Summary

The Michiana Area Council of Governments (MACOG) seeks a dynamic and visionary leader to serve as the Director of Regional Housing Collaborative. This is a rare opportunity to spearhead transformative housing initiatives, backed by a $20 million investment from Lilly Endowment Inc. in partnership with the Community Foundations in our region. This investment will drive the creation of a Regional Land Bank and a Regional Attainable Housing Investment Fund (RAHIF), reshaping the future of housing attainability and community revitalization across the region.

As the Director, you will build and lead a team of two to three full-time professionals, setting the strategic direction for these groundbreaking initiatives. You will collaborate with city and county officials, convene the RAHIF Advisory Committee, work with Intend Indiana on the deployment of RAHIF, and cultivate partnerships to ensure long-term success. You will track the impact of land bank interventions and prepare comprehensive annual and economic impact reports.

This high-impact role offers the chance to drive lasting change in regional housing and community investment. If you're ready to take on a leadership role that will shape the future of housing in Northern Indiana, we invite you to apply and be part of this exciting new chapter for MACOG.

Duties

The Director of Regional Housing Collaborative will report to the MACOG Executive Director and be responsible for leading the establishment and operations of the Regional Land Bank. Additionally, the Director will work with Intend Indiana on the Regional Attainable Housing Investment Fund. Key responsibilities include:

Primary responsibilities include:

• Organizational formation and governance through the creation of bylaws, policies, and procedures, 501c3 designation, staffing and budget plans, data systems, appointment of board members and advisory committees, and initial programming and outreach.
• Initial strategic acquisition of properties for the primary purpose of quality attainable housing through the tax sale, existing inventory of publicly owned properties, donation, and other acquisition methods.
• Maintenance and stewardship of properties through the oversight of public entities and private contractors (if needed) for day-to-day property maintenance, monitoring inventory and managing security, stabilizing deteriorated properties, and performance of conditions evaluations.
• Transparent disposition of properties to qualified buyers that supports the primary purpose of quality affordable housing as well as other community goals.
• Education and outreach on the Land Bank, its goals and how it makes decisions, ways to engage with the organization, what opportunities exist to acquire properties, and routine sharing of activities through both in-person and virtual platforms.
• Collaborate with Intend Indiana on the deployment of the Regional Attainable Housing Investment Fund (RAHIF), including convening advisory meetings, coordinating funding strategies, and ensuring alignment with regional housing priorities.
• Monitoring the Regional Housing Dashboard and associated strategies.
• Alongside philanthropic partners, community development, and government officials, work to identify and pursue additional resources to expand the impact of the Regional Housing Collaborative.

Qualifications & Experience

The ideal candidate will bring a combination of vision, housing expertise, and leadership experience to successfully establish and oversee these initiatives. Key qualifications include:

• Experience in housing, real estate development, land banking, or community development, with knowledge of housing challenges in diverse markets.
• Strong leadership and management skills, with a track record of building and supporting high-performing teams and working with diverse stakeholders.
• Knowledge of governance structures, public policy, and financial management related to land banks and housing investment funds.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including public speaking, stakeholder engagement, and advocacy.
• High level of motivation and self-direction, with the ability to set goals, prioritize tasks, and drive projects to completion.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively, effectively managing partnerships with government entities, nonprofits, and private sector partners.
• Experience in grant writing, fundraising, and financial planning for housing or community development initiatives.
• Familiarity with ArcGIS, Adobe Creative Suite, and data visualization tools to support mapping, reporting, and marketing efforts.
• Knowledge of real estate law, tax sales, zoning regulations, and property valuation.