Atlanta Land Trust Collaborative

JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE : Executive Director

REPORTS TO: Board of Directors

POSITION SUMMARY: Serves as chief executive officer with responsibility for the overall operation and administration of a non-profit organization committed to the creation of CLT’s in Altanta. Works with the membership, an active board of directors and committed staff to provide access to land and housing for persons of low and moderate income.

Overview

Starting in the fall of 2008, over 30 public, private nonprofit and community organizations worked for over a year to create a framework for the development of community land trusts in Atlanta. Under the leadership of The BeltLine Partnership, Inc, these groups created the Atlanta Land Trust Collaborative (ALTC) to maintain affordability in neighborhoods at risk of gentrification and displacement due to the BeltLine and throughout the City of Atlanta.

The ALTC is spearheading the creation of Community Land Trusts (CLTs) in order to:

· Provide access to land and housing to low- and moderate-income residents;

· Increase long-term community control of neighborhood resources;

· Empower residents through involvement and participation in the organization; and

· Preserve the affordability of housing permanently.

With an eye towards balancing the principle of community empowerment with the need for economies of scale and efficiency, the Atlanta Land Trust Collaborative was formed as a hybrid approach that attempts to combine neighborhood-based, resident-controlled CLTs with a “Central Server” that can support the development and operation of CLTs throughout the city and introduce a degree of standardization into the ways in which CLT homes are funded, taxed, financed, and marketed in Atlanta.

This hybrid model is unique in the nation, and could have significant implications for the development of CLT’s moving forward. The National CLT Network has expressed its support for the approach, and we have already been approached by national funders and CLTs in other states interested in the Central Server concept. We expect this hybrid approach will help the CLT movement in its linked efforts to become more financially sustainable and to grow to scale.

The BeltLine

The BeltLine is one of the most comprehensive economic development efforts ever undertaken in the City of Atlanta, and the largest, most wide-ranging urban redevelopment project in the country at this time. With a 25-year project horizon, the BeltLine will combine green-space, trails, transit, and new mixed-use development along 22 miles of historic rail segments that encircle the urban core. The BeltLine will touch and link 45 separate neighborhoods in the city of Atlanta. (www.beltline.org).

Along with the hybrid nature of the Central Server model, the efforts of the BeltLine Partnership and its partners to address the potential for displacement through the development of permanent affordable housing at the front-end of the project is unique as well, and could serve as a model for other large-scale urban redevelopment efforts across the country.

Function s of the Executive Director

Given the unique nature of the ALTC and its mission, we are looking for a candidate with a wide range of skills and experiences, including:

· Launching a new organization

· High-level partnership development and policy advocacy

· Working with grassroots leadership and community-based organizations

· Real-estate development and finance, particularly in a CLT or other shared-equity environment

Primary Functions :

1. Plan, direct, coordinate and evaluate the variety of programs and activities of the organization.

o Prepare organization and program budgets and work plans.

o Create key partnerships with a range of public and private stakeholders including strategy development, drafting of partnership agreements, partnership management, etc.

o Advocate for supportive public policies, funding regulations, valuation/taxation procedures and private lending practices with a range of stakeholders including the City of Atlanta, Atlanta Development Authority, Fulton County Tax Commissioner and local banks.

o Work with community groups to help develop local CLT’s.

o Work to support and increase the capacity of local CLT’s once they are formed.

o Create model practices and standards for managing the relationship between the ALTC and local CLT’s.

o Supervise the initiation, structuring and monitoring of development projects to create permanently affordable housing in neighborhoods without local CLT’s.

o Once developed, manage and maintain properties and create positive, equitable relationships with ALTC property residents.

2. Fund-raising (in conjunction with the Board)

o Develop a fundraising strategy for the organization;

o Identify and cultivate funding sources; and

o Prepare and submit funding/grant proposals

3. Supervision

o The E.D. is directly accountable to the Board of Directors, who reviews and evaluates work and results.

o Hire, fire, supervise, assist and evaluate all staff.

Qualifications:

1. Relevant experience in the development and management of affordable housing, specifically community land trusts, limited equity, shared equity or other alternative homeownership models.

2. Five or more years experience as an executive director or senior manager in a nonprofit, governmental, or for-profit organization preferred. Demonstrated ability in the management of a nonprofit or community–based membership organization is desired, particularly in financial management and fundraising.

3. Experience starting up or launching a new organization, including building grassroots community support and consensus among a variety of stakeholders such as Board and committee members, landowners, community leaders, government officials, consultants and other stakeholders.

4. Strong oral and written communication skills.

4. Experience working with diverse communities and a demonstrated commitment to social justice issues

Education and Experience Requirements:

Position requires a relevant Bachelors Degree (Masters Degree preferred) and a minimum 5 – 7 years of experience or equivalent combination of experience and education. Requires experience in real estate/project development, financial management and not for profit, community based membership organizations. Must have excellent interpersonal skills with demonstrated strong supervisory and leadership skills.

Salary: Salary is commensurate with experience.

To apply: Please send a resume, cover letter, and contact information for three references to:

Files can be sent as MicrosoftWord files or as a PDF.

Applications must be received by June 15 , 2010

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