Program Manager, Affordable Housing Development

A best-in-class city that attracts best-in-class talent, Philadelphia is an incredible place to build a career. From our thriving arts scene and rich history to our culture of passion and grit, there are countless reasons to love living and working here. With a workforce of over 30,000 people, and more than 1,000 different job categories, the City of Philadelphia offers boundless opportunities to make an impact.

As an employer, the City of Philadelphia values inclusion, integrity, innovation, empowerment, and hard work above all else. We offer a vibrant work environment, comprehensive health care and benefits, and the experience you need to grow and excel. If you’re interested in working with a passionate team of people who care about the future of Philadelphia, start here.

What we offer

• Impact - The work you do here matters to millions. 
• Growth - Philadelphia is growing, why not grow with it? 
• Diversity & Inclusion - Find a career in a place where everyone belongs.
• Benefits - We care about your well-being.

Agency Description

The Department of Planning and Development makes sure Philadelphia has well-planned neighborhoods, with affordable housing options and access to public art. We oversee historic preservation to honor the City’s unique history; help developers move their projects forward; create citywide and neighborhood plans; and implement zoning.

Position Summary

This is a management-level position fulfilling key affordable housing initiatives, focusing on strategic planning and implementation of affordable housing production and preservation programs. The position will play a key role in policy and program development, incorporating principles of affordable luxury, climate resilience and decarbonization into new and existing programs. This work involves extensive collaboration with other City agencies and external partners, including affordable housing developers, advocates, and subject-matter experts. Sitting within the Policy and Programs Unit of the City’s Division of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), responsibilities include planning, developing, and implementing agency programs, policies, and procedures as well as pursuing new funding opportunities.  These initiatives will benefit low- and moderate-income Philadelphians and be consistent with principles of equity and fair housing.  Work is performed under the general direction of a senior manager or director; employees in this class may direct the work of subordinate staff.

Essential Functions

• Leads efforts to evaluate the quality of affordable housing, including publicly-supported multifamily rental housing and naturally occurring affordable housing. Develops methods for analyzing, sharing and storing data, evaluations and findings.
• Creates requests for proposals for affordable housing programs, developments and related initiatives, and participates in evaluating responses.
• Convenes stakeholders and the public to develop meaningful goals and methods for tracking progress in City-funded production and preservation programs.
• Compiles information and research related to building quality standards, green building standards, energy performance standards, and other requirements or measures impacting the quality and functionality of owner-occupied and rental housing.
• Collaborates with partners in the Department’s Division of Planning and Zoning and Division of Development Services to develop policies, regulations, guidelines and resources for developers of affordable housing.
• Collaborates with partners in PHDC, the City of Philadelphia’s full-service community development organization, to develop affordable housing production and preservation financing products and technical assistance to support upgrades to building systems and finishes to meet energy efficiency and housing quality goals.
• Participates in the design and implementation of new programs and initiatives including, but not limited to, activities associated with the Housing Opportunities Made Easy (H.O.M.E.) Initiative, Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery programs, and the Home Investment Partnership – American Rescue Plan program.
• Identifies new funding opportunities, prepares grant applications, and participates in the implementation of grants.
• Participates in the development of major Division plans, reports, dashboards, and other publications including, but not limited to, the 5-Year Consolidated Plan, Annual Action Plan, CAPER, Housing Trust Fund report, quarterly City reports, grant reports, and the Housing Action Plan Dashboard.
• Develops original narratives, charts, graphics, and/or maps for plans and reports.
• Works with technical staff to improve existing and create new data and reporting systems as needed.
• Leads, conducts, and/or participates in internal and external assessments of program performance and impact, including racial equity assessments.
• Conducts individual and general staff meetings to discuss policies, projects, and procedures.
• Meets with other City agencies, partner organizations, stakeholders, and residents on behalf of the Division as needed.
• Serves as the Division’s representative on advisory boards, commissions and other organizations.
• Identifies and recommends professional development activities for staff.
• Participates in the hiring of permanent and temporary staff.
• Performs related work as required.

