This position is open until filled; however, to ensure consideration applications should be received by October 25th at 4:30 pm.  Initial review will begin starting October 28th. 

The Chief Real Estate Officer position functions as a member of the Executive Team and leads a talented and energetic team.  It is a key player in larger community conversations around affordable housing.  The Vancouver Housing Authority has an active pipeline of 4% and 9% Low Income Housing Tax Credit developments, as well as an aggressive acquisition strategy that utilizes our ability to issue tax-exempt bonds.  We are also exploring innovative public/private partnerships to further increase our development capacity.  

Executive Team Member

1. Actively participate in the development and oversight of long range, strategic and budget planning processes.
2. Anticipate and support a positive public image, budget management, liability or other issues which may impact the financial, organizational, and/or creative stability of the agency.
3. Seek out and analyze information, opportunities, and challenges to assure maximum community investment. 
4. Model the agency’s customer service orientation with all public, elected or funding agency representatives and agency staff. 
5. Model, and coach others to conduct business through cross department participation/teams and review, to utilize two-way communication and to foster accountability. 

Real Estate Development

1. Actively identify and pursue opportunities to acquire property; evaluate potential project sites and develop concepts to ensure financial feasibility and the maximum utilization of available resources; ensure project compatibility with VHA’s development strategy; propose appropriate project size, unit mix, building program and rent levels; prepare operating and capital budgets; prepare project/development concepts for comment and approval.
2. Understand, procure, and put to sophisticated use a variety of development funding sources including HUD capital financing, low-income housing tax credits, new market tax credits, historic tax credits, bond financing, private debt, CDBG, HOME funds, state and local funding sources and the use of project-based voucher income.
3. Cultivate relationships and solicit development proposals in partnership with private and non-profit developers or jurisdictional partners.
4. Creatively explore and propose new funding scenarios that blend public resources with private market financing strategies.
5. Negotiate terms and ensure the development and execution of all necessary project documents, including financing documents, purchase and sale agreements, development services agreements and design and construction contracts. Assure compliance with agency and funder procurement guidelines for all contracts entered during the development process.  Review and authorize budgets for individual projects.   
6. Oversee development and maintenance of schedules for project completion, including pre-development activities, acquisition, financing, design, and construction, and lease-up; ensure all designs, construction, and renovations incorporate universal design principles.
7. Represent VHA and its planned developments to the public, funding sources, elected officials, government bodies, neighborhood groups, business interests and others.

Community Engagement 

This position works to expand community engagement strategy that centers the voices of residents in decision making about services and programs that shape their lives, countering long standing histories of exclusions.  This done by conducting meetings to elicit community involvement and support in current and proposed development neighborhoods to determine housing needs.  Work to expand cross-sector partnerships and collaboration to sectors and organizations that serve the VHA residents to address inequitable community conditions and access to services through leverage, influence, service provision and investment. 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Clear understanding of the role housing policy has played in systemically disenfranchising Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC) communities.
• Fluency in the Fair Housing Act and Washington State fair housing laws
• Concepts, theories, principles, practices, policies and procedures of public housing and mixed-finance program planning, development, and implementation.
• Principles and practices of real estate financing and resources including tax credits, bonds and public and/or private sector funding sources; design, management, and direction of complex property transactions.
• Understanding of the use of a Public Development Agency and a Community Development Entity.
• Public policy as it relates to housing and commercial development and financing.
• Knowledge of and experience working with building standards, codes and construction methods and materials and environmentally sustainable materials and practices; principles and practices of universal design in building designs, construction, and renovations; principles and practices of contract negotiation and administration; principles and practices of real property appraisal and valuation; negotiation and administration of financing and property acquisition contracts.
• Methods and techniques of evaluating community housing program needs.
• Principles and practices of budget preparation and administration.
• Can interface with co-workers, management, clients, community partners, and others in a courteous, and professional manner. 
• Able to communicate effectively both verbally, and in writing using correct English usage, grammar, spellings, punctuation, and vocabulary.  
• Capable of managing competing demands and meeting productivity standards while handling frequent change, delays, and unexpected events.  
• Possess skills to organize and work independently in an environment of frequent interruptions.  
• Exhibit expertise in the design and maintenance of paper and digital systems to organize, store and retrieve records, data, and documents.  
• Ability to engage a wide variety of people with a high level of professionalism, courtesy, and good humor, including culturally, socially, and economically diverse populations, seniors, persons with disabilities, contractors, and professional colleagues. 
• Show strong commitment to maintain confidentiality in all assignments as directed.  
• Possess a high degree of proficiency in Microsoft Office products, including Word, Excel, and Outlook and otherwise to be effective without close clerical support.   

PAY AND BENEFITS

In compliance with the Equal Pay and Opportunities Act, the full salary range for this position is $123,492 to $177,632.  It is a full-time exempt position working primarily in office Monday - Friday.  

We offer a generous contribution towards health care:  100% paid for employee only medical and vision coverage, 85% paid for dependent tier coverage.  100% paid for dental.  A life insurance plan, short-term and long-term disability policy.  12 paid holidays, 12 annual sick days, and 11 annual leave days accrued in the first year.  This position is required to participate in Washington State PERS (Public Employee Retirement Services). 

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree in architecture, engineering, finance, urban planning, business administration, real estate development, planning and public policy or related field.
• Five years related experience in multifamily housing development and familiarity with tax credits and programs.
• Five years of management, administrative, and supervisory responsibility.
• Affordable housing experience strongly preferred.

In place of the above requirements, a combination of relevant education and experience which demonstrates the knowledge, skills and ability to perform the essential functions of the job will be considered.  

LICENSES AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Valid driver's license with fully insurable driving record required.  

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

To be considered for this opportunity you must:

• Complete the online application in its entirety.
• Upload a cover letter that addresses how your experience qualifies you to perform the essential functions listed in the job announcement. 
• Upload a detail resume of all educational and professional experience.  

For more information on the Vancouver Housing Authority, please visit our website at www.vhausa.org.  Please note, those candidates deemed to best match our requirements will be contacted for an interview.  We do not discuss application status during the selection process.  

The Vancouver Housing Authority is an equal opportunity employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.