Job Opportunities

NLIHC Careers 

President and CEO

NLIHC seeks a President and CEO who will serve as an innovative and collaborative leader, and can drive strategic direction while amplifying marginalized voices through evidence based advocacy. Interested candidates should visit, here, for more information. 

For questions, please email [email protected] or call Crystal Stephens or Diane Westmore at 404-BoardWalk (404-262-7392).

Senior Vice President, Public Policy

The Senior Vice President of Public Policy reports to the President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) and oversees the policy team. Direct reports include NLIHC’s Senior Director of Policy and Director of Disaster Recovery. The salary range for this position is contingent upon experience and is from $148,000 - $185,000. This position requires physical time in the office, and the candidate must be in the metropolitan Washington D.C. area or be able to commute to our office located in D.C. for a hybrid work schedule.

Responsibilities/Duties:

Team Management & Development

  • Supervise and provide leadership to diverse, high-performing teams, including policy and disaster housing recovery, resilience, and research.
  • Foster a collaborative, high-energy work environment where team members are encouraged to innovate, take initiative, and thrive.
  • Provide regular coaching, mentorship, and professional development opportunities to ensure team members grow and succeed.
  • Promote a culture of inclusion, transparency, and accountability among teams.

Cross-functional Collaboration

  • Facilitate collaboration within the organization to ensure alignment with NLIHC’s broader objectives.
  • Leverage the full range of organizational resources— including policy expertise, compelling research, media relations, field engagement, cross-sector partners, and more—to build effective, integrated advocacy efforts to advance housing justice.
  • Collaborate with external partners, coalitions, and stakeholders to strengthen campaigns and amplify national messages.

Policy Development, Analysis, Monitoring, and Influencing

  • Oversee and provide strategic direction and support for policy team efforts to advocate, educate and influence federal policymakers in Congress and the Administration to support affordable housing and homelessness investments, programs, and policies and an equitable federal disaster response and recovery.
  • Establish the vision and strategy for NLIHC’s federal policy efforts, aligning them with our strategic plan and mission to serve the nation’s lowest-income households.
  • Develop and maintain relationships with legislative and executive branch offices, and with other organizations and coalitions.
  • Track, analyze, influence, and report on policy developments.

Board & Senior Leadership Collaboration:

  • Provide updates and strategic insights to the board of directors.
  • Participate actively in senior leadership meetings, contributing to organizational strategy, decision-making, and resource allocation.
  • Advise on emerging opportunities, potential risks, and innovative approaches to strengthen NLIHC’s influence and reach.

Organizational Support

  • Participate in staff meetings, retreats, trainings, and NLIHC events; convene and lead staff meetings in the absence of the President/CEO, as needed.
  • Coordinate planning and implementation of aspects of annual conference.
  • Represent NLIHC on boards, committees, task forces and work groups, and with media. Engage in public speaking on NLIHC priorities at meetings and conferences, and on Capitol Hill.
  • Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

  • 10-15 years of experience in policy, legislative, and/or advocacy campaigns, with a demonstrated record of success at the national level.
  • Ability to identify and strategize around shifting political climates to advance housing justice legislatively and administratively.
  • Strong understanding of the political, legal, and cultural landscape affecting the lowest-income and most marginalized households and their housing needs.
  • Proven ability to lead and motivate diverse teams, with experience managing cross-functional and geographically dispersed staff.
  • Excellent strategic thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities, with a knack for balancing long-term vision with short-term operational needs.
  • Experience working in or alongside advocacy, grassroots, and coalition-building organizations.
  • Unwavering commitment to racial and social equity in all aspects of work, and a demonstrated ability to develop strategies and tactics to create equitable and inclusive outcomes.
  • Highly adaptable, initiative-taking, and strategic, with the ability to thrive in fast-paced, high-pressure environments.
  • Persuasive communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to engage diverse stakeholders, including the media, policymakers, funders, and supporters.

An equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, NLIHC offers a competitive salary and benefits package. Interested candidates should submit a resume, cover letter with salary requirement, and a writing sample to Jamaal Gilani, Director of People and Culture, via email at [email protected].

