The World at Abt

Solving the world’s most pressing issues and improving the quality of life for people worldwide is what we do every day at Abt. Creating a more equitable world is no small task, but we are driven by big challenges.

We are a team of 3,000 people in over 50 countries working in unison and focused on the bigger picture. Only by sharing our commitment, energy, and innovation do we affect change and push the boundaries of what’s possible. We welcome diverse ideas, backgrounds, and viewpoints – joining Abt means access to exceptional thinkers at the top of their game.

To thrive at Abt is to embrace flexibility and collaboration. Our open culture allows you to balance your work and personal life as needed to optimize personal well-being. Creating a more equitable world starts from within – we look after people around the world, and we’ll do the same for you.

Ready to embrace rewarding and meaningful work? Now’s your chance.

The Opportunity

Abt seeks a Community Planning Associate to lead HUD-funded Technical Assistance (TA). The selected candidate will help state and local grantees plan, develop, and implement effective fair housing policies and programs; advance the creation and preservation of affordable housing; and conduct holistic, community-engaged planning processes.

Core Responsibilities

• Develop training curriculums, using virtual and in person modalities, to expand the knowledge and skills of state and local grantees to affirmatively further fair housing, create and preserve affordable housing, design and implement regulatory and procedural reforms related to housing and planning, and coordinate across public agencies, private partners, and members of the public.
• Create tools and guidance to address community planning and fair housing challenges for local and national audiences, such as guidebooks, webinars, toolkits and resource guides, and interactive trainings.
• Work cooperatively with diverse communities and agencies to assess needs, develop and implement capacity building strategies to improve their efforts, and evaluate impact.
• Facilitate knowledge sharing to promote cross-learning within Abt and externally.
• Manage budgets, project deliverables, and timelines and coordinate teams for successful project delivery.
• Build and maintain relationships with government clients and TA recipients.
• Communicate effectively with a diverse range of stakeholders and partners.

What We Value

• Deep knowledge of HUD grantees’ obligation to affirmatively further fair housing, such as through experience leading and implementing fair housing programs or policies for a state or local government or PHA, or experience with developing and conducting trainings on fair housing.
• Experience working with or for local or state government on housing or community planning.
• Strong writing and communication skills, including ability to communicate effectively with colleagues, Abt staff and other TA provider staff, and HUD grantees and their constituents.
• Experience designing or leading community engaged processes.
• Experience facilitating community-level equity and inclusion work to identify disparities and support planning, decision-making, and implementation processes focused on advancing equity.
• Demonstrated ability to design holistic, systems-level strategies using data-informed thinking and community input.
• Knowledge of how local housing and community development needs disproportionately impact Black, Indigenous and People of Color and other marginalized populations and the ability to support communities in deeply probing these disparities and developing planning processes focused on advancing equity in fair housing programs and systems.
• In addition to fair housing and/or planning expertise, successful candidates will have knowledge of one or more of the following HUD programs and cross-cutting requirements: CDBG, HOME and homeless programs; Housing Choice Voucher programs and PHA administration. Candidates should have practical knowledge of program regulations and compliant implementation. Alternatively, successful candidates will have interest and ability to contribute to research projects in Abt’s Housing and Asset Building practice area.
• Ability to work independently to take full ownership of assigned tasks, projects, and objectives; and work collaboratively at other times with a small team of TA providers and/or clients to successfully execute assignments.
• Comfortable with telework technologies and work styles, since the candidate would be working with colleagues and TA recipients located throughout the country. Site travel may be required.
• Bachelor’s Degree 9 years of relevant experience, or Master’s Degree 7 years of relevant experience, or PhD 4 years of relevant experience

What We Offer

We foster an environment where you can Thrive Your Way. Our innovative total rewards programs are designed to help balance your work and personal life. The approach toward your wellbeing centers around comprehensive benefits, flexible schedules, and professional development.

Abt Global Inc. is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse workforce. Abt provides market-competitive salaries and comprehensive employee benefits. Local candidates strongly encouraged to apply.

This position offers an anticipated annual base salary range of approximately $91,000 to $146,000 and may vary by ten percent depending on candidate geographic location. Salary offers are made based on internal equity and market analysis.

Disclaimer: Abt will never ask candidates for money in exchange for an offer of employment.

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