CLT Director

Common Grounds Community Land Trust Director

About Genesis Harbor of Opportunities Promoting Excellence

Genesis Harbor of Opportunities Promoting Excellence (GenesisHOPE) is a 501(c)3 community development corporation advancing health equity plans, programs and policies so everyone has a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible—Healthy People + Healthy Places. At GenesisHOPE, you’ll find meaningful work, caring culture, and a dynamic team focused on promoting healthy living and creating healthy resilient communities for the residents of Islandview, the Villages of Detroit, and surrounding neighborhoods. And, you’ll enjoy: 1. Flexible work environment 2. Paid vacation 3. Potential tuition reimbursement and/or paid professional development 4. Career path establishment and growth opportunities 5. Chance to make a difference!

Description

CLT Director

Common Grounds Community Land Trust — Detroit, MI

Employment Type Full-Time Exempt (Executive)

Reports To GenesisHOPE Executive Director (solid line); Common Grounds CLT Board of Trustees

Location Detroit, MI (on-site/hybrid; frequent local travel)

The Role

Common Grounds CLT is hiring its founding CLT Director to lead a ground-floor community land trust in a city where CLTs are brand new, no state enabling statute or ground-lease tax treatment yet exists, and the Detroit Land Bank Authority relationship is still forming. The role is half real estate/operations, half policy and coalition-building. GenesisHOPE serves as fiscal sponsor during incubation; the title converts to Executive Director, Common Grounds CLT once the CLT operates independently.

Key Responsibilities

Policy & Advocacy: Primary advocate before City Council, DLBA, and state legislators; advance the state CLT enabling statute and favorable tax treatment through the Michigan CLT Coalition.

Membership & Governance: Grow the membership base from near zero; support the Board of Trustees across all three governance seats.

Beals Street Project: Deliver the CLT’s first project (10 DLBA lots) through contracted project managers and developers; structure ground leases and resale restrictions.

Fundraising: Blend public grants (CDBG, MSHDA), philanthropy, and CDFI capital; manage the annual operating budget.

Leadership & Operations: Represent the CLT publicly; ensure legal/regulatory compliance; report to both the GenesisHOPE ED and the CLT Board.

Qualifications

5+ years of leadership experience in affordable housing, community development, real estate, or nonprofit/policy work.

Experience navigating government relationships and advocating for policy change.

Working knowledge of affordable housing finance (CDBG, HOME, LIHTC, MSHDA); comfort with ground-lease/shared-equity models a plus.

Strong community-organizing and fundraising skills; comfort operating within a fiscal sponsorship structure with dual accountability.

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent lived/professional experience. CLT experience and existing Detroit/Michigan housing relationships preferred.

To Apply

Submit a resume, cover letter, and a short writing sample (policy memo, grant narrative, or op-ed) on why permanently affordable, community-owned land matters for Detroit.

Salary

$71,000 - $85,000 per year