Assistant Vice President of Research, Evaluation and Program Development

Job Summary

This position is open until filled; however, to ensure consideration applications should be submitted by May 8, 2024, at 4:30 p.m.   

The Opportunity
The King County Housing Authority (KCHA) is recruiting for an Assistant Vice President of Research, Evaluation and Program Development (AVP) to lead the agency's work to become a learning organization. The AVP will lead development, implementation, and monitoring of innovative new programming, and undertake agency-wide research & evaluation efforts. Leading a team of eight (8) and reporting to the Senior Vice President of Policy, Research & Social Impact Initiatives, the AVP will drive new program growth, use data to inform continuous improvement, and cultivate innovation capabilities that help to advance KCHA's mission. The AVP will be responsible for leading efforts to conceptualize, design, implement and evaluate new programs, associated budget, seek outside funding opportunities, and provide high quality leadership and supervision to assigned staff.
 
Initial priority areas will involve developing an agency-wide research agenda, hiring new staff, and implementing new health and homeownership programming that advances equity and opportunity for KCHA customers. If this sounds exciting, and you're an experienced leader with deep knowledge of applied research and developing/implementing new programs, KCHA encourages you to apply.
 
The King County Housing Authority
KCHA, the largest affordable housing provider in the Pacific Northwest, seeks to provide innovative, effective, and equitable housing solutions so that all people and communities can prosper. Founded in 1939, KCHA operates as an independent municipal corporation, providing rental housing to more than 55,000 people in over 23,000 households, and includes programs that promote housing stability, increased access to education, improved health and well-being, workforce participation, and financial self-sufficiency. Serving 37 cities (not including Seattle and Renton), the Authority's geographic scope of operations spans 2,000 square miles. KCHA has over 500 staff members working across the county with its central office based out of located in Tukwila. To learn more about KCHA and our Mission visit this link.
 
King County Housing Authority (KCHA) is the largest provider of affordable housing in the Pacific Northwest and a nationally recognized leader in affordable housing. To learn more about KCHA and our Mission visit this link.

Essential Functions

• Hires, trains, coaches, and inspires staff; directs, coordinates, and reviews work plans; assigns work activities and projects; monitors workflow; reviews and evaluates work performance and procedures; coordinates and facilitates staff meetings; resolves issues including those related to staff performance; guides and directs teams related to intra- and inter-agency coordination; maintains effective relations with KCHA workforce at all levels; represents KCHA’s image externally with local and national groups.
• Directs the work of KCHA’s research and evaluation team; develops partnerships and accompanying agreements with research institutions and firms; establishes evaluation activities with respect to KCHA’s MTW Agreement with HUD and determinations on evaluations that can be done in-house versus contracting out with research institutions/firms; directs, coordinates, and reviews research agenda development and execution, work plans, evaluation frameworks, data analysis methods, findings and reports, and data informed recommendations impacting changes and/or improvements to the authority’s service delivery system, operations, and/or program models; serves as the analytical lead on special projects involving highly sensitive/confidential data and summaries prepared for KCHA’s Executives. 
• Utilizes data, research, best practices, and research literature to conceptualize new initiatives/policies and pilot programs aimed to advance equity, well-being, and economic mobility of residents; develops pilot outcomes, budgets, staffing, and sustainability framework; seeks out and applies for outside funding to support new program efforts; ensures compliance with applicable regulations and funder requirements; completes funder and executive summary reports; conducts presentations to KCHA workforce, leadership, HUD, elected officials, funders, and national industry groups; directs, coordinates, and reviews pilot and evaluation frameworks; assigns work activities and projects; prepares pilot communication collateral; oversees and evaluates pilot performance. 
• Leverages KCHA’s MTW Agreement with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to propose new programs aimed at meeting the Authority’s MTW goals and objectives; coordinate closely with the Director of Intergovernmental Affairs to advance new MTW activities and goals that meet local need, advance equity, well-being, and economic mobility; prepare annual MTW plans and reports on assigned activities, and oversee the inclusion of resident characteristic data as part of the Authority’s MTW plans and reports to HUD; provides guidance and interpretation on assigned MTW activities as needed; engages with HUD officials and national industry groups to share innovation and evaluation learnings and overarching MTW related research findings.
• Works cross functionally with Senior Staff on various initiatives and projects; reviews and executes contracts and modifications; reviews timesheet, mileage, invoice, and staff reimbursement approvals; assists with development of the Department’s annual initiatives and budget; coordinates and leads Social Impact staff meetings, retreats, and team building events; presents on various initiatives to KCHA’s workforce, executive team, and board of commissioners; travels and presents at industry conferences; stays up to date on best practices and research findings related to equity, well-being, economic mobility, and other matters impacting people living in poverty; assists with special projects as assigned; serves as back up to the Senior Vice President as needed. 

