Executive Director

Executive Director
Capital Area Housing Partnership (CAHP)

Lansing, MI | Full-time | $125,000 to $145,000 annually

Search conducted by ZRG Aspen Leadership Group
Reports to: Board of Directors
Website: capitalareahousing.org

 

About Capital Area Housing Partnership

 

For more than 30 years, Capital Area Housing Partnership (CAHP) has worked to strengthen neighborhoods and expand access to safe, quality, and affordable housing throughout mid-Michigan. What began as a community-based effort focused on expanding homeownership opportunities in East Lansing has grown into a multifaceted regional housing organization serving individuals, families, and communities across the region.

 

CAHP develops strong, diverse neighborhoods with a focus on affordable housing, homeownership opportunities, and financial security. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO), and HUD-approved Housing Counseling Agency, CAHP brings together housing development, education, financial counseling, emergency assistance, and community partnerships to address housing needs from multiple directions.

 

Today, CAHP builds and rehabilitates single- and multi-family housing, creates attainable homeownership opportunities, develops and sustains affordable rental housing, improves existing housing stock, provides housing and financial counseling, and helps residents experiencing housing instability remain safely housed. Each year, the organization serves more than 1,500 people throughout mid-Michigan.

 

Partnership has been central to CAHP's approach throughout its history. The organization works alongside local and state government, municipalities, financial institutions, developers, funders, neighborhood organizations, and community partners to leverage resources and pursue housing opportunities that no single organization could accomplish alone.

 

Background

 

CAHP has a long history of leveraging creative partnerships and innovative development strategies to strengthen neighborhoods and expand housing opportunities throughout the region. Over the years, the organization has rehabilitated and preserved single-family homes in neighborhoods experiencing disinvestment, developed affordable housing, and transformed community assets, including the adaptive reuse of the Bailey Community Center in East Lansing.

 

Building on this foundation, CAHP played a leadership role in the redevelopment of the historic Walter French campus, one of the region's most visible and ambitious community development projects. Walter French reflects the kind of complex, partnership-driven work that has characterized CAHP throughout its evolution, bringing together community partners, public and private resources, and development expertise to create lasting community impact. As housing needs and development models continue to evolve, CAHP has an opportunity to build on this legacy while exploring new approaches to creating and preserving affordable housing throughout the region.

 

Position

 

Capital Area Housing Partnership seeks a strategic, collaborative, and externally engaged Executive Director to lead the organization into its next chapter of impact in mid-Michigan.

 

The Executive Director will inherit an organization with a strong history, a talented team, significant housing assets, and an established network of community and institutional partnerships. The next leader will have an opportunity to build on that foundation while strengthening CAHP's organizational and financial infrastructure, expanding its visibility and influence, and identifying the next generation of housing and community development opportunities.

 

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director will provide strategic and organizational leadership across CAHP's programs, housing portfolio, finances, people, partnerships, and resource development. The Executive Director will serve as a visible champion for affordable housing and community development, cultivating relationships with government, funders, developers, civic leaders, residents, and community partners while positioning CAHP as a trusted and innovative leader in addressing the region's evolving housing needs.

 

The successful candidate will bring the executive leadership and organizational discipline required to lead a complex housing organization. They will be financially astute, empower and develop talented staff, communicate transparently with the Board, and build the organizational capacity necessary for CAHP to thrive.

 

Above all, the next Executive Director will bring a genuine commitment to housing and community development and the vision to ask not only what CAHP should do next, but what role CAHP will play in shaping the future of housing in mid-Michigan.

 

From the Board of Directors

 

At Capital Area Housing Partnership, we believe that access to safe, affordable housing creates opportunity, strengthens communities, and improves lives. For more than three decades, CAHP has worked across the Lansing region to expand housing opportunities, support first-time homebuyers, revitalize neighborhoods, and help individuals and families achieve greater financial stability and independence. What makes CAHP especially unique is our role at the intersection of housing development and housing services. From transforming neighborhoods through affordable housing development to helping individuals and families navigate the path to homeownership, our work creates tangible impact every day.

 

Today, CAHP stands on a strong foundation. Our organization is recognized throughout the region for its commitment to affordable housing, innovative development projects, housing counseling and education services, and collaborative partnerships. Recent accomplishments, including the nationally recognized Walter French redevelopment, have strengthened our visibility and demonstrated the impact that is possible when public, private, and community partners come together around a shared vision. Combined with our dedicated staff, strong community relationships, and engaged Board, these successes position CAHP well for the future.

