Director of Strategic Programs and Engagement

A pioneering not-for-profit affordable housing developer and community programs initiator in New York City, Settlement Housing Fund, Inc. has worked since 1969 to create more than 8,700 apartments through 64 affordable rental and homeownership development projects. Settlement Housing Fund presently owns and maintains 36 buildings containing 1,979 apartments in various locations, with concentrations of housing and programs in the Mt. Eden section of the Bronx, Crown Heights in Brooklyn, the Two Bridges neighborhood on the Lower East Side, as well as at other sites throughout Manhattan with a growing portfolio. Settlement Housing Fund is equally committed to bringing amenities, programs and services to communities through the development and operation of affordable housing. Settlement Housing Fund is also the parent organization of New Settlement, in the Bronx, which was created in 1989 with the acquisition of 14 abandoned buildings. New Settlement has evolved into a robust social service organization offering a range of community-based services in education, college access, youth development, arts, workforce development, community organizing, wellness and other key services that provide important resources to the neighborhood's youth and families. New Settlement's success has been achieved through close collaboration with a wide range of educational institutions, housing and community development organizations, businesses, youth development and social service agencies - in the neighborhood, Bronx-wide, across New York and nationally. The programs at New Settlement are supported by local, state and federal government agencies, as well as foundations, corporations, organizations and individuals.

To learn more visit: www.settlementhousingfund.org

Reporting directly to the President of Settlement Housing Fund, the Director of Strategic Programs and Engagement (DSPE) is a senior member of the team and is primarily responsible for resident engagement & accompanying services. The DSPE is also tasked with evaluating existing services and designing additional community programming at existing and future Settlement Housing Fund owned-buildings as needed. The DSPE will leverage partnerships with other community program operators as well. The DSPE manages a team of ten with two direct reports and collaborates with the rest of the senior leadership team to contribute to the organization's overall success.

This is an ideal opportunity for a strategic and proven leader within the housing community in NYC who is passionate about developing robust and effective strategies and programs to best support SHF's residents and communities.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Resident Engagement & Community Affairs

• Work closely with Asset Managers on managing the services component of SHF's properties
• Track relevant local, state, and federal legislation and initiatives that impact this aspect of SHFs work
• Travel to housing community program sites frequently to supervise Resident Engagement Program Directors and the Resident Engagement Services team; observe on the ground services and programming, and monitor tenant satisfaction and additional service needs
• Successfully understand complex issues, articulate positions, and develop and foster relationships with diverse stakeholders to drive key initiatives and advance resident program priorities
• Collaborate with Resident Engagement team and other departments to strengthen and expand SHF's overall tenant and community engagement and programs
• Create community engagement plans for potentially new SHF developments
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with key partners such as elected officials, tenant associations, property management, and SHF's tenancy
• Represent the organization at conferences, in advocacy consortiums, and at stakeholder meetings with funders, government partners, and auditors

Program Strategy & Evaluation

• Develop SHF's overall community programming strategy with other senior leadership team members
• Conduct regular program evaluations to determine if established outcomes are being met, and identify gaps as well as areas of improvement
• Research and collect insight from key stakeholders including SHF team members, tenants, community leaders, partner organizations and elected officials in regards to community programs and services
• Hire, train, and supervise Project Directors at existing and new community program sites
• Identify, establish and maintain partnerships with social service providers, CBO's, and others to maximize services for SHF tenants

Organizational & Team Leadership

• Supervise a team of ten (10) + with direct reporting from two (2) SHF Program Directors who oversee SHF's resident engagement work and programming that assists formerly homeless families transition to permanent housing and financial independence
• With Program Directors, Asset Managers and the Controller, create and monitor community programming budgets
• Collaborate with departments across SHF to contribute to overall strategic direction

• Bachelor's degree in related field required 10+ years of overall professional experience; 5+ years of experience in housing or community development in New York
• Experience leading and developing a high performing team
• In depth knowledge of the NYC social service landscape, affordable housing and community program & service providers; experience working with affordable housing and homeless programs preferred
• Commitment to principles of affordable housing and community development for low-to-moderate income communities
• Deep commitment to the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion; experience working across lines of difference
• Strong strategic thinking and planning skills; experience developing strategies in the face of ambiguity and change
• Exceptional communication and relationship building skills; with a track record of building strong internal and external relationships with diverse stakeholders at all levels
• Ability to manage multiple tasks, think creatively, work independently and across lines of difference relate to people with a diversity of backgrounds