Governance Manager

National Housing Trust•Washington, DC

3d•$70,000 - $85,000•Onsite

About The Position

National Housing Trust (NHT) seeks an experienced, 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 and ensures effective, efficient, and well-organized board and committee operations. The position reports to the CEO and is based in Washington, DC, with in-person work required Tuesday through Thursday. The Governance Manager coordinates board and committee scheduling, agendas, board books, meeting materials, minutes, action-item follow-up, communications, logistics, travel, and governance recordkeeping. The role also provides executive and administrative support to the CEO and other senior leaders and works with internal and external stakeholders to ensure governance activities are coordinated and completed on time. The ideal candidate is self-directed, highly organized, responsive, and able to manage multiple competing priorities with minimal supervision while maintaining strong relationships and handling sensitive information discreetly.

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.
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 handling inquiries and interactions.
Excellent time-management skills and ability to manage priorities, meet deadlines, and adapt in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
Effective interpersonal and organizational skills that foster collaboration across teams.
Strong budget-management skills, including expense tracking, invoice processing, expenditure reconciliation, and accurate financial recordkeeping.
Proactive approach, including anticipating needs, identifying challenges, and taking initiative to resolve them.
Discretion and sound judgment when handling confidential board, executive, and organizational information.
Commitment to NHT’s mission and deep dedication to supporting low-income families.

Responsibilities

Draft, compile, edit, format, and distribute board books, reports, presentations, memos, and other governance materials; review them for accuracy, completeness, quality, and timely delivery.
Review, proofread, and format materials and communications on behalf of the CEO, incorporating feedback and managing revisions.
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-through.
Oversee governance calendars and deliverables, coordinating preparation, review, approval, and timely distribution of board and committee materials.
Take accurate minutes at board and committee meetings; document decisions, action items, deadlines, and assigned responsibilities; prepare summaries and follow-up communications and track progress.
Maintain accurate, organized, accessible, and confidential governance records, including bylaws, resolutions, meeting 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, meeting preparation, communications, board-book distribution, and follow-up.
Coordinate meeting spaces, technology, catering, travel, accommodations, and reimbursements; anticipate and address logistical challenges.
Coordinate board-member communications, travel arrangements, hotel accommodations, inquiries, requests, and follow-through on action items.
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, and special projects.
Manage and maintain SAM.gov and other required registrations for NHT and NHTC, ensuring timely renewals and compliance.
Assist the Office Operations and Human Resources (OPHR) team with staff meetings, office activities, events, and other administrative and operational needs as requested.