Governance Manager

National Housing Trust•Washington, DC

1d•Onsite

About The Position

National Housing Trust (NHT) seeks an experienced, exceptionally detail-oriented Governance Manager to oversee and coordinate governance activities for NHT and its affiliated organization, NHT Communities (NHTC). The role manages the full board governance lifecycle, including board and committee scheduling, agenda development, board book preparation and distribution, meeting minutes, action-item tracking, board communications, meeting logistics, travel coordination, and governance recordkeeping. The position also provides executive and administrative support to senior leadership and coordinates with internal and external stakeholders to ensure governance activities are carried out smoothly and on time. The Governance Manager reports to the CEO and serves as the primary governance liaison for board and committee members, senior leadership, and external partners. The role requires extensive drafting, editing, proofreading, formatting, and preparation of accurate, polished, professional board books, presentations, reports, minutes, correspondence, and other complex documents. The position also maintains governance records and procedures, tracks budgets and expenses, coordinates board logistics and travel, supports executive administration, and maintains required organizational registrations. This Washington, DC-based position requires in-person work Tuesday through Thursdays. NHT is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating and preserving affordable housing and advancing opportunity, racial equity, reduced economic disparities, and community resilience through an integrated policy-plus-practice approach. NHT has a staff of 50+ across five program areas.

Requirements

1–3 years of relevant experience in governance, board administration, executive support, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of relevant education and professional experience.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to draft, edit, proofread, and communicate clearly, concisely, and professionally.
Experience in the affordable housing industry or a similarly complex, matrixed organization.
Exceptional attention to detail and a solution-oriented mindset.
Demonstrated ability to coordinate projects, manage competing deadlines, track multiple workstreams, and complete deliverables on time with minimal supervision.
Ability to create and design high-quality, visually appealing presentations using PowerPoint, Canva, or similar software, with attention to layout, formatting, branding, and visual consistency.
Professional, service-oriented approach to inquiries and interactions.
Excellent time management and ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and adapt in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
Effective interpersonal and organizational skills, including the ability to foster collaboration across teams.
Strong budget management skills, including expense tracking, invoice processing, expenditure reconciliation, and accurate financial recordkeeping.
Proactive approach and ability to anticipate needs, identify challenges, and take initiative to resolve them.
Discretion and sound judgment when handling confidential board, executive, and organizational information.
Commitment to NHT’s mission and dedication to supporting low-income families.

Responsibilities

Draft, compile, edit, format, and distribute board books, reports, presentations, memos, and other governance-related materials for NHT and NHTC.
Review, proofread, and format materials and communications on behalf of the CEO; incorporate feedback and manage revisions to meet deadlines.
Serve as the primary governance liaison for NHT and NHTC board and committee members, senior leadership, and external partners; manage correspondence, inquiries, requests, reminders, and action-item follow-up.
Oversee governance calendars and deliverables, coordinating preparation, review, approval, and timely distribution of board and committee materials; follow up with contributors to ensure accuracy, completeness, and timeliness.
Take accurate minutes at board and committee meetings, document decisions and action items, prepare summaries and follow-up communications, and track progress and assigned responsibilities.
Maintain accurate, organized, accessible, and confidential governance records, including bylaws, resolutions, minutes, and committee documents.
Develop, maintain, and improve governance policies, procedures, templates, and workflows.
Coordinate NHT and NHTC board and committee meetings, including scheduling, agendas, materials, logistics, and written follow-up.
Work with the CEO, COO, board members, senior leadership, and staff to coordinate governance activities and meeting preparation, communications, distribution of materials, and follow-up.
Oversee meeting logistics, including meeting spaces, technology, catering, travel, accommodations, and reimbursements; anticipate and address logistical challenges.
Coordinate board member communications and logistics, including travel, hotel arrangements, inquiries, requests, and action-item follow-through.
Develop, manage, and monitor governance-related budgets and expenses, including meeting costs, travel, and reimbursements.
Provide high-level administrative support to the CEO, including calendar management, scheduling, correspondence, expense reports, travel and hotel arrangements, conference registrations, and other executive support.
Provide administrative and logistical support to senior leadership, including senior team meetings, scheduling, meeting preparation, special projects, coordination, and follow-through.
Manage and maintain SAM.gov and other required registrations for NHT and NHTC, including timely renewals and compliance.
Assist the Office Operations and Human Resources team with staff meetings, office activities, events, and other administrative and operational needs as requested.