VP of Development

Are you the kind of affordable housing developer who loves putting deals together?

Our client, a financially strong and rapidly growing nonprofit affordable housing developer, is looking for a Vice President of Development to build, lead, and scale its development department. This is a rare opportunity to shape an organization from the ground up while overseeing an impressive 8-year LIHTC development pipeline focused on creating housing for underserved communities.

This is not a role for someone who wants to step away from development. The ideal candidate is a seasoned LIHTC professional who enjoys being in the details—underwriting opportunities, structuring complex capital stacks, mentoring project managers, and bringing projects from concept through completion. You'll play a pivotal role in building the systems, processes, and team that will support the organization's next phase of growth.

With a goal of developing more than 1,000 affordable housing units across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, you'll have the opportunity to leave a lasting impact on both the organization and the communities it serves.

What You'll Do

As Vice President of Development, you'll serve as the operational leader of the development department while remaining actively involved in every stage of the development process.

• Build and lead the development department, creating scalable processes, file structures, workflows, and best practices from the ground up.
• Evaluate new development opportunities and determine which projects are worth pursuing while the President focuses on sourcing new deals.
• Lead affordable housing developments from acquisition through financial closing, construction, and occupancy.
• Structure complex capital stacks utilizing LIHTC equity, tax-exempt bonds, public subsidies, grants, and other financing sources.
• Oversee financial modeling, underwriting, feasibility analyses, due diligence, and development budgets.
• Manage relationships with lenders, tax credit investors, state housing finance agencies, municipal partners, consultants, and legal teams.
• Standardize development policies, underwriting templates, risk management practices, and reporting across the department.
• Mentor and develop a growing team of Project Managers, providing the senior leadership and coaching they've been missing.
• Monitor project milestones, solve complex development challenges, and keep projects moving toward successful completion.
• Work closely with executive leadership to maintain and expand a long-term development pipeline across multiple markets.
• Represent the organization before government agencies, public officials, community stakeholders, and financing partners.

Development Portfolio

The organization develops 100% affordable housing, including:

• Primarily 9% LIHTC new construction
• Select 4% LIHTC rehabilitation and preservation projects

Current markets include:

• New York
• Philadelphia
• Washington, DC

Future expansion includes:

• North & South Carolina
• Massachusetts
• Connecticut
• New England
• Ohio

What We're Looking For

We're seeking a development leader who combines strategic thinking with a genuine passion for executing deals.

Ideal candidates will have:

• 10+ years of affordable housing development experience
• Extensive experience leading LIHTC developments, particularly 9% new construction
• Proven success managing projects from acquisition through stabilization
• Deep knowledge of LIHTC financing, tax-exempt bonds, public funding sources, grants, and layered capital stacks
• Strong underwriting and financial modeling experience
• Experience managing development budgets of up to $50M
• Demonstrated success negotiating acquisitions, financing, entitlements, and public approvals
• Experience building or improving operational processes and development systems
• Proven leadership experience mentoring project managers and building high-performing teams
• Ability to balance strategic planning with hands-on project execution

The Right Fit

You'll thrive here if you:

• Enjoy doing deals every day—not just overseeing them.
• Get excited about building structure where none currently exists.
• Like solving complex development challenges.
• Enjoy coaching and developing emerging talent.
• Are comfortable in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment where priorities shift quickly.
• Believe strong financial performance is essential to achieving a meaningful social mission.

Why This Opportunity?

This is one of the organization's most important leadership hires. You'll have the opportunity to:

• Build an entire development department from the ground up.
• Lead an established, well-funded pipeline rather than starting from scratch on deal flow.
• Join a financially stable nonprofit with strong public and private partnerships.
• Help shape the future of affordable housing across multiple high-growth markets.
• Make a measurable impact while working alongside a collaborative executive team committed to sustainable growth.

About the Organization

This mission-driven nonprofit develops affordable and supportive housing for some of the country's most vulnerable populations, including individuals experiencing homelessness, mental health challenges, and substance use disorders.

Despite its entrepreneurial size, the organization is financially healthy, has secured more than $11 million in grants, maintains strong liquidity, and has an active pipeline stretching over the next eight years. The culture is collaborative, fast-moving, and hands-on, where everyone contributes to getting deals across the finish line.

They're looking for a business-minded development leader who understands that strong execution creates lasting community impact.

If you're an experienced LIHTC developer who still enjoys the challenge of putting together complex affordable housing deals—and you're excited by the opportunity to build something lasting—we'd love to hear from you.

Apply today for immediate consideration or reach out to Kelsey Arnall to learn more!
215-661-8834 x 110
[email protected]

This is a hybrid position located in the Northeast US with required travel to the NYC office monthly.