Highland Park announces search for executive director of newly established community land trust

• March 27, 2003

The City of Highland Park has established the region's first community land trust.  Land trusts have been used widely, particularly on the East Coast, as an instrument to protect investments in affordable housing by separating ownership of the land from the housing units. 

In 2001, ULI Chicago and the Campaign for Sensible Growth conducted a two-day panel with Highland Park, Humboldt Park in Chicago and Hanover Park on workforce housing needs.  Community land trusts arose in the discussion as an important new tool to provide a more permanent way to protect public investments in affordable housing. The tool is also being explored in Humboldt Park by a new group of individuals calling themselves OUR Community Land Trust.

The job description for the new executive director position follows.

Executive Director, Highland Park Illinois Community Land Trust

The Highland Park Illinois Community Land Trust (“HPICLT”) is a new not-for-profit corporation created to own land for the benefit of the community for the purpose of providing and preserving permanently affordable housing for low-and moderate-income households on the land that it owns. The Executive Director reports to and is hired by the Board of Directors.

Function

• Create and maintain a strong, well-functioning, community-based organization that will permanently steward land for home ownership opportunities and other affordable housing for low- and moderate-income households
• Develop a resource base for HPICLT, while adding housing units to the corporation’s portfolio
• Provide direction and leadership toward the achievement of HPICLT’s philosophy, mission, strategy and annual goals and objectives
• Enable the Board of Directors to fulfill its governance function

Job Responsibilities

• Budgeting, accounting, financial and corporate management.  Develop annual budgets in conjunction with the Board of Directors, oversee all financial management activity, prepare and submit annual filings to public agencies, administer payroll and payment of bills.
• Office management and staffing. Manage office and systems; maintain organization files; hire and supervise staff and coordinate and supervise volunteers.
• Support Board and committees. Report to Board, organize Board and committee meetings, prepare meeting minutes, assist with Board development, evaluate program effectiveness in conjunction with Board, and engage Board in long-range planning and implementation to reach organizational goals and objectives.
• Fundraising. Develop fundraising plans for operating support and housing development activities in conjunction with Board; carry out fundraising activities, including identifying and cultivating funding sources, preparing and submitting funding proposals, and engaging in appropriate follow-up activities.
• Public outreach. Establish and maintain relationships with City officials and staff, developers, funders, community groups and others; represent HPICLT to the media, civic and religious organizations, and other members of the public and private sectors; develop materials and publications for community outreach.
• Housing development activities. Identify properties for acquisition; participate in development activities, including acquisitions, negotiations, and evaluation of development opportunities; negotiate and administer development partnerships; manage construction/rehabilitation process; coordinate and manage professional services (inspectors, appraisals, contractors, lawyers, etc.); prepare and submit funding applications.
• Homebuyer services. Market specific housing opportunities; manage the application process, including qualifying prospective buyers, organizing and maintaining applicant waiting lists, providing or arranging for pre-purchase counseling, selecting residents, coordinating lender participation, executing and managing purchase and sales contracts, and coordinating property transfer closings.
• Resident services. Manage and maintain relationships with HPICLT leaseholders, including collection of monthly ground lease fee, monitoring ground lease compliance, facilitating post-purchase counseling, and managing the resale process.
• Professional development. Participate in training and networking.

Skills and Experience

Candidates must have the following skills and experience:

• Strong personal and professional commitment to affordable housing and/or community development
• Leadership skills, including good public speaking and board management skills
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Ability to use spreadsheet and word processing software, some familiarity with databases
• Ability to travel locally using one’s own vehicle, while carrying acceptable insurance and holding a valid driver’s license

While not required, skills or experience in any of the following areas or activities would be desirable:

• Managing a nonprofit housing, community development, or other organization, or a major program of such an organization
• Basic real estate finance or development
• Finding and developing funding sources for housing projects
• Finding and developing funding sources to operate an organization
• Working with low- and moderate-income households
• Public relations, marketing or preparing publications
• Grant writing and fund raising
• Managing and producing budgets
• Ability to strategically plan and to arrange resources to accomplish objectives
• Ability to speak Spanish

Salary: Commensurate with experience

Please send cover letter and resume to:

Betsy Lassar
1544 Sheridan Rd.
Highland Park, IL 60035

Highland Park Illinois Community Land Trust is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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