Initiative Director, Eviction Data Response Network - Democracy Fund : Job Details

About New America's Future of Land and Housing Program

New America's Future of Land and Housing (FLH) program envisions a country in which all people have an affordable, safe, and stable home that is located near well‑paying jobs, good schools, and strong communities. A world where homelessness and housing insecurity are rare, because housing is treated as a human right. And where local and federal policymakers have the data to track housing insecurity and loss, and are held accountable for keeping it low. Since 2018, we've worked to advance this vision. Through our narrative change work, research and writing, convening, policy analysis, network building, piloting and collaboration with local leaders and civic innovators nationwide, we shed light on underreported housing challenges and surface promising solutions.

About the Eviction Data Response Network (EDRN): Each year, more than 10 million Americans are evicted from their homes. The burden falls disproportionately on Black and Latino families and families with young children, pushing too many to the brink of homelessness, economic loss, and long‑term instability.

And yet, most state and local leaders don't even know the scale or geography of the problem. Eviction data remains fragmented, inaccessible, and inconsistent. Without shared, trusted data, decision-makers can't design or implement effective policies that keep families stably housed.

The Eviction Data Response Network (EDRN) is a bold national effort to change that. Over the next three years, we will recruit and support high‑capacity Anchor Partners in up to 10 states to:

• Build durable eviction data pipelines that provide reliable, comprehensive, and regularly updated data on evictions statewide; and
• Stand up multi‑sector problem‑solving teams that use that data to craft policy and practice interventions that measurably reduce evictions.

By building the country's first large‑scale, state‑level eviction data infrastructure—and connecting it to coordinated problem‑solving—the Eviction Data Response Network aims to bend the curve on housing loss nationwide.

The Role: Initiative Director

We are looking for an exceptional leader to launch, grow, and steward the Eviction Data Response Network through its critical first three years. This is not a traditional program manager role—it is an opportunity to architect and lead a national initiative that will shape how U.S. policymakers and housing communities measure, understand, and prevent eviction.

The EDRN Initiative Director will:

• Build a national network of state‑level Anchor Partners and guide them through the selection and onboarding process.
• Design and deliver technical assistance, leading a small but high‑impact team that helps partners build robust data infrastructure and effective problem‑solving systems.
• Manage a national learning network, convening partners virtually and in‑person to share lessons, solve problems, and accelerate progress.
• Drive policy impact, translating insights from Anchor Partners into recommendations and elevating them to state and federal leaders.
• Oversee evaluation and learning, ensuring the initiative generates evidence of impact and insights that can scale nationwide.

In addition to leading EDRN, the EDRN Initiative Director will play a key role in advancing FLH's broader housing stability agenda, including through writing, public events, relationship building, fundraising, and collaborations on issues like climate migration and affordable homeownership.

This is a highly entrepreneurial role. The Director will report to the Director of the Future of Land and Housing program and will work closely with senior officials, national advocates, data scientists, and local leaders.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher.
• 12+ years of experience in nonprofits, think tanks, philanthropy, academia, or membership associations.
• A track record of managing large, complex, multi‑stakeholder projects to clear results.
• Experience engaging senior state officials and navigating the political economy of state and local government.
• Significant experience in data frameworks, evaluation, and organizing structured networks.
• Proven experience organizing across multiple geographies and/or building out structured networks.
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to translate complex data into compelling insights for diverse audiences.
• Proven management ability, with demonstrated experience leading small teams.
• Deep commitment to housing stability, equity, and systems change.
• Agility, iteration, and comfort with fast‑paced, high‑stakes environments.
• Ability to travel up to 20%.

Compensation and Benefits

This position is a full‑time role with benefits. The annual salary will be between $135,000.00 – $155,000.00, depending on experience.

New America offers a highly competitive benefits package that includes health care, dental, and vision coverage; a generous retirement plan; paid time off; observes all federal holidays; and an office‑wide closure between Christmas and New Year's Day.

Location

New America's offices are in Washington, D.C., with a hybrid work schedule. While a DC/MD/VA location is preferred, we welcome applications from highly qualified candidates nationwide.

Application Process

Please submit the following materials by September 29, 2025:

• Resume
• A cover letter that explains why this role excites you and what qualifies you uniquely to lead the Eviction Data Response Network.
• A sample of your past work — specifically, a facilitation plan, implementation plan, complex meeting agenda, or any other artifact you believe showcases your experience designing coaching and capacity building interventions for local leaders. We will keep these materials confidential, and you will retain all rights to them. If you are selected for an interview, we may ask you to present or elaborate on this work before our hiring panel.

Originality and Transparency: At New America, we value authentic voices and intellectual property rights. All application materials, including cover letters, writing samples, and any other submissions, must be solely your own original work. The use of AI text generation tools is strictly prohibited for any part of your job application. Submissions found to contain AI‑generated content will be immediately disqualified from consideration. Applicants have a responsibility to be fully transparent about authorship and any tools or resources utilized.

New America is an equal‑opportunity employer committed to hiring a diverse workforce at all levels of the organization. We value and encourage the contributions of our employees and strive to create an environment where everyone can reach their full potential and drive outstanding results. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, gender identity or expression, or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal law. This policy applies with regard to all aspects of one's employment, including hiring, transfer, promotion, compensation, eligibility for benefits, and termination. This is a bargaining unit role.

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