Manager of Advancing Black Homeownership Program

Department: Homeownership and Neighborhood Programs

Reports to: Director of Homeownership Programs

Time Commitment: Full-Time

Level: H

Compensation $66,547 to $81,520 *; We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, generous paid time off, life insurance, paid family and medical leave, and more.*For details on the compensation, see Your Compensation section below.

Application Deadline:

Your application is due by September 12th. We will not actively screen applications received after the deadline. Review of late applications is conducted at the discretion of the hiring manager.

Note to Candidates:

We strongly encourage you to apply, even if you don’t believe you meet every one of the qualifications described. Habitat is an organization committed to building a diverse and inclusive organization which means that we recognize that sometimes the best candidate may have a less traditional background. We acknowledge that requirements for educational and experience minimums create invisible barriers for historically oppressed populations in pursuit of employment. Combined with our equity practices, we focus on candidates’ abilities to excel within the responsibilities of the position, based on their experience found inside and outside formal education and/or work history. We welcome applicants from all communities, and strongly encourage Black, indigenous, and people of color, women, people with disabilities, immigrants, and members of the LGBTQ+ community to apply for this position.

Who You Are:

You bring a deep understanding of and commitment to affordable homeownership, grounded in a clear awareness of how Black Portlanders have been systemically excluded from opportunities to build wealth and stability through homeownership. In this role, you actively apply that understanding to advance equitable access to Habitat’s Homeownership program. You have demonstrated success delivering and evaluating culturally responsive services and addressing systemic barriers impacting historically underserved communities. You are comfortable learning and working within the Habitat homeownership model and are motivated to design and implement new, culturally responsive strategies to engage Black Portlanders and increase access to Habitat’s homeownership opportunities. You thrive in outreach-focused work and enjoy presenting, building trust, and developing lasting, mutually beneficial partnerships with community members, organizations, and leaders. As a collaborative, creative problem solver and strong communicator, you work effectively across teams while bringing in-depth knowledge of systemic housing barriers and equitable community development. Experience building trusted relationships with the Black community, you serve as a connector and advocate—elevating Habitat’s Homeownership program, reducing barriers to participation, and helping ensure the program is inclusive, accessible, and impactful for Black families.

Who we are:

At Habitat for Humanity Portland Region, we believe that everyone deserves a stable and affordable place to call home. Founded in 1981, we have built and repaired homes in partnership with over 3,000 people across the Portland region. Habitat for Humanity Portland Region is an independent affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International and operates out of three offices, four brick-and-mortar stores, one warehouse, and construction sites in Portland, Hillsboro, King City, Gresham, and Lake Oswego.

Habitat Portland Region is intentional about building a healthy and thriving organizational culture and envisions a community of staff, partners, volunteers, and donors who are deeply committed to equitable and anti-racist practices in every facet of our organization. All staff engage in continual learning and seek ways to operationalize equitable practices. Our Equity Statement and Cultural Compact are living, breathing documents that we continually work toward. Please visit our website and social media pages to learn more. You’ll be responsible for: Community Engagement and Partnership Development 40%

• Increase awareness of Habitat's homeownership opportunities among Black households through participation in community events, information tables, coalitions, and speaking engagements. Build and maintain strong relationships with community-based organizations, faith-based groups, advocacy groups and community leaders working at the intersections of social justice, housing, and equitable community development
• Collaborate with the Education team to develop and deliver pre-application workshops designed to increase participation among Black households and other communities historically excluded from homeownership
• Coordinate open houses and tours of newly constructed Habitat homes to inform prospective buyers about Habitat home features and quality

Program Strategy and Evaluation 30%

• Serve as Habitat's internal subject matter expert on Advancing Black Homeownership, advising leadership and staff on equitable outreach, applicant navigation, partnership development, and strategies to reduce barriers to homeownership.
• Lead the development, implementation, and ongoing evaluation of Habitat's three-year Advancing Black Homeownership strategy, establishing annual priorities, measuring outcomes, and recommending future strategic direction.
• Serve as Habitat Portland Region's primary representative for Advancing Black Homeownership initiatives with Habitat for Humanity International, local and national partners, community organizations, and peer agencies.
• Develop written publications that promote the Advancing Black Homeownership (ABH) initiative and highlight lessons learned
• Partner with the Data and Program Evaluation Manager to track whether outreach, navigation, and program improvements are reducing disparities in application completion, approval, and successful homeownership outcomes
• Partner with Data and Evaluation Program Manager to analyze application, approval, and dropout data by race to identify disparities or unintentional barriers
• Make recommendations and collaborate with program leadership to implement equity‑centered improvements in program policies and practices that disproportionately exclude Black applicants while remaining compliant with fair housing and fair lending laws.
• Develop annual budget recommendations for the Advancing Black Homeownership initiative and manage approved program resources and grant-funded activities.