Qualifications and Competencies

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Public Administration, Policy, Sociology, Statistics, or related field AND 
• Considerable experience in developing new programs that utilize applied research methods to evaluate impact and effectiveness OR 
• An equivalent combination of experience and education that provides the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Comprehensive knowledge of related industry, organization and department policies, practices, and procedures; related industry, organization, and departmental legal guides, recommendations, best practices, ordinances, and laws.
  • Knowledge of affordable housing policy and research and/or knowledge of related social policy arenas such as homelessness, health, education, and/or other areas.
• Exceptional program management skills including the ability to prioritize and handle multiple projects simultaneously.
• Experience supervising staff including coaching, mentoring, and providing strong leadership in a dynamic work environment.
• Applies effective written and verbal communication techniques to convey clear and timely messages; communicates clearly and effectively via multiple methods.
  • Analyzes and develops effective policies and procedures;
  • Presents proposals and recommendations clearly, logically and persuasively;
  • Interprets and explains complex data analyses and research findings for technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong critical-thinking skills; ability to evaluate information, implement timely decisions and make recommendations.
• Cultural sensitivity and competency, which is essential in serving economically disadvantaged, diverse populations, including homeless and special needs households, with a particular focus on households that often fall through the community-based safety net.
• Proven success in building productive and engaged work teams with a focus on mentoring and nurturing staff development.
• Knowledge of and familiarity with analytic software programs such as Stata, Tableau, and or GIS; proficiency with MS Office to include Word, Excel, Outlook, and database software.

Special Requirements:

• Consent to and pass a driver's and criminal records background check.
• Must possess a valid driver's license to regularly travel between work sites as required or have an alternative reliable mode of transportation. Must have an acceptable driving record at time of appointment and throughout employment.

Position Information and Application Process

Application Requirements:
To be considered for this opportunity, you must:

• Complete the online application profile in its entirety. 
• Upload a cover letter that addresses your interest in the position and how your experience and education qualify you to perform the essential functions listed in the job announcement. (Cover Letter) 
• Upload a detailed résumé of all educational and professional experience. (Résumé)

Salary & Benefits:
Salary range is $126,193.60 to $194,324.48 with a midpoint of $160,254.89. New hires typically receive between minimum and midpoint, however, we may go slightly higher based on experience, internal equity and market. Salary is negotiable.  A comprehensive health care benefits package for you and your dependents includes medical, dental and vision insurance, life and long-term disability insurance plans, vacation, sick and personal leave, reduced tuition, and retirement benefits are also available. For more details regarding KCHA comprehensive benefits, please visit our benefits page.
 
Work Environment:
After initial onboarding, this role will have the opportunity to work remotely up to 60% in accordance with the KCHA's flexible work arrangements; however, remote work conditions will be reviewed on a regular basis based on business and program need. The ability to report to the Central Office in Tukwila will still be required on occasion. Some local travel may be required to support KCHA business needs.
 
Physical Requirements:
Incumbent(s) must be able to meet the physical requirements of the classification and have mobility, balance, coordination, vision, hearing and dexterity levels appropriate to the functions performed. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
   
This work requires the occasional exertion of up to 25 pounds of force; work regularly requires sitting, speaking or hearing, using hands to finger, handle or feel and repetitive motions and occasionally requires standing, walking, climbing or balancing, reaching with hands and arms and pushing or pulling; work has standard vision requirements; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word and conveying detailed or important instructions to others accurately, loudly or quickly; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels and to receive detailed information through oral communications and/or to make fine distinctions in sound; work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, operating machines and observing general surroundings and activities; work occasionally requires wet, humid conditions (non-weather) and exposure to outdoor weather conditions; work is generally in a moderately noisy location (e.g. business office, light traffic).
 
Equal Opportunity:
King County Housing Authority is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.