Director of Communications

NLIHC seeks a Director of Communications to work closely with the NLIHC Vice President of External Affairs to support the implementation of NLIHC’s communications strategies. The Director of Communications will manage communication plans, media, brand, and public relations and expand overall visibility and reach in support of the Coalition’s mission, vision, goals, and objectives. The Director of Communications will supervise two positions: a Graphic Communications Manager and a Graphic Communications Sr. Coordinator. The salary range for this position is contingent upon experience and is from $92,000 - $118,000. This position requires physical time in the office, and the candidate must be located in the metropolitan Washington D.C. area or be able to commute to our office located in D.C. for a hybrid work schedule.

Responsibilities/Duties:

  • Manage the development and implementation of the Coalition’s internal and external communication strategies, including publications, e-communications, media, digital, public relations, and marketing.
  • Develop and maintain key communication channels, adapting and improving the approach in coordination with external trends and housing policy priorities.
  • Lead efforts to drive and execute external digital communications, including websites, social media, email campaigns, multimedia.
  • Develop and oversee implementation of external marketing and communications strategies, tactics, and deliverables.
  • Oversee development and implementation of creative assets.
  • Manage content and editorial needs for all digital platforms.
  • Collaborate with team leads to drive internal communications to support initiatives and programs.
  • Manage communications team workflows for requests, publications, and campaigns.
  • Develop/maintain strong relationships with reporters, writers, and opinion leaders in print, broadcast, online, and social media.
  • Maintain up-to-date database of all media contacts.
  • Pitch stories and secure regular media interviews and editorial board meetings for President/CEO and other Coalition staff and members as appropriate.
  • Collaborate with team leads to develop and implement messaging strategy.
  • Prepare and distribute press releases and media alerts; manage press events for NLIHC and state partners.
  • Manage the process of placing op-eds, letters-to-the-editor, blogs pieces, and other opinion pieces for president/CEO and other Coalition staff and members as appropriate.
  • Approve articles for Coalition staff and members as appropriate for placement in partner publications.
  • Curate new activation opportunities with media organizations.
  • Manage media performance strategy and metrics.
  • Develop and implement a comprehensive strategy for use of social media.
  • Monitor print, broadcast, online, and social media for coverage of NLIHC, NLIHC campaigns, and NLIHC policy priorities; reach out to amplify or correct as needed.
  • Stay abreast of new developments in social media and recommend advances and changes to NLIHC platforms. Maintain records of all media work; produce metrics of all social media contacts; prepare monthly reports.
  • Manage content development, writing, and editing of NLIHC publications.
  • Manage internal staff and state partners in development of media strategies.
  • Develop and implement webinars, workshops, and written materials to aid NLIHC members in use of social media and press strategies.
  • Collaborate with teams across the organization to amplify programs, projects, and campaigns.
  • Supervise communications team and interns.
  • Facilitate opportunities for professional development.
  • Assist in implementation of the annual Housing Policy Forum, Leadership Awards Reception, and other events.

Qualifications:

This is a full-time position, and candidates must be physically located in the metropolitan Washington, DC area. Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree. Applicants must have a strong commitment to social justice and NLIHC’s mission. This position would be ideal for someone with five or more years of communications and management experience. Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite and Adobe Creative Cloud is required.

A person will be most successful in this role if you have knowledge and experience in all aspects of communications, digital media, social media, media relations, PR, and brand management. 

An equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, NLIHC offers a competitive salary and a generous benefits package.

Interested candidates should submit a resume, cover letter with salary requirement, and one writing sample to Jamaal Gilani, Director of People and Culture, via email at [email protected].  

Fund Development Director

NLIHC seeks a Fund Development Director to work closely with the NLIHC Vice President of External Affairs to support NLIHC’s development and fundraising endeavors. The Fund Development Director will develop and execute multi-year fundraising plans to include major gifts, annual appeal, planned giving, event sponsorship, and campaigns. The Fund Development Director will supervise two staff (fund development coordinators) and will themselves report to the VP of external affairs. The salary range for this position is contingent upon experience and is from $92,000 - $138,000. This position requires physical time in the office and the candidate must be located in the metropolitan Washington, DC area or be able to commute to our office located in DC for a hybrid work schedule.

