Sr. Director of Housing Services

Join Our Team at Native American Connections!

Who We Are:

Native American Connections (NAC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families through affordable housing, behavioral health, and community development services. For over 50 years, we have proudly served Native American and underserved communities in the Phoenix area with culturally competent, trauma-informed care

grounded in respect and tradition.

MISSION:

Our mission, grounded in traditional Native American culture, is to reduce health disparities by delivering high-quality comprehensive integrated healthcare and providing stable housing throughout the communities we serve.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Senior Director of Housing Services provides executive leadership and operational oversight for all Native American Connections (NAC) housing services including Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH), Supportive Housing, shelter, bridge and transitional programs. This position is responsible for ensuring that housing programs are effective, culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and aligned with organizational priorities. The Senior Director of Housing Services leads the implementation of service delivery models, operational systems, and performance standards that promote housing stability and positive outcomes for residents and clients. This role collaborates across departments to ensure high-quality programming, regulatory compliance, strong community partnerships, and continuous improvement of NAC’s housing services.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide program oversight of all Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH), Supportive Housing, shelter and homeless programs to ensure effective implementation and high-quality services to residents.
• Lead the implementation and ongoing improvement of housing service models, policies, procedures, and operational standards.
• Ensure all housing programs operate in alignment with HUD and PSH principles, trauma-informed care, and culturally responsive practices.
• Oversee program compliance with contractual and regulatory requirements at the local, state and federal levels.
• Provide leadership and supervision to Director of Housing Programs, Director of Youth Shelter Services, and related staff, including hiring, training, and performance management.
• Collaborate with Finance, Compliance, Property Management, Data & Outcomes, and Clinical Services to ensure integrated, effective, and compliant program operations.
• Lead planning and operational implementation of new housing and shelter initiatives in partnership with senior leadership.
• Regularly monitors local, state, national, and federal homeless housing policies, funding opportunities, and regulatory changes, and communicates relevant updates to appropriate staff to ensure timely review, response, and action.
• Ensure timely and accurate program reporting, audits, and monitoring activities in coordination with internal departments.
• Develop staffing structures, workflows, and operational systems that support program effectiveness and organizational priorities
• Review and oversee auditing of case plans, HMIS data, grievances, and special incident reports to ensure compliance with NAC policy and procedures.
• Collaborate with Senior Leadership in exploring new strategic initiatives and opportunities that may lead to additional programming and funding.
• Establish and enforce Housing Services operational policies and procedures to increase efficiency and effectiveness across the department.
• Drive a culture of high performance, collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement throughout the Housing Services operational and program areas, fostering innovation and learning, while upholding NAC’s core values.
• Work closely with and serve on the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) to ensure a culture of collaboration and teamwork to identify synergies and support overall organizational performance.
• Identify inefficiencies, assess workflows, allocate resources strategically, and streamline Housing Services operations to reduce costs, improve productivity, and enhance overall effectiveness.
• Lead the performance management and monitoring process for the Housing Service department, aligning operational performance with strategic goals.
• Collaborate with the Development and Finance/Accounting team to ensure financial sustainability and effective grant management.
• Manage the department budgets, ensuring cost-effectiveness and alignment with organizational goals. Monitors spending and ROI to ensure cost-effective use of funds.
• Cultivate talent development by mentoring and empowering team members.
• Lead and foster a high-performing and collaborative organizational culture within the Housing Services department to maximize performance that upholds the NAC's core values.
• Create and nurture existing team members by identifying and developing top talent to reach their full potential.
• Foster a positive and inclusive department of organizational culture that supports the NAC mission and values.
• Promote cross-functional communication, transparency, and accountability to ensure compliance and alignment with NAC’s mission and strategic objectives.
• Represent the Housing Services department effectively to key external stakeholders, including funders, donors, and partners.
  
  
  

EDUCATIONAL/WORK EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT:

• Must possess a bachelor’s degree, preferably in a business or social services discipline. Masters preferred.
• A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience as a senior social services leader. Preferably in a Director or Management role.
• At least 5 years of experience working with the homeless, low income or vulnerable populations
  
  
  

SKILLS REQUIREMENT:

• Experience collaborating with executive leadership, playing a key role in the overall development, strategic planning, service delivery and the homeless housing program.
• Experience leading and working effectively with property and social service staff to design and maintain a state-of-the-art homeless housing model.
• Ability to work and collaborate with community partners to enhance programing and housing options for individuals.
• Ability to work collaboratively with Property Management staff on resident/client issues or concerns.
• Ability to innovate with respect to service delivery including the use of alternative approaches.
• Competence designing workflows for all assigned services lines to ensure maximum efficiency with the goal of reducing homelessness.
• Knowledge of homelessness, mental health crisis management, and social determinants of health.
• Knowledge of the homeless housing system in Maricopa County (i.e. Maricopa Association of Governments, Maricopa Regional Continuum of Care, Coordinated Entry, HUD vouchers, LIHTC, etc.) required.
• Knowledge of Fair Housing regulations and Arizona Resident Landlord and Tenant Act.
• Ability to represent NAC at the local, tribal, and federal level by attending networking and educational opportunities and promoting the positive reputation of the organization.
• Experience overseeing grant funded programs and ensure quality delivery of services, appropriate and timely reporting.
• Deploys resources efficiently and effectively toward organizational goals, working with staff to recruit and retain highly qualified staff, balance workload and effort, and provide ongoing feedback so that staff can continuously improve their supervision and mentoring skills.
• Competence providing leadership to employees to support and develop the provision of services, to deliver high-value, culturally relevant and quality care that is financially feasible and sustainable.
• Ability to complete regular internal and external reporting for the Board of Directors, funders, and regulatory compliance agencies.
• A working knowledge of and experience in a non-profit setting, be driven to succeed, be able to handle multi-priorities; manage the stress of multiple, concurrent demands; possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills; be able to skillfully engage others; and a good steward of the organization’s culture and strong community history.
• Experience working with Native American organizations or tribal governments is preferred.
• Awareness and keen appreciation of Indian traditions, customs and socioeconomic needs, or willingness to learn; an ability at times to meet and deal effectively with tribal governments and Indian health organizations consisting of numerous tribes with varied cultures. Tact, courtesy, discretion, resourcefulness, and good judgment in handling functions of a sensitive nature.
  
  
  

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Able to sit, stand and walk with/without accommodation.
  
  
  

NATIVE AMERICAN PREFERENCE:

Preference may be given to qualified Native American Indians according to the Indian Preference Hiring Act, CFR 25 USC 472. Other than Indian Preference, Native American Connections, Inc. adheres to all provisions of the Equal Employment Opportunity Act.

DRUG FREE WORKPLACE:

Native American Connections is a drug-free workplace with safety-sensitive jobs. Use of alcohol and legal or illegal drugs may impair and alter employees' judgement resulting in increased safety risks, workplace injuries, and faulty decision making. Reporting to work at NAC after use of alcohol, a controlled substance, or abuse of any other substance is absolutely prohibited.

FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT:

This position is considered to be Exempt for overtime pay provisions as provided by the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and any applicable state laws. Non-Exempt employees are entitled to overtime pay for hours worked in excess of forty (40) hours per workweek.