectively advancing fair housing and equitable credit access.
• Build an inclusive AFFH implementation plan for NFHA’s members and other stakeholders, establish a climate and environmental justice platform for NFHA, and continue leadership of NFHA’s advocacy for safe and nondiscriminatory financial services that comply with existing civil rights laws.

Advocacy, Campaigns, Strategy, and Coalition Building

• Successfully lead multiple issue campaigns in collaboration with cross-functional team members.
• Provide targeted support, technical assistance, and consultation to NFHA’s members.
• Co-manage lobbying and issue education campaigns on AFFH, climate and environmental justice issues affecting housing.
• Collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders to position and leverage NFHA’s brand for effective policy outcomes that create systemic change.
• Establish and maintain relationships with policymakers, ally organizations, academicians, researchers, public policy think tanks, industry groups, and other key stakeholders to educate them about AFFH as an equity framework to advance NFHA’s fair housing and equitable opportunities goals.

Policy Development

• Analyze bills, legislation, or policies that might eliminate, mitigate, or introduce structural barriers to equitable housing and credit and create tech equity.
• Draft legislation, comments, policy briefs, reports, issue one-pagers, and website updates elevating NFHA’s policy advocacy to advance fair housing, equitable opportunities, and tech equity.

External Affairs

• Deliver presentations for internal and external audiences on programmatic and policy-related topics.
• Represent NFHA at stakeholder forums, conferences, symposiums, and other work-related networking functions.
• Develop resources to support advocacy in collaboration with the Communications division, including toolkits, social media templates, talking points, op-eds, webinars, etc.

General Responsibilities

• Well-manage the Public Policy division interns providing strategic leadership, coaching, guidance, and development.
• Timely provide quarterly reporting on the division’s activities.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in any field, but preference for public policy, urban planning, or law.
• 7+ years of experience working in fair housing, fair lending, housing equity, and/or civil rights.
• Deep knowledge of AFFH, climate and environmental justice, finance policy, and fair housing issues.
• Experience in drafting legislation, comments, and quarterly reports.
• Experience in overseeing multiple successful issue campaigns.
• Excellent planning and analytical skills, and working successfully in coordinating mission-driven, cross-functional outputs in a fast-paced, high-functioning team.
• Extensive communication expertise with an emphasis on effective writing, public speaking, simplifying complex policy to empower membership and coalition partners to action, interpersonal communication, and developing and delivering presentations.
• Ability to well-represent NFHA at external forums, symposiums, conferences, and other work-related stakeholder programs.
• Excellent time management skills and the ability to handle multiple projects at once and adapt to a swiftly changing environment.
• Proven ability to work in culturally and ethnically diverse environments.
• Strong and demonstrated commitment to justice, civil rights, and equity.
• Experience working directly with industry stakeholders to advance equitable policies.
• Ability to work independently and in an unsupervised environment.
• Demonstrated commitment to professional growth.
• Ability to travel 25% of the time.

Application Process

The salary range for this role is between $110,000 – $130,000 annually. Salary is commensurate with experience. NFHA offers:

• 100% paid health, vision, and dental coverage for employees and family
• 100% paid life, long-term disability, and long-term care insurance
• Generous employer contribution to 403(b) retirement benefit plan
• Comprehensive paid time off benefits, including holidays, vacation, and sick leave

Interested applicants should submit a resume and cover letter. Incomplete applications will not be considered. No telephone calls, please.

Applications will be accepted until the position has been filled.

Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Statement

NFHA values and encourages diversity in its workforce. NFHA supports affirmative action and is dedicated to promoting equal employment opportunities. NFHA does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, family responsibilities, disability, matriculation, political affiliation, or any other category or characteristic protected by the laws of the United States or the District of Columbia.