 

We are seeking a leader who is energized by both the opportunities and responsibilities of this moment. The next Executive Director will join an organization with a clear mission, a strong reputation, and meaningful momentum, while helping us navigate an evolving housing landscape, strengthen partnerships, secure resources, and broaden awareness of our work throughout the communities we serve. This leader will have the opportunity to build on our legacy while helping define the next chapter of community development and housing access across the region. For the right individual, this is a chance to lead an organization that is both deeply rooted in its community and well-positioned for future growth and impact.

 

CAHP is a special organization with an important mission, a dedicated team, and a strong foundation for future success. We are excited to welcome a leader who shares our commitment to housing, community, and opportunity, and who is ready to help shape our future impact for years to come.

 

Jim DeLine, Board Chair

 

Responsibilities

 

Strategic and Organizational Leadership

 

• Provide strategic leadership for CAHP, working in partnership with the Board and senior staff to establish organizational priorities and translate them into measurable goals and results.

• Assess emerging housing needs, market conditions, funding opportunities, and development trends to identify opportunities for CAHP's continued growth and impact.

• Strengthen organizational systems, structures, and capacity to support effective operations and long-term sustainability.

• Use data, financial information, and performance measures to inform decision-making, assess organizational effectiveness, and manage risk.

 

External Leadership, Partnerships, and Resource Development

 

• Serve as a visible and compelling ambassador for CAHP and a knowledgeable advocate for affordable housing and community development.

• Build and sustain strong relationships with municipal and state government, funders, financial institutions, developers, neighborhood organizations, elected officials, residents, and community partners.

• Strengthen CAHP's visibility and reputation throughout Lansing, East Lansing, and the broader mid-Michigan region.

• Work with staff and the Board to diversify and strengthen public and private revenue, identify new funding opportunities, and cultivate relationships that support CAHP's mission and growth.

• Represent CAHP in conversations about housing policy, development, neighborhood revitalization, and emerging approaches to addressing housing needs.

 

Financial and Housing Leadership

 

• Provide strong financial stewardship of CAHP's resources, ensuring sound budgeting, cash flow management, internal controls, audits, compliance, and financial reporting.

• Understand and oversee the complex public and private funding structures that support CAHP's housing development, programs, and operations.

• Provide executive oversight of CAHP's affordable housing portfolio and real estate development activities, including acquisition, rehabilitation, new construction, property management, and capital planning.

• Evaluate development opportunities thoughtfully, balancing mission impact, financial sustainability, organizational capacity, and community need.

 

People and Organizational Culture

 

• Lead, support, and develop a high-performing staff and senior leadership team.

• Foster a collaborative, mission-driven culture in which staff are empowered to lead, communicate effectively across functions, and contribute their expertise.

• Assess CAHP's organizational structure and talent needs and build the leadership capacity necessary to support the organization's evolving work.

• Cultivate a culture of professionalism, learning, transparency, and continuous improvement.

 

Board Partnership and Governance

 

• Develop a strong, transparent, and collaborative partnership with the Board of Directors.

• Provide timely, accurate, and actionable information regarding organizational performance, finances, opportunities, risks, and strategic decisions.

• Engage Board members' expertise and strengthen opportunities for meaningful participation in CAHP's mission and strategic direction.

• Support the Board in fulfilling its governance and fiduciary responsibilities.

 

Qualifications

 

Capital Area Housing Partnership seeks an Executive Director with:

 

• A demonstrated commitment to affordable housing, community development, and CAHP's mission of creating strong, diverse neighborhoods and expanding housing opportunity and financial security throughout mid-Michigan.

• Significant executive or senior leadership experience within a complex organization, with a track record of setting strategic direction, translating vision into organizational priorities, and leading people and resources toward measurable results.

• Exceptional relationship-building skills and the ability to develop productive partnerships with government officials and agencies, funders, financial institutions, developers, community organizations, residents, and other stakeholders.

• Strong financial acumen and experience overseeing complex budgets, funding streams, financial reporting, risk, and organizational resources.

• Knowledge of affordable housing, real estate development, property management, housing finance, or related community development work, with the ability to effectively lead and oversee technical experts.

• Demonstrated success building, leading, and empowering high-performing teams, including the ability to delegate effectively and develop leadership capacity throughout an organization.

• Experience working effectively with a Board of Directors or comparable governing body, with a commitment to transparency, communication, and strong governance.

• Exceptional communication skills and the ability to serve as a credible, engaging public representative of the organization.

• Sound judgment, integrity, curiosity, and the ability to navigate complexity, competing priorities, and organizational change.

• A collaborative and entrepreneurial approach, with the ability to recognize emerging opportunities and bring people and resources together to pursue them.

