NLIHC Careers
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].
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].