Job Title: Vice President of Community Housing Programs
Reports To: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
FLSA Status: Full-time/Salaried
Agency Overview:
Since opening its doors in 1982 as a short-term shelter, Guest House of Milwaukee has grown into a comprehensive provider of housing and supportive services across the city. Guest House delivers a full continuum of care—including shelter, housing, education, clinical services, and long-term case management—serving men, women, and families experiencing homelessness.
The organization has a proven track record of supporting individuals with significant barriers to housing stability, including mental illness, substance use disorders, physical and cognitive disabilities, and involvement with the criminal justice system. All programs are designed to help individuals secure and sustain safe, affordable housing while restoring dignity, stability, and independence.
Position Summary
The Vice President of Community Housing Programs provides executive leadership for Guest House’s housing portfolio, including permanent supportive housing, transitional housing, rapid rehousing, homelessness prevention, and related community-based initiatives. This role is responsible for setting and executing the strategic vision for housing programs, ensuring effective service delivery, regulatory compliance, financial sustainability, and measurable impact.
As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, the Vice President partners closely with organizational leaders to align housing strategies with agency-wide goals, improve program performance, and respond to evolving community needs. The role also contributes to fundraising, external relations, and public representation of the organization.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Program Leadership and Oversight
- Provide executive oversight for all community housing programs, including but not limited to Homelinc, My Home, Housing First, VA TIP, Rapid Rehousing, Landlord and Lease Management, Homeless Prevention, and Community Case Management.
- Directly supervise housing program directors and ensure strong leadership, accountability, and performance across all programs.
- Ensure a high-quality, compliant, and financially sustainable service delivery system across the housing continuum.
Strategy, Evaluation, and Compliance
- Develop, implement, and regularly review systems, policies, and procedures to ensure effective coordination and communication across programs and departments.
- Design and maintain a comprehensive program evaluation framework, incorporating process measures, outcomes, and client satisfaction data, and lead continuous quality improvement efforts.
- Maintain strong working knowledge of housing-related grants, contracts, and funding requirements, including fiscal oversight, audits, and corrective action processes.
- Partner with and serve as backup to the Director of Government Grants and Quality Assurance on evaluation, reporting, and compliance for housing-related funding.
Planning, Development, and Funding
- Lead a standardized annual planning process across all housing programs, with clear goals, budgets, and performance indicators; provide summaries to executive leadership and, as appropriate, the Board.
- Identify and research funding opportunities, program models, and community resources to support program growth and innovation aligned with the organization’s mission.
- Support program development, budget planning, and sustainability strategies.
Leadership, Partnerships, and External Engagement
- Build and maintain strong collaborative relationships with funders, government entities, landlords, community partners, and other stakeholders.
- Work closely with the CEO to advance the organization’s mission, vision, and strategic priorities.
- Stay informed on federal, state, and local legislation and policy changes impacting housing and homelessness services.
- Represent Guest House in external forums, fundraising efforts, and public relations activities as needed.
Risk Management and Crisis Response
- Develop and oversee policies and procedures that ensure the health, safety, and well-being of clients and staff.
- Respond promptly to emergencies and lead or support crisis intervention efforts as required.
- Perform other duties and special projects assigned by the CEO.
Note: While this description is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current position, it is not necessarily exhaustive of all responsibilities, duties, efforts, requirements, or expectations of this position. Management reserves the right to revise or amend this description to include or remove tasks as circumstances change and the needs of the organization so dictate.
Qualifications
- Demonstrated systems-level thinking with the ability to align housing programs with broader community housing and homelessness systems.
- Strong knowledge of city, county, and federal housing funding sources and regulations, including HUD, VA, and related programs.
- Deep understanding of homelessness, housing stability, mental health, and substance use challenges.
- Ability to analyze and interpret complex technical and non-technical documents, including contracts, policies, audits, proposals, and financial reports.
- Proven ability to manage multiple projects and priorities in a dynamic environment.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Valid driver’s license, vehicle insurance, and reliable transportation in compliance with agency requirements.
Education and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, or related field required; Master’s degree strongly preferred
- Minimum of five (5) years of senior-level program management and leadership experience.
- Experience with program development, implementation, and evaluation, including use of logic models, dashboards, or similar performance tools.
- Guest House is a Microsoft 365 environment
Core Competencies
- Strategic and forward-thinking leadership
- Initiative and accountability
- Change management
- Clear written and verbal communication
- Influence and collaboration
- Results-oriented execution
- Flexibility and adaptability
Physical and Other Requirements
This position description reflects the general nature and level of work expected and is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties. The employee may occasionally lift, push, or pull up to 25 pounds. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the role.