Director of Housing
The director is an innovative, pragmatic, and collaborative leader who aligns housing strategies with city priorities and community needs. They advise executive leadership with credibility, guide equitable housing investment decisions and policies, and implement change through shared goals, accountability, and efficient, regulatory-compliant business processes. The director also demonstrates political savvy and sensitivity to competing stakeholder needs. They seek out promising ideas and practices from peer cities, other sectors, key stakeholders, and their team members. They value people relationships, emphasize equity, and foster an inclusive culture where staff feel supported and empowered.
Well-qualified candidates will have senior leadership experience in managing multiple lines of business in the affordable housing sector. Their background includes delivering affordable housing, working with government, private, and philanthropic funding sources, establishing impactful collaborative partnerships, and demonstrating financial, political, and legal expertise, along with a strong commitment to public service. They are recognized as a leader who fosters an inclusive, open, and transparent workplace culture, where staff at all levels are meaningfully involved in decision making, data and evidence drive clear, timely decisions, and strong processes and procedures lead to lasting positive impacts in the community. Experience in the Seattle housing market is preferred.
The City of Seattle seeks a dynamic and inspirational leader for the Director of Housing to strategically lead and steward the city’s affordable housing initiatives and programs. This role is responsible for setting the strategy and implementing Seattle’s affordable housing policy and investments toward a vision where everyone has a healthy and affordable home. The director collaborates with national, state, regional, and local stakeholders, including community organizations, policymakers, and housing developers and operators, to bring expertise that informs equitable investment and effective programs, promoting values- and data-driven policy. Reporting to the Mayor, this cabinet-level position oversees investments from the Seattle Housing Levy, the seven-year, $970 million levy that funds affordable housing for low-income Seattle residents, leads an organization of 69 employees, and manages an annual budget (Download PDF reader) of $348 million that funds operating and capital investments.
The Seattle Office of Housing (OH) increases opportunities for people of all incomes to live in our city. The Office of Housing manages investments from the Seattle Housing Levy and other funding sources to fund the production, preservation, acquisition, and long-term stewardship of affordable housing in Seattle. Additionally, OH supports affordable housing providers and low-income residents, provides home repair and weatherization assistance, funds permanently affordable homeownership opportunities, and leads citywide planning and policy development on affordable housing issues.
Job Responsibilities
Lead the Office of Housing. Ensure the operations, investments, and staff of the Office of Housing support city housing priorities effectively and efficiently. Align operations and investments with city policy goals, service equity, and regulatory compliance. Prioritize investments based on mayoral and council priorities; collaborate with partners to understand their challenges and implement solutions.
Proactively, creatively, and collaboratively address the current affordable housing sector challenges. Working with industry partners, other city departments, Office of Housing staff, and public and private funders, and drawing from national peer cities, establish clear roles and action steps for the Office of Housing to address:
Affordable rental and homeownership housing supply;
Housing choices for people exiting homelessness, including permanent supportive housing expansion;
Permanent supportive housing resident and provider needs to achieve stable, high-quality, and safe environments;
Affordable housing provider stability; and
Tenant stability in Office of Housing-funded housing.
Advance the mayor’s housing priorities. Work collaboratively with the Mayor’s Office to advance housing affordability and production goals, as well as creative solutions to help more people experiencing homelessness move inside. Represent these priorities to internal and external stakeholders.
Analyze and recalibrate current policy tools. In collaboration with the Mayor’s Office, other departments, and key nonprofit and private sector stakeholders, analyze the current performance of tools including the Mandatory Housing Affordability and Multifamily Tax Exemption Programs and propose data-driven adjustments.
Strengthen the outcome orientation of Office of Housing funding and programs. Align capital and operations funding to regional and local housing need data, examining tenant stability, and clearly defining success.
Promote racial and social equity. Advance policies and programs that meaningfully address race and social equity, including stewarding the Community Self-Determination Fund, supporting place-based development, coordinating with the City’s Equitable Development Initiative, analyzing program performance data for equitable outcomes, and building equity-based leadership skills of staff.
Steward the city’s investment in affordable housing. Provide executive leadership and oversight of the Seattle Housing Levy, JumpStart Payroll Expense Tax housing investments, federal funds, and implementation of the Mandatory Housing Affordability and Multifamily Tax Exemption Programs.
Engage and develop staff. Foster an inclusive culture where employees feel supported, respected, and empowered to deliver exceptional service and innovate for the people of Seattle. Promote talent development for a flexible, growth-oriented workforce. Manage employees within a union environment, collaborate with union leadership, and supervise personnel actions such as hiring, grievances, and performance management.
Develop valued partners. Collaborate with community stakeholders, agency partners, developers, private sector stakeholders, property managers, legislators, policy makers, and funding partners to increase the supply of quality affordable housing. Represent the city with government stakeholders, housing providers, private sector entities, community advocates, funders, executive-level leadership with nonprofits, and other important partners.
Champion inclusive and accountable governance. Centers accountability, transparency, and responsiveness in the direction, management, and oversight of department operations. Leads ‘best-in-class’ administrative and operational processes that embed inclusive and accountable governance through rigorous fiscal management, collaborative program planning, and transparent, performance-based reporting.