Vice President for Housing and Income Security

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) is a nonpartisan research and policy institute that advances federal and state policies to help build a nation where everyone — regardless of income, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, ZIP code, immigration status, or disability status — has the resources they need to thrive and share in the nation’s prosperity.

CBPP combines rigorous research and analysis, strategic communications, and effective advocacy to shape debates, affect policy, and inform effective implementation both nationally and in states. It works closely with a broad set of national, state, and community organizations to design and advance policies that promote economic justice; improve health; broaden opportunity in areas like housing, health care, employment, and education; and lower structural barriers for people of color and others in communities that continue to face systemic barriers to opportunity. CBPP promotes policies that will build a more equitable nation and fair tax policies that can support these gains over the long term. CBPP also shows the harmful impacts of policies and proposals that would deepen poverty, widen disparities, and worsen health outcomes.

CBPP’s Housing and Income Security team works collectively on improving housing affordability and expanding access to cash assistance for families with low incomes, focusing on federal and state rental assistance, responding to and reducing homelessness, the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, related cash assistance initiatives, and child support services.

The Vice President for Housing and Income Security will provide leadership and strategic direction for the Housing and Income Security team, working collaboratively with team members to develop and execute a policy agenda designed to meet the housing and income needs of people with low incomes and to advance equity and justice. Reporting to the Executive Vice President for Policy and Program Development, the Vice President will act as a principal spokesperson for CBPP on housing, TANF, and related issues, while elevating the profile of the team’s other experts to maximize CBPP’s impact. The Vice President will work collaboratively with team members and staff across the organization to provide policy recommendations, research, data, and technical assistance to an array of important stakeholders concerned about meeting the housing and financial needs of people with low incomes, including policymakers, journalists, and other organizations. The Vice President also will work closely with CBPP’s Development team to ensure financial support for CBPP’s housing and income-related policy work and will serve as a member of CBPP’s leadership team, which helps set direction for the organization as a whole.

Responsibilities:

Vision, Values, and Leadership

• Develop and advance a research and policy agenda in collaboration with team members and other policy experts that promotes equity and justice, addresses historic and systemic inequities, and advances the team’s mission to ensure that everyone — especially people with low incomes and historically marginalized groups — can thrive in safe homes and communities and make decisions about where and how they live.
• Set expectations for internal and policy-focused equity goals and guide team members in developing effective strategies to implement them in accordance with our team’s broader, long-term vision for economic and housing justice and as part of CBPP’s internal organizational initiatives on equity and racial justice.
• Serve as a spokesperson for CBPP on housing and cash assistance issues for the media, at conferences, congressional hearings, and other speaking engagements.
• Work effectively and inclusively with internal and external stakeholders by building shared decision-making processes and transparent practices, staff and diverse partners, to inform legislation, regulations, and program design and implementation related to economic and housing justice for people with low incomes.
• Facilitate conversations that balance policy goals, organizational and team values, and strategic considerations with the team and as part of CBPP’s leadership team.
• Contribute as a member of CBPP’s Leadership Group to the overall management and policy direction of the organization and champion the Housing and Income Security team’s work within CBPP.

Team Management, Budgeting, and Fundraising

• Supervise and support both direct reports and the entire team. This includes setting work vision, coaching, mentoring, and delivering constructive feedback frequently to help team members advance our work and in their careers.
• Manage projects, anticipate challenges, set priorities, manage across lines of difference, and meet tight deadlines in a complex policy environment.
• Foster a collaborative team environment focused on trusting relationships, mutual respect, shared success, professional development, work-life balance, and a commitment to transparent and inclusive decision-making.
• Deliver timely and constructive feedback on written work, providing edits on structure, accuracy, and strategic value to team members and other CBPP staff as required.
• Develop strong relationships with funding entities that support or are interested in CBPP’s housing and/or income security work and collaborate with CBPP’s Development team to ensure continued financial support for this work.
• Effectively and transparently develop and manage the team’s budget.

Qualifications:

• At least ten years of relevant experience in working to affect public policy in a dynamic political landscape, and in advocacy or policy organizations, Capitol Hill, federal or state agencies, and/or academic or research roles. A related graduate degree may be substituted for two years of work experience.
• Exceptional management skills, including the ability to build trust with groups across the organization and across diverse perspectives.
• Demonstrated success in strategic thinking, planning, implementation, and problem-solving and ability to build trust and rapport with policymakers, partner organizations, media, and individuals with lived expertise in income or housing insecurity.
• Desire to incorporate the perspectives of people who have the lived experience of income and/or housing insecurity – including those currently or previously enrolled in housing and income security programs – into the team’s policy and program recommendations. Lived expertise in and/or experience working with people impacted by income or housing insecurity is strongly preferred.
• Deep knowledge of housing (rental assistance, homelessness programs, or other affordable housing programs) and/or income security (TANF, child support, and other income security programs), and sophisticated understanding of the intersection between them and other federal programs for people with low incomes.
• General knowledge of federal, state, and local government structures and other key stakeholders for housing and income security issues, such as housing authorities, state TANF and child support agencies, service providers, advocacy organizations, and policy institutes.
• Experience analyzing the impact of legislative and regulatory language on people with low incomes, communities of color, people experiencing homelessness, families with children, and others.
• Strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in managing and developing staff and in communicating the priorities of the organization.
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills, including the ability to clearly explain technical concepts and develop succinct, effective arguments using research and data for policymakers, advocates, and the media.
• Ability to develop strong relationships with funding entities that support or are interested in the team’s work and to collaborate closely with CBPP’s Development team to identify and cultivate funders to support future policy and research activities.

CBPP is currently operating on a hybrid work schedule of two in-office days (Tuesday and Wednesday) per week as well as the first Thursday of each month in our Washington, D.C. office. Candidates based in the D.C. area are preferred.

This position reports to the Executive Vice President for Policy and Program Development.

Terms of Employment: full-time, exempt.

Bargaining Unit Status: This is not a bargaining unit position.

Compensation: The salary range for the role is $175,000 to $200,000 annually, with the exact salary to be determined based on total relevant experience. Excellent benefits (including health insurance, vision and dental coverage, life and long-term disability insurance, retirement, MERP, and DCAP) and generous vacation, sick leave, and holiday schedules.

Please upload a cover letter and resume. In your cover letter, please include a discussion of what draws you to CBPP's mission and this role.

To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter here.

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values and welcomes diversity in the workplace and strongly encourages all qualified persons to apply regardless of race, color, age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, credit information, pregnancy or parental status, family responsibilities, personal appearance, creed, military or veteran status, religion, ancestry or national origin, union activities, disability, or other status protected by applicable law.