Responsibilities/Duties:

  • Lead organizational fundraising strategy and implementation plan to grow current annual fundraising.
  • Expand NLIHC planned giving initiatives.
  • Manage NLIHC’s donors and prospects base, developing and implementing tailored cultivation, solicitation and stewardship plans.
  • Manage major donor engagement – to include effective solicitations and other fundraising activities.
  • Manage research and apply to foundations for grant awards for various programs as needed; manage all aspects of post-award grants including reporting requirements.
  • Evaluate progress toward organizational goals/budgets and provide regular reporting to NLIHC CEO and vice president of external affairs.
  • Manage systems, processes, and tools to maximize fundraising capacity including overseeing donor management database.
  • Work closely across NLIHC’s external affairs and other teams to ensure brand representation in all communication outreach and efforts.
  • Lead and collaborate with staff on the management and planning of fundraising events and donor receptions.
  • Work with communications team to develop print, digital, and social media marketing collateral related to fundraising.
  • Plan and manage e-communications, to deliver NLIHC updates across donor base.
  • Plan and lead fundraising special events and drives.
  • Manage and maintain gift recognition policies.
  • Work closely with NLIHC’s finance team to manage financial reporting and tracking of donor contributions.
  • Manage development and execution of reports and proposals – oversee writing and archiving of all proposals with a long-term relationship-management approach.
  • Oversee monitoring of all donor information and use of Salesforce for donor contact management.
  • Monitor and report regularly on the progress of the development program, including NLIHC board reports.
  • Work closely with the fund development committee of NLIHC’s board of directors on planning for annual fundraiser.
  • Lead planning and implementation of securing event sponsorships.
  • Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

This is a full-time position, and candidates must be physically located in the metropolitan Washington, DC area. Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree. Applicants must have a strong commitment to social justice and NLIHC’s mission. This position would be ideal for someone with eight or more years of directly relevant fund development experience, and five or more years of management experience. Proficiency with Salesforce is required. Proficiency in grant writing is required.

A person will be most successful in this role if you have knowledge and experience in all aspects of philanthropy, giving trends, benchmarks, and best practices; research; fundraising techniques and strategies; data analytics; and development operations such as gift processing, prospect and donor research, and fundraising reporting.

An equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, NLIHC offers a competitive salary and a generous benefits package.

Interested candidates should submit a resume, cover letter with salary requirement, and one writing sample to Jamaal Gilani, Director of People and Culture, via email at [email protected].  

NLIHC Internship Opportunities

The National Low Income Housing Coalition is dedicated to achieving racially and socially equitable public policy that ensures people with the lowest incomes have quality homes that are accessible and affordable in communities of their choice.

NLIHC accepts applications for our internship positions on a continuous, rolling basis. Interns are highly valued and fully integrated into our staff work. We seek students who are passionate about social justice issues and have excellent writing and interpersonal skills. 

Winter/Spring, Summer, and Fall interns are expected to work 25 hours a week. Two-semester placements are possible. NLIHC provides modest stipends.

  • Winter/Spring: mid-January to mid-May
  • Summer: June to August
  • Fall: September to mid-December

A cover letter, resume, and writing sample are required for consideration. In your cover letter, please specify the position(s)/semester for which you are applying. Communications, media, and graphic design interns should also submit three examples of graphic design work as attachments or an online portfolio.

Current positions available:

  • Policy Intern. Tracks new legislation, attends and summarizes congressional hearings for the Memo to Members newsletter, participates in visits to congressional offices, develops materials for use in lobbying the House and Senate to achieve NLIHC’s policy agenda, and updates the NLIHC Congressional database. Interested students should submit their materials to Kim Johnson via email at: [email protected].
  • Research Intern. Assists in ongoing quantitative and qualitative research projects writes weekly articles on current research for Memo to Members, attends briefings, and responds to research inquiries. Quantitative skills and experience with SPSS a plus. Interested students should submit their materials to Andrew Aurand via email at: [email protected].