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

KNOWLEDGE OF:

• organization and function of municipal and other agencies active in the field of housing and community development
• principles and practices of housing and community development administration, particularly in the areas of affordable housing financing and subsidies and/or real estate finance more generally
• the local housing market and affordable housing construction timelines, costs and outcomes
• applications of climate resilience and decarbonization principles in residential development, including building systems technologies, architectural design, materials selection, and operations and maintenance.
• federal, state and local funding regulations and requirements for housing and community development programs
• principles and practices of working with a range of stakeholders and members of the public, particularly in low-income and communities of color
• principles and practices of program planning, development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation
• report writing and methods employed in the presentation of data and other information
• principles and practices of grant writing
• effective sources of data, technology and reference material used for data analysis and strategic planning
• research methods and the application and interpretation of standard statistical measures
• research activities in the field of housing and community development and their implications for local programs
• principles and practices of database development and management
• emerging technologies and their application to improve City services
• best practices of supervising teams of subordinate staff

SKILL IN:

• writing, creating briefing materials, and giving presentations
• community and stakeholder engagement
• effectively and efficiently managing, analyzing, and displaying data
• developing reports and grant proposals
• ArcGIS Product Suite
• Microsoft Office Suite

ABILITY TO:

• plan, schedule and organize multiple priorities and a high volume of work
• execute multiple time-dependent tasks with minimal supervision
• organize, assign, and direct the work of subordinates and support the professional development of staff
• evaluate the work of staff in a manner conducive to independent judgment, high performance and personal accountability
• analyze and identify relevant information from a large amount of complicated data
• produce clear, concise and comprehensive reports
• communicate effectively and present ideas in oral, written, or graphic form
• obtain cooperation and participation of City staff and external partners in the development and execution of programs and initiatives, reporting, and evaluations
• establish and maintain effective working relationships with city administrators and employees, economic and community development officials, civic, community and business groups, and the general public

EDUCATION:

Completion of a degree program at an accredited college or university with major coursework in public policy, urban planning, social/applied science or a related field.

EXPERIENCE:

Four or more years of experience in affordable housing, and/or community development or a related field.

INCLUDING

SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE

Three or more years of analysis and reporting experience.

OR

Any equivalent combination of education and experience deemed appropriate by the hiring committee.

NOTE:  Completion of master's degree in a related field will be considered equivalent to two years of the general experience requirement.

TO APPLY: Interested candidates must submit a cover letter and resume.

Salary Range: $72,000 - $85,000

Discover the Perks of Being a City of Philadelphia Employee:

• Transportation: City employees get unlimited FREE public transportation all year long through SEPTA’s Key Advantage program. Employees can ride on SEPTA buses, subways, trolleys, and regional rail for their daily commute and more.
• Parental Benefits: The City offers its employees 8 weeks of paid parental leave.
• We offer Comprehensive health coverage for employees and their eligible dependents.
• Our wellness program offers eligibility into the discounted medical plan
• Employees receive paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
• Generous retirement savings options are available
• Pay off your student loans faster - As a qualifying employer, City of Philadelphia employees are eligible to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Join the ranks of hundreds of employees who have already benefited from this program and achieved student loan forgiveness.
• Unlock Tuition Discounts and Scholarships - The City of Philadelphia has forged partnerships with over a dozen esteemed colleges and universities in the area, ensuring that our employees have access to a wide range of tuition discounts and scholarships. Experience savings of 10% to 40% on your educational expenses, extending not only to City employees but in some cases, spouse and dependents too!

Join the City of Philadelphia team today and seize these incredible benefits designed to enhance your financial well-being and personal growth!

*The successful candidate must be a city of Philadelphia resident within six months of hire

Effective May 22, 2023, vaccinations are no longer required for new employees that work in non-medical, non-emergency or patient facing positions with the City of Philadelphia. As a result, only employees in positions providing services that are patient-facing medical care (ex: Nurses, doctors, emergency medical personnel), must be fully vaccinated.

The City of Philadelphia is an Equal Opportunity employer and does not permit discrimination based on race, ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, source of income, familial status, genetic information or domestic or sexual violence victim status. If you believe you were discriminated against, call the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations at 215-686-4670 or send an email to [email protected].

For more information, go to: Human Relations Website: http://www.phila.gov/humanrelations/Pages/default.aspx