Senior Specialist, Affiliate Engagement (Equity Focused Programs)

Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) is seeking a passionate, purpose driven, systems thinker with a deep understanding of communication, affordable housing and equity to fill the role of Affiliate Engagement Senior Specialist - Equity Focused Programs within the organization’s Housing and Community Strategy team. The Housing and Community Strategy team works with Habitat for Humanity local offices across the US primarily through thought partnership, capacity building and investments in strategic programs. The team’s efforts are grounded in social justice principles and focused on equitable outcomes. The Housing and Community Strategy team focuses on identifying, investing in and scaling innovative approaches to affordable housing, economic mobility and neighborhood development.

At Habitat, we know that a system of intentional and systemic racial discrimination has prevented many Black households from owning homes, and the Black homeownership rate in the US is now the lowest of any racial or ethnic group. With the development of the Advancing Black Homeownership initiative, Habitat seeks to ensure Black households have equitable access to successful homeownership. As the racial homeownership gap has grown, we have responded with a stronger voice through advocacy, programmatic strategy and partnerships.

The Affiliate Engagement Senior Specialist is an agile collaborator and practitioner with experience engaging diverse groups in program design, planning and implementation and the ability to manage peer to peer learning, communities of practice and produce guidance and trainings.

The Affiliate Engagement Senior Specialist will also develop and implement a digital engagement strategy which includes helping to write and publish stories, strategic thinking and research products that help affiliates amplify and improve their efforts to close the racial homeownership gap.

This position may be based remotely within the US and requires approximately 30% travel.

Responsibilities:

• Support the Housing and Urban Development capacity support field staff. (45%)
• In collaboration with team members and partners across HFHI and the US HFH affiliate network, develop strategies to capture input from the network regarding Housing and Community Strategy equity focused programs. (25%)
• Develop and facilitate HFH affiliate advisory groups who will codesign strategies to address barriers to housing for communities that have been left behind. (10%)
• Identify and deploy affiliate-facing training, best practice sharing and peer-to-peer learning pertaining to US focused equity efforts (10%)
• Develop tools and resources in collaboration with Housing and Community Strategy Program Communications Manager to equip the US Habitat affiliate network on equity focused initiatives. (5%)
• Develop and maintain partnerships with affiliate leaders within the organizational network. (5%)

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience.
• 1+ years of community engagement experience.
• Knowledge of and commitment to social justice, racial and other forms of equity and systems level transformation.
• Strong program management skills.
• Ability to work both independently and as an active team member when needed.
• Strong communicator.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office 365.
• Active support of HFHI values and commitments:

-Humility - We are part of something bigger than ourselves.
-Courage - We do what’s right, even when it is difficult or unpopular.
-Accountability - We take personal responsibility for Habitat’s mission.
-Safeguarding - HFHI requires that all employees take seriously their ethical responsibilities to safeguarding our intended beneficiaries, their communities, and all those with whom we work. Managers at all levels have responsibilities to support and develop systems that create and maintain an environment that prevents harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse, safeguards the rights of beneficiaries and community members (especially children), and promotes the implementation of Habitat for Humanity’s code of conduct.

Preferred:

• Nonprofit program management work experience.
• Experience with programs focused on meeting the needs of people of color and diverse groups.
• Experience with Habitat for Humanity or other federated or nonprofit background.
• Ability to conduct topical research and produce quality written and visually appealing documents.
• Affordable housing background.
• Experience in knowledge management, peer to peer sharing and communities of practice.