Director, Real Estate

*This role will be hybrid, requiring two days each week in office, and can be based out of any of our Kansas City, MO; New York City, NY; or Washington, D.C. Corporate Offices. 

NeighborWorks as a Company and an Employer 

At NeighborWorks® America, our people are humble, passionate and creative. We lead with empathy, encourage curiosity and embrace ambiguity. For over 45 years, Neighborhood Reinvestment Corp., a national, nonpartisan nonprofit organization known as NeighborWorks America, has worked to make every community a place of opportunity. Our network includes nearly 250 organizations in every state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. 

NeighborWorks America offers grant funding, peer exchange, technical assistance, evaluation tools and access to professional learning as the nation’s leading trainer of housing and community development professionals. NeighborWorks network organizations provide affordable homes, owned and rented, financial counseling and coaching, community building through resident engagement, and collaboration across health, employment and education. If our mission inspires you, read on to learn more about how you can support our work. 

Caring for communities starts with caring for our internal community, our staff. Picture yourself in a collaborative and diverse hybrid environment surrounded by colleagues who challenge, encourage and inspire you. This opportunity offers an impressive total rewards package that includes a 401(k) match of up to 12%, 11 paid holidays, generous leave (including 40 hours of paid volunteer time) and industry-leading benefits. Start your career with NeighborWorks America and take advantage of our Staff Training and Education Program (STEP), designed to support continued learning and professional development. Our benefits are designed to support staff holistically, enabling them to give their best in both work and life. 

We are a mission-based organization committed to fostering a high-performing culture guided by our core values: 

• We hold ourselves and each other accountable. 

• We act with integrity. 

• We lead with curiosity. 

• We pursue excellence with courage. 

• We respect, honor and celebrate each other. 

• We collaborate with purpose. 

Work at a Glance: Create New Partnerships, Expand Fundraising Opportunities.

Position Summary: Real Estate Program Strategy Leader

The Director, Real Estate Development serves as a senior program leader and subject matter expert responsible for the design, implementation, and evaluation of national initiatives that strengthen the real estate development capacity and sustainability of NeighborWorks network organizations. Working under the direction of the Vice President, National Real Estate Programs, the Director translates departmental strategies into effective programs, grants, training, technical assistance, and stakeholder engagement activities. The position leverages data, industry trends, and network feedback to identify opportunities, improve program performance, and advance affordable housing development and preservation practices. The Director manages key programmatic partnerships, facilitates peer-learning and advisory activities, and provides technical expertise to support departmental goals and priorities.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities:

1.  Lead the implementation, delivery, and evaluation of programs that support business sustainability and growth in alignment with departmental strategies and priorities established by the Vice President.
2.  Leverage internal and external data to inform strategic decision-making and to identify trends in affordable housing development practices that foster innovation and timely responses to crisis.
3.  Manage technical assistance support for specific enterprise-strengthening programs, including national, regional, district and on-site trainings for the NeighborWorks Network and trainings to support growth in real estate knowledge across NeighborWorks America’s staff.
4.  Serve as a technical subject matter expert and provide programmatic guidance in engagements where real estate intersects with access to capital, portfolio management, resident services, climate resilience, and other initiatives. Support departmental thought leadership activities and strategic priorities.
5.  Manage and maintain relationships with an array of stakeholders, including institutions, industry groups, intermediaries, Government Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs), foundations, and leading like-minded practitioners to elevate NeighborWorks America’s real estate development and preservation efforts to develop best practices and to support affordable housing related advancements.
6.  Manage the Real Estate Advisory Committee (REAC), a committee comprised of approximately 18 network real estate staff members, predominantly CEOs/Executive Directors. This committee is designed to foster connection, solutions-oriented problem-solving, and peer to peer information sharing.
7.  Collaborate and leverage engagement with select internal stakeholders who provide thought leadership and real estate subject matter expertise.
8.  Develop and administer grants programs that are designed to advance real estate development and preservation practices in coordination with the National Initiatives Operations team and the Field Operations division.
9.  Work closely with the Vice President of National Real Estate Programs to optimize strategic decision-making during the annual budget process and throughout the fiscal year by prioritizing, advocating, and responsibly managing available operating funds. 
10.  Ensure timely payment and efficient contracting of any required external vendors in collaboration with Procurement and Finance. 
11.  Provide affordable housing development subject matter expertise and strategic advice for NeighborWorks America senior leadership. This may include participating in meetings with key external stakeholders and/or providing support for budget documents, discussions, and presentations.
12.  Work collaboratively with Marketing Communications to facilitate the creation of materials, such as articles, blogs, newsletters and to support external speaking engagements. 
13.  Other duties as assigned.