 

A bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience is required. The successful candidate will bring at least seven years of progressively responsible leadership experience in nonprofit management, affordable housing, community development, real estate development, housing finance, public administration, or a related field.

 

Capital Area Housing Partnership will consider candidates with a broad range of backgrounds. If you are excited about this role and feel that you can contribute to CAHP, but your experience does not exactly align with every qualification listed above, we encourage you to apply.

 

Reporting Relationships

 

The Executive Director will report to the Board of Directors. The ED will manage senior staff and oversee an organizational structure of approximately 18 employees.

 

Salary and Benefits

 

The salary range for this position is $125,000 to $145,000. Capital Area Housing Partnership offers a competitive total rewards package, including:

 

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.

• Retirement plan with up to a 3% employer match.

• Annual incentive-based bonuses.

• Laptop and cell phone.

• Generous paid time off.

 

Location

 

Lansing is the capital city of the State of Michigan, situated in the heart of the Lower Peninsula. The broader Lansing-East Lansing metropolitan area has approximately 460,000 residents, combining a diverse urban and suburban population that benefits from a central geographical location within the state.

 

As the state capital, Lansing is a major hub for government and public administration, with the State of Michigan serving as one of the largest employers in the region. The economy also draws strength from education and research, anchored by Michigan State University in nearby East Lansing, which has tens of thousands of students and contributes significant research and workforce talent.

 

Annual festivals, a growing culinary and brewery scene, and easy access to major transportation corridors further enhance Lansing's appeal as both a business destination and community.

 

Application Process

 

• All applications must be accompanied by a cover letter and resume. Cover letters should be responsive to the mission of Capital Area Housing Partnership and the responsibilities and competencies presented in the position prospectus, and must directly address each of the following questions: 1) What about CAHP's mission resonates with you?; 2) Describe your experience creating and sustaining a high-performing organizational culture. How do you balance accountability, collaboration, staff development, and organizational results?; and 3) The next Executive Director will serve as a visible leader, relationship builder, and ambassador for CAHP. Please describe a time when you built partnerships, secured support, or mobilized stakeholders to advance an organization's mission. What was your role, and what was the outcome?

• Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the successful candidate has been selected.

 

To apply, visit the ZRG Aspen Leadership Group posting for Executive Director, Capital Area Housing Partnership. To nominate a candidate or inquire about the position, please contact BJ Davis, Principal, at bjdavis@aspenleadershipgroup.com.

 

About ZRG Partners

 

ZRG is a global talent advisory firm that is changing the way companies find, hire, and manage talent through its data-driven approach to executive and professional search. The company's digital Zi platform combines talent intelligence, candidate insights, and process improvement to deliver executive searches more quickly and with better results.

 

About ZRG Aspen Leadership Group

 

ZRG Aspen Leadership Group (ALG) supports exceptional careers in the nonprofit sector, recruiting presidents, executive directors, and chief advancement officers and helping them recruit, train, and inspire high-performing teams. The company's search services and leadership consulting focus on building teams that enable an organization to engage all its potential donors and volunteers and to drive unprecedented fundraising results.

 

About BJ Davis

 

BJ Davis is a mission-driven executive leader and consultant with more than 25 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, executive search, fundraising, and systems change. She has served as an Executive Director twice and co-founded two nonprofits, including the Orange County Equality Coalition, a leading force for marriage equality in Southern California. She has held executive leadership roles with DigDeep, the Hetrick-Martin Institute, Astraea Foundation, and Earth Care, where she led organizational growth initiatives that secured tens of millions in philanthropic support, including a $15 million gift from MacKenzie Scott.

 

Most recently, BJ served as a Senior Executive Search Consultant with DRiWaterstone Human Capital, where she led more than 20 executive searches for CEOs, senior leaders, and directors across nonprofits, associations, and social impact organizations. She has advised boards and executives on governance, succession planning, and leadership strategy, with a focus on advancing diverse leadership talent and ensuring equitable, values-aligned search processes.

 

As a trained CliftonStrengths practitioner, BJ partners with organizations and leaders to clarify priorities, build high-performing teams, and link people and purpose for lasting impact. She holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Vermont and a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Radford University.

 

The three cover letter questions are now in the 1); 2); and 3) format inside the application bullet. I also converted the "The Executive Director will..." lowercase, semicolon-style bullets into full sentences ending in periods to match your other posts, broke the benefits sentence into bullets, removed the page headers and job code, dropped the em dash before the Board Chair's name, and fixed split words ("community-based," "multi-family," "cash flow").