Senior Advocacy Manager, Housing

Smart Growth America (SGA) seeks a motivated and mission-driven Senior Advocacy Manager to lead our housing advocacy work in collaboration with SGA staff and leaders from our practitioner coalitions. The role will particularly focus on advocacy and strategy work for LOCUS, Smart Growth America’s coalition of real estate developers, which advocates for smart growth housing policies, and the National Brownfields Coalition.

SGA’s housing advocacy work focuses on how policy can advance the development of more housing at the right place, type, and price so that everyone can live in a community that supports them at every stage of their lives.

LOCUS’ recent work includes collaborating with Congressional offices on legislative concepts, hosting a three-part briefing series on housing and smart growth for Congressional staff, drafting white papers (such as this piece on Opportunity Zones), and analyzing housing legislation for SGA’s audience of 50,000+ (such as this recent blog on the Housing for the 21st Century Act). The National Brownfields Coalition’s recent work includes advocacy on the Brownfields Redevelopment Tax Incentive Reauthorization Act, member Congressional testimonies, and development of regular educational content.

Key Responsibilities

• • • Manage SGA’s housing and land use advocacy, working in collaboration with colleagues on the Housing & Development and policy teams and member leaders from LOCUS and the National Brownfields Coalition;
    • Lead and oversee advocacy initiatives such as comment letters, calls-to-action, Hill Days, briefings and research about how policy change can advance smart growth;
    • Track bills and the housing policy environment as relevant to smart growth;
    • Lead and develop content for LOCUS and NBC member events and webinars;
    • Author memos, blog posts, and other communications about how policy can advance smart growth and improve housing abundance;
    • Develop relationships with policymakers and partners at all levels of government, including Congressional offices, to create champions for our priorities;
    • Represent SGA through participation in external coalitions and events;
    • Participate in technical assistance and other SGA projects and events if capacity allows;
    • Contribute to administrative, fundraising and reporting processes;
    • Other duties as assigned.

Required Knowledge and Skills

• • • Commitment to SGA’s mission, with a demonstrated commitment to equitable development outcomes and advancing racial equity;
    • 4-7 years of experience working in related fields, and knowledge of, housing, development and/or urban planning topics;
    • Experience with and understanding of advocacy and legislative processes at the federal level and/or experience working with federal government stakeholders, such as Congressional offices;
    • Excellent writing and communication skills with the ability to influence and engage stakeholders of different professional backgrounds and interest areas;
    • High motivation for accuracy and attention to detail;
    • Collaborative approach and interest in working in an interdisciplinary team environment;
    • Experience as an organizational ambassador in external settings such as conferences, workshops, and partnerships;
    • Interest in transportation and strategies to better align housing and transportation policy;
    • Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning, Housing, Public Administration, or a related field.

Preferred Knowledge and Skills

• • • Specific knowledge of and exposure to the real estate industry and/or brownfields redevelopment industry;
    • Experience with campaigns, memberships or coalition development;
    • Master’s degree in Urban Planning, Public Administration, or a related field.

How to Apply

To apply, please send a resume, a cover letter that describes your interest in smart growth and what you would bring to the position, and two writing samples (1,000 words or less) to [email protected] with “Senior Manager of Housing Advocacy” in the subject line.

SGA is also open to applicants at slightly different levels of experience, and may determine title (Manager/Senior Manager) in line with level of experience.