Director of the Office of Housing

Job Description

Director of the Office of Housing

The Opportunity

Housing is fundamental to a thriving community, and meeting today’s housing challenges requires more than good ideas. It requires thoughtful leadership, strong partnerships, and the ability to turn strategy into action.

Albemarle County is seeking an experienced and forward-thinking Director of the Office of Housing to lead the County’s housing programs, policy, and strategic initiatives. Reporting to the Chief of Human Services, the Director will help shape how the County responds to evolving housing needs while leading a diverse portfolio of affordable housing programs and initiatives. The role combines strategic leadership with operational responsibility, including oversight of federally, state, and locally funded programs such as the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program.

This is an opportunity for a leader who can see both the possibilities and the path required to achieve them. The Director will work across sectors, engaging residents, community organizations, nonprofit agencies, housing developers, governmental entities, and regional stakeholders to build support, leverage resources, and advance meaningful housing solutions. As the County’s principal advisor on housing matters, the Director will also provide strategic recommendations to County leadership and help translate complex housing issues into informed policy and action.

The successful candidate will bring both vision and execution: the ability to recognize opportunities, develop sound strategies, navigate regulatory and organizational complexities, and carry initiatives from concept through implementation. We are looking for someone who is as interested in determining how an idea can be accomplished as what should be done.

What You'll Lead

As Director of the Office of Housing, you will provide strategic and operational leadership for the County's housing efforts. Key areas of responsibility include:

• Housing Strategy, Policy & Implementation: Shape and advance the County's housing priorities by developing strategies, policies, and initiatives that respond to evolving community needs. Translate priorities into actionable plans and guide initiatives from development through implementation and evaluation.
• Housing Programs & Services: Lead a diverse portfolio of affordable housing programs and initiatives, including the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program and other federally, state, and locally funded programs. Ensure effective service delivery while maintaining compliance with applicable regulatory and funding requirements.
• People, Operations & Resources: Lead the Housing Division's staff and operations, establishing priorities, allocating resources, developing employees, and promoting accountability and continuous improvement. Provide oversight of the division's budget, funding sources, grants, contracts, and other resources entrusted to the Office of Housing.
• Partnerships & Community Solutions: Build productive relationships with residents, nonprofit organizations, housing developers, governmental entities, regional organizations, and other stakeholders. Bring people and resources together to identify opportunities, address challenges, and advance effective housing solutions.
• Housing Leadership & Executive Advising: Serve as the County's principal advisor on housing matters, providing informed recommendations on emerging issues, programs, policies, and strategic priorities. Represent the County with community organizations, governmental agencies, advisory bodies, and other stakeholders, communicating complex housing issues clearly and building support around a path forward.

The Leader We're Looking For

The ideal candidate will bring strong knowledge of affordable housing along with the leadership, judgment, and practical problem-solving skills necessary to move complex work forward. We are looking for someone who can think strategically while remaining grounded in implementation and results.

You will be successful in this role if you:

• Turn ideas into action. You can translate housing priorities and promising concepts into achievable plans, identify the steps and resources needed to move forward, navigate obstacles, and maintain momentum from concept through implementation.
• Lead with both vision and practicality. You understand the broader housing landscape, recognize emerging needs and opportunities, and can develop innovative approaches while considering regulatory requirements, available resources, land use and development processes, and community impact.
• Build trust and bring people together. You can establish productive relationships across sectors and work effectively with residents, community organizations, developers, government agencies, elected and appointed officials, and other stakeholders. You listen to differing perspectives, build consensus where possible, and know how to move work forward when interests do not fully align.
• Navigate complexity with sound judgment. You are comfortable working within complex regulatory, funding, policy, and organizational environments, including situations involving competing interests or political sensitivity. You exercise discretion, weigh competing considerations, communicate recommendations clearly, and make thoughtful decisions when the path forward may not be obvious.
• Lead people and create accountability. You establish clear expectations, support employee development, encourage collaboration, and hold yourself and others accountable for results. You understand that strong leadership includes creating the conditions for others to do their best work.

Qualifications

We recognize that strong housing leaders come from a variety of professional backgrounds. Relevant experience may be gained in local, state, or federal government; housing authorities; nonprofit organizations; affordable housing development; housing finance; consulting; or other organizations engaged in housing programs, policy, and services.

Qualified candidates will bring considerable progressively responsible experience in affordable housing, housing programs, housing policy, human services, or a related field, including progressively responsible supervisory or leadership experience. A bachelor's degree in public or business administration, social work, sociology, housing, urban planning, or a related field is preferred. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

Candidates should bring substantive knowledge of affordable housing programs, policy, and funding. Particularly relevant experience includes work with HUD-funded affordable housing programs and requirements, LIHTC and other state-supported affordable housing tools, community-based housing programs, land use and development processes, community engagement, and relationship-building. Experience in government or within Virginia and the surrounding region is valued but not required.

Why Albemarle County

Albemarle County offers the opportunity to do meaningful, complex work in a community that combines a strong sense of place with the opportunities and challenges of continued growth. Located in Central Virginia and surrounding the City of Charlottesville, Albemarle is home to vibrant communities, rural landscapes, a strong regional economy, and the University of Virginia.

The candidate selected for this role will join an organization that values innovation, collaboration, responsible stewardship, and continuous learning. The Director of the Office of Housing will have the opportunity to work alongside experienced professionals across disciplines while helping shape housing strategies and solutions that will influence the County's future.

For the right leader, this role offers something particularly compelling: the opportunity to help determine not only what comes next for housing in Albemarle County, but how we get there.

Salary Range:

The hiring range for this position is approx. $127,266 - $140,662 per year (Pay Grade 40). Starting offer is based on applicable education beyond minimum requirements and internal equity. The position also provides excellent benefits including 12 paid holidays, paid vacation and sick leave, health insurance options with employer contribution, employer-paid life insurance, VRS retirement, and continuing education/training opportunities. This is a full time, FLSA exempt position. Internal candidates will receive pay adjustments in accordance with Local Government Personnel Policy, §P-60.

Deadline for Applications: Position is open until Friday, September 18.

Virginia Values Veterans:

Albemarle County is a Certified V3 organization.

EOE/EEO:

Albemarle County is an equal employment opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any group or individual on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age or disability in regard to any aspect of employment policy and practice: recruitment, testing, selection, assignment, pay, conditions of work, training, leave, overtime, promotion, discipline, demotion, and separation.

Albemarle County Core Values:

Albemarle County holds its employees to the highest standards in fulfilling the County’s Vision and Mission. We believe in excellence in public service through:

• Community: We expect diversity, equity and inclusion to be integrated into how we live our mission.
• Integrity: We value our customers and co-workers by always providing honest and fair treatment.
• Innovation: We embrace creativity and positive change.
• Stewardship: We honor our role as stewards of the public trust by managing our natural, human, and financial resources respectfully and responsibly.
• Learning: We encourage and support lifelong learning and personal and professional growth.