City of Winston-Salem, NC – Housing Director

Job title: City of Winston-Salem, NC – Housing Director

Company: Raftelis

Job description: The City of Winston-Salem is seeking a dynamic, engaged, innovative and visionary leader to serve as the City’s next Housing Director (Director). The new Director will lead the City’s affordable housing efforts and be responsible for overseeing programs that will expand and preserve the City’s supply of affordable housing. The Director will also lead and develop a talented departmental team.The Director’s position is a highly visible position and will serve as the City’s liaison to the Winston-Salem Housing Foundation. The Director will be a member of the City’s Executive’s leadership team, reporting to one of the Assistant City Managers and work closely with the City Manager, City Council, other City Departments, boards and commissions, and for-profit and non-profit agencies to further the City’s affordable housing goals and the goals of the Department.The Director will be responsible for facilitating, informing, and advising on the development and implementation of strategies to address the issue of housing affordability throughout the City. The Director is responsible for oversight of the Department’s operation and strategic activities and an annual operating budget of approximately $600,000.The Director will be responsible for the coordination and preparation of reports for the City Manager, Assistant City Manager, City Council, and outside agencies, and perform other duties as required. Additionally, the Director will provide strategic direction to Department staff, while working with other City Departments and agencies to ensure the alignment of all Departmental programs and services necessary to deliver affordable housing throughout Winston-Salem.Priorities

  • Rebuild the Department, develop a talented team and fill vacant positions.
  • Develop a comprehensive housing strategy and implement programs that support the City’s Livable Neighborhoods Focus Area with emphasis on leveraging the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program and improving the City’s Housing Rehabilitation Program.
  • Work with community partners to ensure that federal housing funds are spent on a timely basis in accordance with federal program regulations.
  • Develop and maintain positive relationships with the City Council, fellow department directors, the development community, Winston-Salem Housing Authority and other non-profit agencies and local partners throughout the Triad Region.

