Job Announcement

Director of Advocacy and Government Affairs

About the National Fair Housing Alliance

The National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) has an immediate opening for a dynamic, results-oriented visionary to serve as the Director of Advocacy and Government Affairs. NFHA leads the fair housing movement and is the nation's only national organization exclusively dedicated to eliminating all forms of housing discrimination and ensuring equitable opportunities for all people and communities. We have a diverse, experienced, mission-driven, and impactful team that has developed equity-based policies at the federal, state, and local levels to expand fair housing opportunities; brought precedent-setting litigation to eliminate some of the most heinous forms of housing discrimination; conducted groundbreaking research to promote equitable solutions; and invested millions of dollars in underserved communities. We have solid relationships, built on trust, with national, regional, and local organizations, and we effectively draw upon these connections to reach vital goals. We are game changers that millions of people rely upon to advance fair housing.

Where you live matters. It affects every aspect of your life and determines whether you have access to the options and opportunities we all need to thrive. Yet despite important existing federal laws, more than 4 million acts of housing discrimination occur in the U.S. each year, and housing inequality remains stubbornly entrenched. That is why—through its education and outreach, member services, public policy, and advocacy, housing and community development, Responsible AI, enforcement, and consulting and compliance programs—NFHA is dismantling longstanding barriers to equity, rooting out bias, and building diverse, inclusive, well-resourced communities.

To learn more about NFHA, please visit https://nationalfairhousing.org/.

Director of Advocacy and Government Affairs

Department: Public Policy

Supervisor: Nikitra Bailey, Executive Vice President

Location: Washington, D.C. (hybrid)

Status: Full-time Exempt

Position Summary

The Director of Advocacy and Government Affairs at the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) will manage and coordinate policy and legislative advocacy efforts. This role involves advocating for NFHA's policy positions, maintaining relationships with government officials, and collaborating with industry and non-governmental organization (NGO) partners to support inclusive and transformational fair housing and lending policies at the federal and state levels. The Director will work closely with the Executive Vice President, Public Policy division staff, division leaders, and other colleagues to align NFHA's advocacy efforts with its overall policy and legislative strategy. They will also play a key role in the civil rights community, advocating for policies and legislation that promote fair housing and equitable opportunities while upholding a commitment to civil rights protection and expansion.

Duties & Responsibilities

Under the guidance of the Executive Vice President, the Director of Advocacy and Government Affairs will:

• Conduct advocacy and government affairs initiatives for NFHA members on civil rights, housing, lending, and community development issues.
• Represent NFHA in meetings on Capitol Hill.
• Draft and provide expert testimony to governmental bodies as needed.
• Draft policy briefs and contribute to publications.
• Develop responses to federal regulations and coordinate commenting strategies.
• Develop and implement strategic policy priorities and advocacy campaigns.
• Construct and execute field advocacy strategies.
• Handle rapid response for policy and legislative developments.
• Organize advocacy events, such as Capitol Hill Advocacy days.
• Create policy messaging materials, talking points, and reports.
• Offer technical assistance on policy and advocacy to external partners.
• Present at conferences and community events.
• Represent NFHA's policy positions in various media outlets.
• Engage with NFHA’s coalition partners and manage coalition activities, including representing NFHA in the Fair Housing and Fair Lending Task Force of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and other relevant coalitions.
• Build partnerships to advance fair housing policy.
• Participate in departmental planning and program development.
• Ensure compliance with lobbying and disclosure regulations.
• Support the Executive Vice President in working with the Board Government Affairs Advisory Committee.
• Contribute to policy-related content at member trainings and conferences.
• Carry out additional duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• The Director of Advocacy and Government Affairs must possess strong interpersonal and project management skills; be organized, creative and effective; exercise good judgment; and be able to take decisive action.
• Minimum of five years of experience in civil rights, housing, lending, or related policy fields is preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Public Administration, Public Policy, Law, Sociology, or related field, or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience, required.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and strong project management and organizational skills required. 
• Capitol Hill and/or advocacy experience is required.
• Must be able to develop and nurture strategic relationships on Capitol Hill, with the Executive Branch, and with external partners of varying issue-focused and political leanings. 
• Possess a commitment to NFHA’s mission, civil rights, and have the ability to represent NFHA in a professional manner.
• Ability to build and sustain strategic relationships across various political landscapes.
• Relevant certifications in nonprofit management, advocacy, or civil rights law are a plus.

Application Process:

The salary range for this role is between $80,000 - $100,000. Salary is commensurate with experience. NFHA offers:

• 100% paid health, vision, and dental coverage for employees and family
• 100% paid life, long-term disability, and long-term care insurance
• Generous employer contribution to 403(b) retirement benefit plan
• Comprehensive paid time off benefits, including holidays, vacation and sick leave

Interested applicants should send a resume and cover letter via email to careers@nationalfairhousing.org with a subject line of: Director of Advocacy and Government Affairs Applicant. Incomplete applications will not be considered. No telephone calls, please.

Applications will be reviewed as received, and the position will be open until filled.

Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Statement:

NFHA values and encourages diversity in its workforce. NFHA supports affirmative action and is dedicated to promoting equal employment opportunities. NFHA does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, family responsibilities, disability, matriculation, political affiliation, or any other category or characteristic protected by the laws of the United States or the District of Columbia.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging

Nonprofit HR is committed to fostering and maintaining a work environment where diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are fully integrated into everything we do for the benefit of our employees and the clients that we serve. To fully realize our goal, we prioritize our understanding of the complexities of DEI within our workforce to inform our approach to talent management. We believe that this guides how we do our work, advise our clients to operationalize DEI and position our content and educational opportunities help strengthen the talent management capacity of the social impact sector.

Continue reading our about our commitment at nonprofithr.com/deinow.