Executive Director - Dallas Community Land Trust

Communities Foundation of Texas•University Park, TX

About The Position

The Dallas Community Land Trust (DCLT) is a newly established nonprofit organization dedicated to acquiring, developing and stewarding land for the purpose of creating and preserving permanently affordable housing opportunities in the City of Dallas for low-to-moderate income families while helping to build and preserve equitable, inclusive, and culturally sustainable neighborhoods and communities in Dallas. The DCLT is a registered charitable organization in accordance with IRC § 501(c)(3). The DCLT has an independent Board that is made up of community leaders in housing development and two intermediaries (The Real Estate Council and Communities Foundation of Texas). The Board is in the process of expanding to include additional members who enhance the organization’s prospects for success. Eventually, one-third of the seats will be filled with DCLT homeowners and leaseholders. To ensure the sustainability of the organization during its startup phase, Communities Foundation of Texas (CFT) has agreed to serve as an incubator for the organization. For a period of up to 5 years, CFT will provide the organization with in-kind back-office support, which includes hiring the Executive Director as a member of its staff and providing resources to allow the Executive Director to add a team member. The DCLT is seeking an Executive Director (ED) to lead the organization in its mission to acquire and steward land for the benefit of developing and preserving permanently affordable housing in Dallas, and build trust in an approach that is largely unfamiliar to local stakeholders. The organization’s primary objective will be to provide homeownership opportunities for low-income households earning 60-80% of the area median income, and secondarily, to steward non-residential community assets, and /or provide affordable rental housing. The DCLT expects to pursue multiple strategies to grow its portfolio of homes including: New construction in partnership with developers, Renovation of existing homes(single and multifamily), Acquisition of existing single family rental homeproperties. The portfolio and strategy will evolve over time as the DCLT strengthens its partnerships and funding pipeline. The ED is ultimately responsible for the overall direction, execution, and effectiveness of the entire organization. The ED will oversee all aspects of the organization’s operations including strategic planning, partnerships, marketing, real estate development, community engagement, fiscal management, fundraising, and board relations. The ED will be the public face of the DCLT and must be a dynamic, visionary and culturally competent leader with a strong entrepreneurial spirit, committed to increasing access to homeownership through a community-driven approach. This is a unique opportunity to build a high-impact organization from the ground up with the advantage of strong backing from established organizations.

Requirements

10+ years of progressive experience at the executive or management level in non-profit management or a related field
Proven experience in community development, affordable housing, or real estate
Experience in fundraising, grant writing, and budget management
Strong project management and organizational skills
Excellent written and verbal communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills
Bachelor's degree required

Nice To Haves

Master's degree preferred
Experience with Community Land Trusts or similar shared-equity housing models
Experience in real estate development and affordable housing finance
Knowledge of local housing market conditions and community needs in Dallas

Responsibilities

Continue to develop and execute a comprehensive strategic plan aligned with DCLT's mission and vision.
Foster an effective and collaborative relationship with the Board of Directors and committees.
Represent DCLT in the community to promote its mission and enhance its public profile.
Create a clear performance evaluation process in collaboration with Board members including goals, metrics, and outcomes reporting.
Develop and implement operational plans for property acquisition, real estate development (through partnerships with developers), property management, community outreach, and homeowner support.
Oversee the execution and tracking of operational plans and report results to the Board.
Ensure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations pertaining to Community Land Trusts and affordable housing development organizations.
Oversee the engagement and management of service providers including risk management, human resources, and financial reporting.
Serve as a key representative of DCLT in the community and with the City of Dallas, advocating for equitable community development practices and shared equity housing models.
Develop and maintain partnerships with other organizations, community groups, and agencies to enhance the impact of DCLT’s work.
Engage with residents and community members to build support for and trust in the DCLT model.
Build and lead a high-performing team that is united around mission and characterized by strong internal coordination.
Build a positive, collaborative, transparent and ethical organizational culture.
Adhere to human resources policies and practices.
Oversee all operational and financial reporting activities of the organization.
Work with staff, contracted accounting partners, and the Board to prepare a comprehensive budget, administer the funds according to the approved budget, monitor the monthly cash flow, and provide regular reports to the Board on the revenues and expenditures of the organization.
Work with the Board to create short-term and 5-year revenue models aligned with programmatic goals to ensure the financial sustainability and solvency of the organization.
Refine and implement the resource development plan in accordance with revenue models and the projected budget.
Guide and lead all fundraising activities including overseeing the submission of grant proposals and grant reporting.
Ensure compliance with all contract, grant, and regulatory requirements.
Ensure compliance and submission of annual audit, tax, and insurance filings/policies.
Identify and pursue viable property acquisition opportunities including through the Land Bank and auctions.
Develop and implement strategies for real estate development and property management.
Build and maintain strong relationships with City of Dallas officials, developers, contractors, and other key stakeholders.