Policy Director - Real Estate Advisor

Salary Commensurate with experience

Position posted until filled 

General Description and Classification Standards

The City of Atlanta is pursuing the ambitious goal of building or preserving 20,000 units of affordable housing by 2030. The City intends to achieve this goal by aggressively redeveloping our public land portfolio for new mixed-income housing. Atlanta’s Chief Policy Officer is playing an important role in this effort, leading identification of sites available for redevelopment, organizing cross-departmental collaboration, and managing the disposition process to activate these properties.

The Strategic Real Estate Advisor for the Chief Policy Officer will work alongside Atlanta’s Chief Policy Officer to manage public land development and affordable housing policy initiatives. The role will lead a variety of initiatives for the Office. 

• conceptual feasibility analysis for publicly owned land designated for affordable housing, 
• exploring innovative housing policy solutions,, 
• communicating development concepts and policies to partners and the larger community, 
• leading the acquisition and conveyance of public land to our public, private, and non-profit partners
• managing the implementation of Atlanta’s Affordable Housing Strike Force across all major public land holding agencies
• and coordinating with developers on ways to improve site and housing design and increase affordability. 

Housed within the Mayor’s Office and reporting to the City’s Chief Policy Officer, the Office of the Chief Policy Officer is charged with driving meaningful progress and tangible results on the Administration’s top priorities, in partnership with City departments and external partners. Mayor Andre Dickens recently announced the creation of a new team to lead implementation of the Mayor’s policy agenda under the leadership of Senior Advisor to the Mayor and Chief Policy Officer, Courtney English. This team will utilize its unique position within City government to address Atlanta’s most pressing equity challenges swiftly, strategically, and proactively. The Office includes teams focused on affordable housing, youth development and education, neighborhood empowerment and place-based change, and strategic partnerships and strategic initiatives.

The position will work closely with other public agencies like Atlanta BeltLine Inc., Invest Atlanta, Metro Atlanta Land Bank, and Atlanta Housing to advance housing innovation in publicly supported projects. This position will serve as a representative of the office in various public meetings and will serve as project lead on real estate related initiatives. 

Supervision Received

This position reports to the Chief Policy Officer. Direction received is general and focuses on end results and the implementation of the vision, goals, and objectives of the Office of the Chief Policy Officer team. This is a fully seasoned professional capable of independently carrying out most of assignments typical of urban planning and community development. 

Essential Duties & Responsibilities 

These are typical responsibilities for this position and should not be construed as exclusive or all inclusive.  May perform other duties as assigned.

The Strategic Real Estate Advisor  will work collaboratively with internal/external stakeholders to achieve the following:

• Serve as development lead on team of designers, architects, and housing professionals to pursue innovative housing techniques and work alongside partners and developers to implement new solutions in housing and community development in the City of Atlanta.
• Support the Chief Policy Officer in developing relationships with public and private developers in Atlanta to foster innovation in new housing development throughout the city.
• Act as a liaison for small-scale developers and homeowners as they navigate city permitting processes, developing relationships with City offices to improve permitting process for new housing type. 
• Serve as project lead for the development of publicly owned land for affordable housing development, including site design, financial modeling, community engagement, and solicitation of developers for build-out and management of the property.
• Model and underwrite a variety of innovative design proposals on city-owned sites to explore market feasibility.
• Engage communities and neighborhoods in the design process in a meaningful way that productively informs design decisions including presentations, workshops, design charrettes, etc.
• Coordinate with the Office of the Chief Policy team to support policy solutions to increase and diversify the city’s housing stock with a focus on land-use and zoning, building code innovation, and introducing new housing types to the Atlanta market. 
• Represent the City in Housing Policy discussions, working to develop policies and programs that are economically feasible and support efforts to increase the city’s diversity of housing stock in an equitable manner. 
• Support other programs throughout the office as needed. Such programs could include support for the storefront façade improvement program, urban ag site designs, and historic preservation initiatives.

Decision Making 

Analyzes complex challenges and applies sound judgment. Selects from multiple procedures and methods to accomplish tasks. Establishes work methods, timetables, performance standards, etc.

Leadership Provided 

Routinely provides work group leadership, guidance, and/or training to less experienced staff. May act as team lead on large projects.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

This is a partial listing of necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the job successfully.  It is not an exhaustive list.

• Knowledge of real estate finance, housing policy, neighborhood development, and economic development principles
• Real estate financial underwriting and modeling skills for multifamily projects including for-profit and non-profit models, subsidy layering, and mixed-use developments 
• Ability to generate original local market studies and comps
• Knowledge of innovative practices for housing development
• Fluency in design and construction documents and software.
• Familiarity with the regulatory systems governing housing design including building codes and zoning/land use requirements
• Ability to manage complex projects and work with a team to achieve results
• Strong verbal, written and presentation skills; ability to work collaboratively to arrive at constructive solutions
• Strong ability to communicate verbally and in writing
• Community engagement capabilities

Minimum Qualifications – Education and Experience

Bachelor’s degree in real estate, construction management, urban planning, urban design, public administration, or related field (Equivalent professional experience may be considered for substitution for the required degree on an exception basis).

5 years of progressive project management experience in real estate or housing.

Preferred Education & Experience 

Master’s degree in real estate, construction management, urban planning, urban design, public administration, or related field (Equivalent professional experience may be considered for substitution for the required degree on an exception basis).

8+ years of progressive project management experience in real estate or housing. 

Essential Capabilities and Work Environment

Required physical, lifting, and sensory capabilities are requirements to perform the job successfully. Typical environmental conditions associated with job.