WORK FOR AN AWARD-WINNING NON-PROFIT SOCIAL ENTERPRISE

Title: US Housing Policy & Advocacy Advisor
Industry: Non-profit/International Development
Location: US – Remote
Reports to: The Director of Global Advocacy
Start Date: Immediate
Term: Temporary, 30 to 40 hours per week, approx. 3 - 4 months
Salary: $75,000 - $90,000, based on experience

WHO WE ARE
Founded in 2004, Build Change is an innovative non‐profit social enterprise whose mission is to greatly reduce deaths, injuries, and economic losses caused by housing and school collapses due to earthquakes, extreme weather, and fires. Our global experience shows that home improvement programs focused on improving existing housing can be carried out successfully across a range of countries and disaster contexts. To do this, we implement programs that are both economically and socially sustainable. Our approach looks beyond construction and engineering, to create an environment in which people want to improve the safety of their homes, and in which it is possible and affordable for them to do so. Build Change is currently active in South East Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, South America, and the United States.

Build Change is the recipient of multiple awards, including a 2017 Skoll Foundation Award for Social Entrepreneurship, 2016 OpenIDEO Urban Resilience Challenge Winner, and was a top three finalist in IBM’s inaugural Call for Code Developer Challenge in 2018.

YOUR NEW OPPORTUNITY
Build Change is in search of a US Housing Policy & Advocacy Advisor to provide support to its federal advocacy goals in the United States in support of its overall mission to strengthen and shape housing systems for increased disaster resilience across the country. This position reports to the Director of Global Advocacy.

Responsibilities:
The US Housing Policy & Advocacy Advisor will be responsible for delivering the following:

• Analyze public policy and existing legal frameworks contributing to disaster resilient housing in the United States;
• Identify and analyze already identified proposed federal legislation for its relevance to advance disaster-resilient housing in the United States to include in advocacy goals;
• Identify bottlenecks, challenges, and gaps in policy and implementation to reach Build Change advocacy goals related to resilient housing;
• Develop a set of policy recommendations based on policy and legislative analysis to advance specific aspects of Build Change’s US advocacy goals;
• Propose Build Change Roadmap to advance policy recommendations;
• Identify key individuals, coalitions and other organizing mechanisms to implement recommendations and implement roadmap;
• Lead the production of public-facing collateral for agency and legislative contacts containing proposed policy recommendations in collaboration with Build Change advocacy team and graphic design team for US federal audience;
• Support the preparation of Build Change staff members for meetings with identified individuals and coalitions.

Note: Once the work for this role is complete, it is possible that Build Change will require support or action in the presentation of results to external actors. This will be discussed at the time if it applies.

Anticipated Milestones:

OUR IDEAL CANDIDATE

You have:

• Minimum 5 years of experience working on US housing policy at the national, state, or local level.
• Professional working familiarity with US housing and disaster policy regulating the operations of FEMA, HUD, and other relevant agencies, as well as resilient housing programs implemented by these agencies.
• Strong understanding of (and ideally professional working experience with) congressional legislative and appropriations processes.
• Experience in developing actionable policy recommendations for advocacy and implementation.

You are able to:

• Demonstrate excellent written and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with both expert and non-technical audiences.
• Work effectively both individually and as part of a team, be responsive and resourceful in finding solutions, and lead a global program.

You would describe yourself as:

• Passionate about the right of all people to dignified and safe housing.
• Proactive, self-motivated, and able to work independently while also contributing fully as a team member.
• Fluent in English.

ARE YOU INTERESTED?
Please visit www.buildchange.org/about/careers and select the link for this position. Applications will be accepted until filled and will be reviewed as received. Build Change is a proud Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified women and candidates from diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. No calls, please.

Build Change is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information. It is the policy of Build Change that qualified individuals with disabilities not be discriminated against because of their disabilities in regard to job application procedures, hiring, and other terms and conditions of employment. It is further the policy of Build Change to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in all aspects of the employment process. Build Change is prepared to modify or adjust the job application process or the job or work environment to make reasonable accommodations to the known physical or mental limitations of the applicant or employee to enable the applicant or employee to be considered for the position he or she desires, to perform the essential functions of the position in question, or to enjoy equal benefits and privileges of employment as are enjoyed by other similarly situated employees without disabilities unless the accommodation will impose an undue hardship.