Organization Overview

The Seattle Social Housing Developer (SSHD) is a Public Development Authority (PDA) committed to creating, owning, and stewarding permanently affordable, mixed-income social housing that is publicly financed, publicly controlled, and free from market speculation. As we lay the foundation for this transformative model, guided by international examples and rooted in public accountability, we are building a team to define a new standard for equitable, sustainable, and community-centered social housing development in Seattle. Our goal is to expand access, strengthen the social fabric of our city, and ensure housing that is affordable forever and inclusive by design for current and future generations.

Position Overview

The Sr. Manager Operations reports directly to the Chief Operating Officer and manages SSHD’s operations function and team, turning the COO’s approved operating priorities into consistent, accountable execution. The Sr. Manager Operations builds the operating routines, tools, workflows, and cross-functional coordination needed to support a growing portfolio, implement the social housing model, prepare for property acquisitions and transitions, and ensure that commitments move from decision to completion. This is a hands-on management role for an operator who can establish structure in a rapidly evolving public development organization.

Position Details

Job Title: Director of Operations
Department: Operations
Reports To: Chief Operating Officer
Direct Reports: Yes
FLSA Status: Exempt
Pay: $135,000 - $161,000

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Operational Infrastructure and Management Systems: Develop and maintain SSHD’s operational calendar, annual work plan, decision log, policy inventory, standard operating procedure library, and implementation trackers.
• Portfolio Growth and Acquisition Readiness: Manage the operating-readiness workstream for acquisitions, new developments, property transitions, and lease-up activities after strategic direction and transaction parameters are approved.
• Property Management and Vendor Coordination: Monitor third-party property-management compliance with approved work plans, service expectations, reporting requirements, management agreements, and escalation protocols.
• Social Housing Program Implementation: Coordinate implementation of the approved social housing operating model, including resident-facing materials, internal playbooks, affordability progression processes, internal and external waitlist administration, eligibility workflows, and staff training.
• Organizational Operations: Manage day-to-day administrative operations, including office operations, shared operational calendars, records and workflow management, business continuity, and cross-department logistics.
• Performance, Risk, and Executive Support: Prepare concise operational dashboards and decision-ready briefing materials for the COO and, as requested, the executive team.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in business, public administration, real estate, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience; five or more years of progressively responsible experience in operations, housing, property management, public administration, real estate, nonprofit management, or a related field, including at least one to two years leading people or complex programs.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with affordable housing, social housing, multifamily operations, property transitions, acquisitions, lease-up, or third-party property-management oversight.

Other Requirements

Must pass a background check. Ability to adapt to shifting priorities and take on additional responsibilities as the role and organization evolve.

Our Culture of Constructive Clarity

We are carrying out a bold mandate, which requires us to be exceptionally honest and clear with one another. We actively value different perspectives and expect our team members to share constructive disagreements and challenge ideas during our planning stages.

Building Equity Through Housing and Hiring

As part of Seattle Social Housing's overall commitment to racial equity, we work for affordable housing development that is grounded in justice.

Application Notice

We do not have a set closing date for this position. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and the posting will be removed once we have identified a strong pool of qualified candidates. We encourage you to apply early.