Job Description--Housing Advocate

Job Description: Housing Advocate

Reports to: Executive Director

Salary Range: Depends on Experience

Type of Position: Full Time Exempt

Responsibilities:
The Housing Advocate is responsible for promoting the creation of housing projects which will accomplish two goals of equal importance: (1) addressing the housing needs of average and below average income families in Monterey County; and (2) ensuring that new housing projects are linked to and integrated within sound land use policies.

The Housing Advocate will assist the Executive Director in developing overall strategies and programs to achieve the housing and policy goals of LandWatch Monterey County, and will be responsible for the implementation of housing programs, to include:

• Forging strategic partnerships with other nonprofits, government agencies, and developers
  
  
• Identifying appropriate sites for housing and mixed use development projects
  
  
• Integrating projects within urban growth boundaries and other growth controlling policies
  
  
• Building the necessary public consensus to move projects forward
  
  
• Producing position statements, public relations and media outreach materials
  
  
• Obtaining public and private grants for development projects

The Housing Advocate will interact and communicate with the membership of LandWatch Monterey County, and with the general public, the media, governmental agencies and representatives of groups interested in land use and development issues, and will make public presentations as required.

Marketing activities assigned to the Housing Advocate will position LandWatch as an advocate for the increased availability of housing for middle and low-income families, and these activities will lead to the perception among policymakers and the general public that LandWatch is working for social justice.

Fundraising activities assigned to the Housing Advocate include researching public and private grant opportunities for housing projects, planning and drafting proposals and budgets, drafting reports and reviewing financial statements, providing copies of LandWatch press coverage and other information and updates to foundation officers, responding to inquiries from foundation officers, and scheduling periodic telephone conversations and/or visits with foundation officers. The fundraising responsibilities of the Housing Advocate will be overseen by the Deputy Director, and may involve coordination with consultants.

Desirable qualifications for the Housing Advocate position include:

• Fluency in Spanish and English and strong familiarity with the Latin American community.
  
  
• At least two years professional experience with affordable housing programs.
  
  
• Experience in the acquisition of public and/or private funding for affordable housing projects.
  
  
• Familiarity with a range of policy issues including transportation, housing, community development, air quality, water quality, water policy, natural resources, and land conservation.
  
  
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with other organizations and agencies to identify and implement policies.
  
  
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to make public presentations to large and small groups, and to write materials used in fundraising proposals, outreach, public relations, and board reports as necessary.
  
  
• Strong interpersonal and organizational skills including the ability to interact successfully with local officials, community leaders, board members, committees, staff, volunteers and the public, to organize and facilitate meetings and events, and to conduct negotiations, find common ground and develop consensus among disparate interests.
  
  
• Ability effectively to resolve conflicts.
  
  
• A bachelor’s degree.

To apply for any of the positions available, please send a letter of interest, resume, and four to five page writing sample to:

Chris Fitz, Deputy Director
LandWatch Monterey County
Box 1876
Salinas, CA 93902
Telephone: 831-759-2824, Ext. 12
FAX: 831-759-2825

[Back to Job Announcements]

06/05/01