Director of Housing Development (Volunteer)

Description

Director of Housing Development – PromiseHousing (Volunteer)

Organization: Mentor A Promise

Division: PromiseHousing

Location: Remote with NYC-based collaboration as needed

Type: Volunteer (Unpaid, Senior Leadership Role)

About Mentor A Promise & PromiseHousing

Mentor A Promise (MAP) is a nonprofit organization supporting children and youth ages 5–18 experiencing housing instability in New York City. Through mentorship, education, social-emotional learning, and community partnerships, MAP addresses both immediate needs and long-term structural barriers to stability.

PromiseHousing is MAP’s housing and real estate development division. Its mission is to advance dignified, sustainable, and community-centered housing solutions that support families beyond crisis and toward long-term stability. The division focuses on early-stage development, partnerships, and innovative housing models aligned with MAP’s values.

Role Overview

The Director of Housing Development – PromiseHousing is a senior leadership role responsible for setting and advancing the strategic vision for MAP’s housing initiatives. This position provides oversight across housing development activities—from concept and feasibility through partnerships and implementation—ensuring that projects are mission-aligned, financially sound, and community-centered.

The Director works closely with executive leadership, development partners, and the PromiseHousing team (including the Real Estate Development Manager) to guide housing initiatives that reflect equity, dignity, and long-term impact.

Key Responsibilities

• Set the strategic direction and long-term vision for PromiseHousing initiatives
• Lead early-stage housing development planning, feasibility analysis, and project prioritization
• Oversee underwriting, due diligence, and development workflows across housing projects
• Guide partnerships with developers, architects, engineers, attorneys, and public agencies
• Support funding strategies, including grants, public financing, and mission-aligned partnerships
• Ensure compliance with zoning, permitting, environmental, and regulatory requirements
• Align housing initiatives with MAP’s mission, safeguarding standards, and community needs
• Provide regular updates, recommendations, and risk assessments to executive leadership

Qualifications

• Senior-level experience in housing development, real estate, urban planning, architecture, or construction
• Strong strategic and systems-level thinking
• Ability to lead complex, multidisciplinary development initiatives
• Experience navigating regulatory, zoning, and entitlement processes
• Clear communication and executive-level judgment
• Deep commitment to equity-driven, community-centered housing solutions

Preferred Skills

• Experience with affordable housing or nonprofit development models
• Familiarity with NYC housing policy, financing tools, or public-sector processes
• Background in community development or social-impact real estate
• Experience mentoring or managing development professionals

Commitment

• Senior volunteer leadership role within the PromiseHousing division
• Approximately 5–10 hours per week
• Minimum 6-month commitment preferred
• Remote work with periodic NYC-based meetings as projects advance

What You’ll Gain

• Executive-level leadership experience in nonprofit housing development
• Direct influence on the direction and impact of PromiseHousing initiatives
• Collaboration with mission-driven nonprofit and housing professionals
• Professional recognition and letters of recommendation upon completion
• The opportunity to help build long-term housing stability for families and communities

How to Apply

Interested candidates should apply directly through Idealist.

Help lead PromiseHousing’s vision—transforming housing concepts into pathways of stability, dignity, and opportunity.

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with our organization. At this time, volunteer opportunities are limited to individuals based in the United States due to legal, safeguarding, data-privacy, and programmatic requirements. We appreciate your interest in our mission and your understanding of these constraints.