Director, Housing Affordability

THE ROLE | We are seeking Director candidates with a passion for addressing housing affordability challenges to work closely with the lead partner for the Housing Affordability practice in our Los Angeles office. HR&A’s housing affordability practice works with cities, advocates, developers and housing authorities across the country to understand their housing challenges and develop effective solutions. 

The successful candidate will have a(n): 

Passion for housing affordability, community development and inclusive communities overall; 

Familiarity with local housing policy tools (e.g. inclusionary zoning, preservation loan funds, by-right development, etc.) and emerging housing challenges; 

Grasp of the development process, real estate economics and the ability to draft and read develop project financials; 

Ability to engage with local officials and community leaders on complex housing policy issues; 

Desire to help build the housing affordability practice by leading engagements, training staff and advancing thought leadership; 

Broader interest in HR&A’s work to address the most pressing challenges facing cities. 

Day-to-day tasks will require managing internal and external teams to complete housing market analysis, leading stakeholder engagement activities, and evaluating the economic feasibility of housing policies including pro forma analysis for a range of uses, market feasibility research, business planning, public-private partnership strategy, and public policy design. The Director will review and present deliverables to clients, including memos, reports and PowerPoint presentations; and will support the firm’s marketing and client engagement efforts. 

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED | Successful candidates will bring strong analytical, project management, relationship management and housing finance capabilities aligned with the roles and responsibilities described above. Most importantly they will bring a passion and interest in developing and implementing new programs and policies to address the housing challenges of communities across the country.  Key experience includes:  

6–10 years of work experience in housing policy analysis and design, housing market analysis, affordable housing finance, and/or consulting in a related field.  

5-7 years of experience in Real Estate Development or Finance, including 4+ years of real estate underwriting experience, preferably with affordable multifamily, and 2+ year of relationship management.  

Thorough knowledge of common underwriting practices and procedures.  

Thorough understanding of housing and affordable housing related market forces including general real estate principles, supply and demand economics and other multifamily demand drivers.  

A high degree of proficiency in real estate financial modeling, experience with affordable housing finance is a plus.  

Comfort synthesizing data and crafting a compelling narrative.  

Comfort presenting to internal senior leadership and external clients.  

Strong project management experience, including professional and interpersonal communication skills aligned with guiding teams. 

HYBRID WORK POLICY | HR&A fosters a collaborative and flexible work environment through our hybrid work policy. Employees work from the office at least three days a week, which allows individuals the freedom to balance their professional and personal lives while maintaining a strong connection to their teams. 

COMPENSATION | The base salary range for this position is $141,600–$163,779, plus the opportunity for a discretionary year-end bonus. Where an offer falls inside this pay range is dependent on experience.  We offer competitive compensation packages, based on qualifications and experience. We are an employee-owned company, meaning you will have the opportunity to benefit from the firm’s growth over time through participation in our Employee Stock Ownership Plan. Each year, the firm will contribute funds to this long-term wealth-building account and may make contributions to other retirement accounts. We also provide a comprehensive benefits package that goes well beyond coverage of 90-95% of healthcare premiums, including dental and vision coverage.