The Successful CandidateThe successful candidate will be someone who has led a housing department, division, or similar agency and/or worked in a fast-paced environment with strong leadership skills and abilities, is fair, and exhibits patience and humility. This person will also be an excellent communicator and collaborator who can work well with both internal and external partners. The next Housing Director will be an effective delegator, provide clear guidance, and work with staff to ensure the organization’s commitment to increasing the supply of affordable housing throughout the City.The next Director must have excellent political acumen, exude confidence, and be a creative problem-solver who has extensive knowledge of housing and can bring demonstrated success as well as implementing innovative solutions to the growing need for affordable housing in Winston-Salem and the Triad Region. The Director will be able to quickly adapt to Winston-Salem’s culture, which has lofty expectations, a demanding environment, and the need to collaborate with multiple stakeholders.Additionally, the Director will understand how land use and financial tools can be used to leverage funding, create affordable housing units, and will have the ability to see both the long-term strategic view and the short-term steps necessary to make concrete progress.The City of Winston-Salem seeks to be an innovative environment. Therefore, the next Housing Director will be expected to review and improve business and operational processes. Leadership responsibilities include mentoring staff, developing leaders, and strengthening the organization’s capacity to facilitate the development of affordable housing.As a member of the City’s Executive Management Team, the City Manager and the Assistant City Manager will look to the Housing Director to be a trusted advisor, lead and foster excellence and innovation in staff, and assist the Department in achieving the City’s affordable housing goals.The Director will invest time getting to know the workforce, understanding operational issues, and seeking proven solutions. The Director will bring compassion to the workplace as well as a strategic perspective, be able to see beyond the immediate pressures, and stay focused on the important long-term objectives.QualificationsMinimum requirements include any combination of education and experience equivalent to a master’s degree and seven years of related experience with increasing responsibility, including two years in a supervisory or management role. Related experience should include housing policy development and implementation, including program administration; working with government and private sector partners (non-profit, for-profit, and philanthropic); and knowledge of federal, state, and local housing programs.Preferred qualifications include leadership experience within a local government, housing authority, or housing developer in an urbanized area; supervision/management in a multicultural workplace; experience collaborating with volunteer boards and elected officials; a background in building coalitions and consensus on difficult community issues; and experience with strategic planning and implementation, as well as finance and land use tools to achieve housing affordability.The CommunityWinston-Salem is a city in Forsyth County, North Carolina and has a current population of 252,975, making it the second-largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region, the fifth-most populous city in North Carolina, the third-largest urban area in North Carolina, and the 90th most populous city in the United States. Additionally, Winston-Salem was recently recognized among Livability.com’s top 100 best places to live. Winston-Salem ranked 64th among the 100 best places to live. This puts Winston-Salem in the top 5% of all cities.Winston-Salem is nicknamed “Camel City” for the City’s historic involvement in the tobacco industry related to locally based R.J. Reynolds’ Camel cigarettes and called the “Twin City” for its dual heritage of tobacco and textiles. Winston-Salem is also home to six colleges and institutions, most notably Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem State University, and the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, which ranks as one of the best art schools in America.Winston-Salem and Forsyth County are part of a larger community known as the Piedmont Triad, consisting of Greensboro to the east, Winston-Salem to the west, and High Point to the south. Forsyth County joins Guilford, Stokes, Yadkin, Davie, Davidson, Randolph, Rockingham, Surry, and Alamance counties to form the nation’s 38th largest combined statistical area, with a population of over 1.7 million.A wealth of medical services is available to the area through Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, a Level I Adult & Pediatric Trauma Center, and Forsyth Medical Center (Novant Health, Inc.).Winston-Salem has a strong business community and is one of the country’s most desirable places for entrepreneurs. It is committed to the development of small businesses and strives to attract new employers. The City is also home to large firms such as Reynolds American, Wells-Fargo Bank, Hanesbrands, and Community Banking Division of Truist. The redevelopment of the former RJ Reynolds Manufacturing complex known as Whitaker Park has been successful. Over 1.7 million square feet of space have been repurposed into manufacturing, office, and residential space. In addition, 110,000 square feet of new space is being built. The project represents $150 million of economic impact and the creation and retention of over 1,000 jobs.In addition to being a home for businesses, Winston-Salem prides itself on its support of the arts. Known as the “City of Arts and Innovation,” Winston-Salem has one of the highest rates of per capita contribution to the arts of any city in the nation. The Arts Council, founded in 1949, was the first municipal arts council in the country. The National Black Theatre Festival, a biennial event that began in 1989, has been cited as the nation’s largest and most celebrated exposition of black theater. Additionally, annual events such as the River Run Film Festival, Bookmarks Festival, Piedmont Craftsmen’s Fair and Fiesta Festival all contribute to the arts and culture of the City. Moreover, the recent population increase in many ethnicities has enhanced the City’s rich cultural diversity.Downtown Winston-Salem is growing with more living spaces, shopping, food, and entertainment options. A historic landmark downtown is the Kimpton Cardinal Hotel, once the headquarters of Reynolds Tobacco Co. The building, known as “The Grand Old Lady,” in Winston-Salem, was the architectural inspiration for the Empire State Building in New York. It now includes 174 guestrooms and 36 suites. The hotel’s upper floors have been converted into 120 luxury condominium units. The completion of two new downtown hotels- Courtyard by Marriott and Hampton Inn and Suites, along with the renovation of the historic Pepper Building into the Hotel Indigo Winston-Salem, has brought more out-of-town visitors downtown.Other boosts to downtown have included Winston-Salem’s Truist Ballpark, home of the Winston-Salem Dash baseball team, and Innovation Quarter, one of the fastest-growing urban innovation districts in the United States providing office, residential, retail, and restaurant spaces. The Downtown Winston-Salem Business Improvement District (BID), which covers 60 blocks and is overseen by an 11-persons advisory committee, ensures a high standard for cleanliness and safety in the downtown area.Quick Facts

  • Population: 252,975
  • Median Household Income: $59,189
  • Median Home Value: $256,700
  • Median Age: 36.1

All demographic information was sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau.Compensation and BenefitsThe expected hiring range is $126,505 – $161,256, depending on qualifications, with an excellent benefits package. Learn more about our options and employee-based benefits here.Benefits offered include the following:

  • Education Assistance
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Employee Suggestion Program
  • Family and Medical Leave
  • Flexible Spending Accounts
  • Group Dental Insurance
  • Group Health Insurance
  • Jury Duty Leave
  • Life/Accidental Death Insurance
  • Military Leave
  • 14 Paid Holidays
  • Promotion from Within
  • Retirement/Pension Plan (State of NC)
  • School Leave
  • Shared Leave
  • Short-Term Disability Insurance
  • 12 Paid Sick Leave Days – Annually
  • Vacation Leave
  • Wellness Program
  • Pet Insurance
  • Supplemental Retirement Accounts (401K and 457)

How to ApplyApplicants complete a brief online form and are prompted to provide a cover letter and resume. The position will be open until filled with a first review of applications beginning July 10, 2025.QuestionsPlease direct questions to Pamela Wideman at pwideman@raftelis.com and Niayla Hairston at nhairston@raftelis.com.RECRUITMENT BROCHURE

Expected salary: $126505 – 161256 per year

Location: Winston-Salem, NC

Job date: Tue, 24 Jun 2025 22:10:47 GMT

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