Community Outreach and Program Navigation 30%

• Conduct culturally responsive outreach to ensure Black households are aware of Habitat’s homeownership opportunities.
• Serve as a visible, consistent point of contact to reduce mistrust rooted in historical housing discrimination.
• Explain eligibility requirements, mortgage terms, program requirements, and timelines in clear, accessible language.
• Help applicants successfully navigate program requirements and overcome barriers that may impact application completion such as gathering documentation (income verification, credit reports, identification, etc.).
• Provide one-on-one coaching to applicants throughout the application and approval process.
• Center feedback from Black applicants and homeowners to inform program changes and elevate participant voices in the organization
• Ensure program materials, policies, and communications reflect racial equity values and inclusive language.
• Champions continuous improvement efforts that enhance applicant experience and promote equitable outcomes.

To be successful in this role, you’ll**:

• Have a demonstrated understanding of racial disparities in housing and wealth-building;
• Have 5+ years of experience in housing, community development, racial equity initiatives, nonprofit management, lending, or related fields.
• 5+ years of progressive experience; 2+ of which is direct or leadership experience. (Or 3+ years of progressive experience, 1+ of which is direct/leadership, and relevant bachelor's degree.)
• Self-directed and highly organized, with the ability to manage multiple complex projects
• Experience managing community-based programs and strategic partnerships.
• Strong project management, communication, facilitation, and organizational skills.
• Experience with grants management, reporting, and program evaluation
• Knowledge of fair housing laws, housing finance systems, and homeownership programs.
• Strong relationship-based communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Strong public speaking, facilitation, and presentation skills, with the ability to engage diverse audiences and build trust across communities.
• Experience using data, participant feedback, and evaluation findings to inform decision-making and improve program outcomes.

**Any combination of formal education, paid work experience, unpaid/volunteer experience, and life experience will be considered. To be considered above and beyond the average candidate in this role, you’ll also have:

• HUD Housing Counseling Certification
• Experience designing and implementing equity-focused programs
• Experience with coalition building and advocacy
• Strong foundation in Trauma Informed Care

Your work environment and activities:

• Your workday will be located in a human-paced, team-oriented, business-casual style office setting.
• Depending on the position responsibilities, you may be eligible for remote/hybrid work based on performance, and access to essential work-related resources.
• While in the office, you will routinely use standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets, and fax machines.
• An office-based role means that your day will be mostly sedentary, with some time spent moving files, open filing cabinets, bending, and/or standing on a stool as necessary.
• Occasionally you will travel between other Habitat locations or temporary worksites.

Your Work Schedule:

• 40-hour work week, generally Monday - Friday 8:30am-4:30pm; some occasional evening or weekend work may be necessary

Your Compensation:

We aim to offer competitive pay and benefits and are committed to equity and transparency in compensation. Basing compensation on a candidate’s willingness and/or ability to negotiate leads to inequities and bias in how employees are compensated, particularly for historically oppressed groups. Instead, we determine the best possible compensation offer based on base qualifications, relevant experience, internal equity, and the candidate’s competencies for the role demonstrated during the hiring process.

Successful candidates are typically hired within the first half of the Pay Range and receive scheduled incremental increases. When starting in this position, your compensation will generally be between $66,547 to $81,520 salaried not exceed the range midpoint. The full range for this position is $66,547- $96,496 salaried.

Your Benefits Package:

We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• 100% employer-paid premium for health insurance (medical, vision, alternative care, prescriptions) for employee; 50% premium paid for dependents
• 100% employer-funded Health Reimbursement Account (HRA)
• 100% employer-paid premium for dental insurance for employee; 50% premium paid for dependents
• Generous paid time off: starting at three weeks of Vacation time; two weeks of Sick time; 11 paid holidays; paid birthday off
• 3% matching 403(b) retirement savings plan
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Disability insurance
• Life insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

What to expect when you apply:

We strive to ensure our hiring process is accessible to all applicants. We know your time is valuable and want to acknowledge the time it can take to apply for a position. We ask you to submit your resume, cover letter, and provide three professional references using our online application. If you need assistance or accommodations in submitting your application or throughout the hiring process, please contact [email protected].Candidates are reviewed by the hiring manager and the hiring team. Selected candidates will be invited to participate in a screening phone call or virtual meeting. The final round of candidates will be invited to interview in-person with the hiring team. Occasionally we may request that finalists complete a second round of in-person interviews. We appreciate the time and effort that you put into this process.

Apply here: https://bit.ly/HABCAREERS

We will begin reviewing applications on or after August 26th, and hope to begin the screening and interview process around September 2nd. If offered the position, and prior to starting work, you will be asked to complete a background check that includes a criminal record history record and motor vehicle record. Information from your background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining your suitability for this position.

Habitat for Humanity Portland Region is an equal opportunity employer and seeks to employ the best qualified people for all our positions in a manner that does not discriminate against any person because of race, color, religion, gender, marital status, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, veteran/reserve national guard status, or any other status or characteristic protected by law. This job description is intended as a guideline only and does not limit in any way the duties or responsibilities of any employee. Nothing herein shall be construed as a contract of employment, expressed or implied. All employment is terminable at will, with or without cause.