Director of Housing

Job Description

This is a full-time position in the Housing Department, responsible for departmental leadership and ensuring the effective operation of our housing sites and housing programs.

The position will work closely with the Vice President of Housing and Violence Prevention and a team of approximately 20 to ensure that YWCA housing communities and are well maintained and that they, and the programs, operate within budget, are well maintained, and that staff are responsive to tenants, residents and program participants. This position plans and oversees the implementation of the rent up plan for new YWCA Housing Communities, stays up to date on current issues impacting non-profit housing, and represents the YWCA on housing-related committees and as a media spokesperson.

**What you’ll be doing**:

- Provide leadership and oversight in all aspects of housing operations and some housing services, and work alongside the Vice President of Housing and Violence Prevention in the development of departmental strategic and tactical plans, in alignment with the YWCA’s strategic plan and values;
- Support the Vice President of Housing and Violence Prevention in creating a culture of inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility as well as accountability, and leading employee engagement strategies;
- Create and manage budgets and ensure compliance with funding agreements and partnership agreements;
- Recruit, hire, train and lead the Housing Team (Property Management, Homeless Prevention and Safe Haven) including direct supervision for 8 staff members (bi-weekly one to one meetings, coaching, performance development reviews, and plans)
- Facilitate bi-weekly Property Management Team Meetings and rotate chairing monthly Housing and Violence Prevention Team Meetings;
- Lead the Property Management annual team visioning process;
- Listen to, support and resolve tenant, resident and other program participant concerns, liaising with the Vice President of Housing and Violence Prevention as necessary;
- Liaise with multiple levels of government, funders, partners, and relevant associations;
- Provide ongoing and accurate reporting to funders and partners;
- Work collaboratively with Housing and Violence Prevention programs that operate within the housing communities including transitional housing programs and community development programs;
- Contribute to funding proposals and partnership development including sharing the YWCA Housing model with government, donors, developers and other non-profit housing providers;
- Communicate internally to service level departments (HR, Finance, Marketing, Purchasing) to ensure projects are following policies and practices and that staff are supported;
- Comply with health and safety regulations, assess risk and create strategies to manage operational risk;
- Work with the Facilities Manager to create and update capital plans for all housing sites;
- Work with staff to create rent up plans and deficiency management plans for new housing communities and oversee their implementation;
- Respond to occasional afterhours emergencies; and
- Other duties as required

**What you’ll need**:

- Master's or bachelor's Degree in a relevant discipline with at least 5 years’ experience in a leadership role responsible for decision making and strategic direction or an equivalent combination of relevant education and experience (work or lived);
- Experience in the non-profit housing sector is an asset;
- Being licensed to provide real estate services under the Real Estate Service Ace (RESA) is an asset:

- Excellent communication skills - both verbal and written, with the ability to absorb and explain complex information to multiple interested parties;
- A feminist, intersectional lens, and competence in trauma-informed practice and in supporting programming that serves marginalized and vulnerable clients;
- Commitment to Truth and Reconciliation and to embracing Indigenous ways of knowing and a decolonial framework in programming and leadership, including but not limited to programming that serves Indigenous people;
- Demonstrated commitment to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility;
- Comfortable embracing change and a trusted ability to lead teams through changes and challenges;
- Strong interpersonal and relationship building skills with the ability to remain calm and collaborative even under challenging circumstances;
- Competence in program management, employee management, financial management and budgeting;
- Ability to work in a high paced environment, with multiple, often conflicting priorities;
- Strong Microsoft Office skills; and
- Experience with Arcori Property Management software an asset.
- A valid clear criminal record check (including working with vulnerable populations) is required.
- The YWCA Metro Vancouver’s COVID-19 vaccination policy is currently suspended and as a result, vaccination from COVID-19 is not required at this time. However, should circumstances change