Nature of Work Contacts:

The Director of Real Estate Development will interact with a diverse group of internal and external stakeholders to achieve NeighborWorks America’s strategic goals, programmatic effectiveness, and information-based execution.

Key internal stakeholders, include, but are not limited to: National Real Estate Programs Team (Sr. Director of Asset Management/Resident Services, Director of Real Estate Programs, Director of Sustainability and Resilience, etc.); NeighborWorks America Field Operations regional staff with a focus on effective grant strategies and network engagement; Corporate Strategy & Impact with a focus on leveraging data to inform/guide, Organizational Assessment Division with a focus on organizational health and Resource Development with a focus on expanding and increasing key external partnership(s)/sponsorship(s) fundraising.

Key external stakeholders, include, but not limited to: Partners and funders positioned to help facilitate the achievement strategic goals and enhance visibility of NeighborWorks real estate development initiatives; NeighborWorks America network real estate development teams and grantees, financial institutions/funders (including the capital corporations - NeighborWorks Capital and Community Housing Capital) positioned to support the expansion of access to capital to the network, vendors/consultants as required, to execute and deliver on programmatic priorities.

Fiscal Responsibilities:
The Director of Real Estate Development will be responsible for managing budgets, overseeing grant development, and executing any necessary consultant/vendor contracts with Procurement.

Required Minimum Qualifications:

(a) Education: Bachelor’s degree in real estate, Urban Planning, Public Administration, Business Administration, Finance, Community Development, or a related field required. Relevant experience may be considered in lieu of degrees.

(b) Experience: Minimum of 8 years of professional experience in affordable housing development, management, or finance, including technical and leadership roles, or a relevant combination of education and experience.

(c) Licenses, Certifications: None specified.

(d) Competencies, Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:  

• Strong knowledge in real estate development and finance, including the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program (LIHTC), New Market Tax Credits (NMTC), etc.
• Significant work with and understanding of community-based nonprofits and affordable real estate development.
• Demonstrated strategic change management for innovation along with ability to conceptualize and launch new strategies and programs over a period of years.
• Demonstrated experience with grants management, including developing and administering grant opportunities.
• Experience developing and managing a technical assistance program, including the creation of new tools, resources, trainings, and peer learning opportunities.
• Demonstrated project management experience, including independent management of budgets and timelines as well as coordinating with diverse groups of internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to solve complex problems, analyze quantitative and qualitative information, and make recommendations.
• Accomplishments that reflect innovation, teamwork, integrity, effectiveness, and efficiency, including demonstrated leadership, ability to influence and bring about consensus, to be flexible, and to work independently.
• Ability to develop and maintain professional relationships, coordinating with national and local partners and funders.
• Strong interpersonal skills with a demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and successfully interact with people at all levels, as well as people of diverse backgrounds.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including public speaker.
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills, including experience conducting research/surveying and data analysis to improve program design and delivery.
• Commitment to advancing equity, social justice, and positive community impact.

(e) NeighborWorks America Staff are expected to demonstrate excellence in the following:

• Sensitivity to racial, gender, sexual orientation, and cultural differences.
• Effective, respectful, and timely communications with internal and external stakeholders.
• Listening effectively, seeks and accepts feedback.
• Effective team player and collaborator.
• Analytical, thoughtful, and strategic thinking.
• Ability to consider the mission, objectives, and goals of NeighborWorks America and demonstrate an understanding of the potential impact of her/his/their decisions and behavior on the organization.

(f)Technology: Proficient use of Microsoft Office suite.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Considerable knowledge of the philosophy and work of NeighborWorks America and the NeighborWorks America network.
• Familiarity with climate mitigation and adaptation strategies in real estate development.

Working Conditions:
(a) Travel: Up to 30 percent
(b) Physical/Sensory Demands: Fast-paced work environment. Work is performed in an office and field setting; extensive computer usage, including extensive use of video conferencing.

(c) Hybrid work environment - requires two days in the office

Salary Range: $101,000- $128,000

The salary offered for the role will be based on a variety of factors, including geographic location, internal equity, and the candidate’s qualifications/professional experience.

Special Provisions:
 None Specified.

Requisition Close Date: July 17, 2026, 5 p.m. ET

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools is strictly prohibited as candidates seeking employment with NeighborWorks America engage in our interview process. Prohibited uses of AI include but are not limited to, drafting and submitting misleading resumes, using or referencing AI-produced answers during any portion of our interview process, or using an AI notetaking tool. Candidates are welcome to take notes, but using AI is not permitted. Prohibited use of AI during the interview process will result in immediate disqualification. In compliance with the American with Disabilities Act, NeighborWorks America will consider reasonable accommodations requested by candidates seeking employment with our organization.