Summary

The Executive Director is a member of the City and County of Denver’s executive body and is responsible for setting and operationalizing CCD’s broader vision, strategy, and goals within HOST. As the Executive Director, you will set the strategic direction and vision and lead the fiscal and operational strategy of HOST to drive high impact, equitable outcomes for the City and County of Denver.

Description

About Our Job

With competitive pay, great benefits, and endless opportunities, working for the City and County of Denver means seeing yourself working with purpose — for you, and those who benefit from your passion, skills and expertise. Join our diverse, inclusive, and talented workforce of more than 11,000 team members who are at the heart of what makes Denver, Denver.

What We Offer

The City and County of Denver offers a competitive salary commensurate with education and experience. The salary range for this position is $157,686 – $268,066. We also offer generous benefits for full-time employees which include but are not limited to:

A guaranteed life-long monthly pension, once vested after 5 years of service.
457B Retirement Plan
140 hours of PTO earned within first year + 11 paid holidays, 1 personal holiday and 1 volunteer day per year.
Competitive medical, dental and vision plans effective within 1 month of start date.

Location

City and County of Denver Appointee positions will be in-person roles. We believe we can listen better, learn more, and act faster when we are able to build strong relationships in the same physical space. With this in mind, we do our work together in person. We value in-person interactions. Our office is not remote.

What You’ll Do

The Department of Housing Stability (HOST) works to build a healthy, housed, and connected Denver. HOST invests resources, develops policy, and partners with community and organizations to expand access to affordable housing, help people remain in their homes by creating and preserving existing affordable housing, and quickly resolve the experience of homelessness. HOST also helps stabilize people at risk of involuntary displacement and assists those experiencing a housing crisis by connecting them to shelter services, short-term housing and affordable housing options.

We are committed to delivering exemplary services to residents while achieving meaningful business outcomes that best serve the public interest. The successful candidate will bring innovative and nuanced solutions to complex challenges, provide strategic vision, anticipate emerging challenges, and evaluate the effectiveness of our work.

Specifically

Engage with community members, advocacy groups, landlords, developers, and other stakeholders to gather input, address concerns, and foster collaboration. Conduct community outreach and facilitate public meetings to ensure diverse perspectives are considered in decision-making processes related to housing stability, affordability and homelessness resolution.
Lead a department of over 100 FTE, overseeing the work to respond to housing affordability and the homelessness while also managing the internal operations of the department, including finance, data, communications and maintaining cross agency, City Council and State of Colorado relationships, etc.

Housing Opportunities:

Create and implement strategies to facilitate the development of new and preservation of existing affordable housing across the city. This includes collaborating with state and federal partners, city council, developers, nonprofits, lenders and other community partners to deliver the creation and preservation of affordable housing units, utilizing funding mechanisms, policy, and exploring innovative approaches to address the city's housing needs.
Contribute to the formulation of housing policies and advocate for policies that create a more affordable Denver and promotes housing stability. Stay updated on relevant legislation and regulations, conduct research and housing needs assessments, and analyze data to inform policy recommendations and support equitable housing practices.
Provide oversight of investment commitments, financing strategies, and regulatory requirements, leveraging affordable housing programs including federal, state, and historic tax credits, private activity bonds, Proposition 123, housing choice vouchers, opportunity zones, etc. Serve as chairperson of HOST’s internal Loan Review Committee, ensuring investments align with the City’s affordable housing goals and strategies.
Participate in Colorado’s public-private housing consortium to address housing needs and challenges through the implementation of innovative solutions and making affordable housing more accessible.
Collect and analyze housing data to assess housing market trends, track program outcomes, and inform decision-making. Prepare reports and presentations that convey complex housing data in a clear and understandable manner for internal and external stakeholders, including policymakers and the public.
Foster collaborations and partnerships with other city departments, nonprofit organizations, the Denver Housing Authority, State of Colorado, Colorado Housing and Finance Authority, public and private entities to leverage resources and expertise. Participate in regional and national housing networks to share best practices and develop innovative solutions for housing affordability.

Housing Stability and Homelessness Resolution:

Oversee the administration of various programs under HOST’s umbrella, such as the property tax relief program, rental and utility assistance programs, homelessness prevention initiatives, and homelessness resolution. This involves developing program guidelines, managing budgets, ensuring compliance with regulations, and evaluating program effectiveness.
Implement strategies and initiatives to prevent homelessness and provide support to individuals and families experiencing homelessness and housing instability. Coordinate with service providers, community organizations, and government agencies to develop comprehensive approaches that address the root causes of homelessness and provide necessary resources and support.
Advance efforts to end homelessness by strengthening partnerships with city departments, the State of Colorado, nonprofit organizations, the Denver Housing Authority, government entities, private sector, service providers and other stakeholders to find new and leverage resources and expertise and actively pursue funding. Engage in regional and national networks to share best practices and explore innovative, evidence-based solutions to end homelessness.

Act as the subject matter expert for the department and represent the work of HOST at public events, and appearances, in media interviews, and with City Council as necessary.

What You’ll Bring

Education and Experience: A bachelor's or master's degree or comparable experience in urban planning, public administration, social work, public policy, or a related field is required. At least 10 years in affordable housing policy and/or housing development experience. Relevant work experience in housing, community development, homelessness prevention, or a related field is highly desirable.
Knowledge of Housing Programs and Regulations: Strong knowledge of affordable housing programs, housing vouchers, rental assistance programs, low-income housing tax credits and related regulations is crucial. Understanding federal, state, and local housing policies, fair housing laws, funding, and regulations governing housing stability programs is important for effective program administration.
Policy and Program Development: Experience in policy development, program planning, and implementation is highly valued. The ability to analyze housing data, assess community needs, and translate findings into actionable policy recommendations and program initiatives is essential.
Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration: Demonstrated ability to engage with diverse stakeholders, including community members, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and housing and homelessness providers, is important. Political acumen, strong communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills are necessary for effective collaboration and consensus-building.
Compassion and Cultural Competency: Demonstrated empathy, compassion, and cultural competency when working with diverse populations, including individuals experiencing housing instability or homelessness, is essential. The ability to approach housing and homelessness issues with sensitivity, respect, and an understanding of the unique needs and challenges faced by different communities is required.
Knowledge of Homelessness and Housing Issues: Familiarity with the challenges and dynamics of homelessness, housing affordability, and housing stability is crucial. Understanding the social, economic, and systemic factors that contribute to housing instability and homelessness, as well as knowledge of evidence-based best practices and innovative approaches, is highly desirable.
Data Analysis and Reporting: Proficiency in data analysis, including the ability to collect, analyze, and interpret housing-related data, is valuable. Experience in using statistical software and data visualization tools to present findings in a clear and concise manner is an important qualification

.Application Deadline

This position is expected to stay open until February 9, 2026. Please submit your application as soon as possible and no later than that date at 11:59 p.m. to ensure consideration.