Vice President of Infrastructure, Housing

Arnold Ventures is a philanthropy whose core objective is to maximize opportunity and minimize injustice. We are dedicated to tackling some of the most pressing problems in the United States. We invest in sustainable change, building it from the ground up based on research, deep thinking, and a strong foundation of evidence. We drive public conversation, craft policy, and inspire action through education and advocacy. 

Position Overview 

Housing has become unaffordable across the United States – in both big cities and small towns – spurred by housing supply shortages and rapidly increasing rents and home prices. Additionally, with limited supply of homes near where people work and need to go, alongside limited transportation options, Americans are spending more of their lives commuting each day. The need to solve these issues at the federal, state, and local level has strong and growing support across the political spectrum. 

Arnold Ventures housing-related work in the infrastructure portfolio focuses on researching and enacting pro-housing policy at the federal, state, and local levels that can successfully expand housing supply and increase affordability by both making it easier to build more housing and by providing more types of housing in places people want to live. We are seeking a dynamic leader to develop and implement a set of impactful strategies to scale research on barriers to housing affordability and accelerate housing reforms across the United States.  

The Vice President of Infrastructure will lead, expand, and manage the growing Infrastructure portfolio of charitable investments in housing; and partner with a wide range of grantees, experts, and AV colleagues to advance transformative system reforms in the field. The Vice President will report to the Executive Vice President of Infrastructure and will be based in our Washington, DC office. 

Core Responsibilities 

• Collaborate with the EVP for Infrastructure, Arnold Ventures’ Board of Directors, and other key members of the executive team to further develop and implement the strategy and investment thesis for housing – including a research agenda and a strategy for developing and enacting policy reforms; this strategy should reflect a strong understanding of the relationship between transportation, housing, and land use policies 
• Develop and present strategic and charitable investment recommendations to the Arnold Ventures’ Board of Directors; create presentation materials, memos and background briefs, and talking points for key meetings, including meetings with the Board  
• On an ongoing basis, refine and drive the strategic direction for the housing portfolio, in close partnership with the Executive Vice President of Infrastructure; conduct research and analysis to inform strategy; develop project and policy recommendations; and identify, build, and manage relationships with grantees, key stakeholders, and experts  
• Collaborate cross-functionally with other Arnold Ventures teams, including, but not limited to, the Advocacy, Communications, and External Affairs team, the Evidence and Evaluation team, the Impact Investing team, and others to elevate relevant research, policy developments, and approaches 
• Ensure the successful implementation and integration of communications and advocacy strategies and activities within our portfolio goals and investments 
• Recruit and lead a small, high-functioning team to execute on strategic priorities; manage charitable investments, consulting relationships, and other potential partnerships; and facilitate effective and efficient day-to-day operations 

Required Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree required in a relevant field such as public policy, economics, law, or finance  
• 15 years of relevant work experience, preferably including experience with federal and/or state and local policy on issues related to housing affordability and land-use regulations 
• Knowledge and deep understanding of federal and/or state and local policy issues related to housing affordability and land-use regulations, as well as the connection between transportation and housing policy 
• Successful track record of using rigorous evidence to support policy reform  
• Strong leadership, people management, and relationship-building skills  
• Exceptional strategy development, project management, and organizational skills  
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate key takeaways to diverse, nontechnical audiences 

The salary range for this position will be $200,000-$300,000. 

Benefits Overview 

Arnold Ventures is committed to providing a robust and comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees. Our current benefits package includes 100% paid employee premiums for medical, dental, vision, basic life, and short- and long-term disability insurance; 20 days of paid time off, 16 paid holidays (including a winter break from December 24 to January 1), and a 9/80 schedule from Memorial Day to Labor Day; paid parental leave; a 401k retirement savings plan with an employer match, profit-share contribution, and immediate vesting; pre-tax transit benefits; a professional development stipend; a charitable giving stipend; and an employee assistance programs. 

Our Culture and Core Values 

Our culture seeks to inspire and empower our people to innovate and develop bold ideas that will help Arnold Ventures achieve lasting impact. Our culture, and the core values that support it, should create an environment that spurs our team to think outside the box, feel comfortable pushing the boundaries of what is possible, and signal confidence in our team’s ability to make change happen through our philanthropic efforts. Although not an exhaustive list, below you’ll find examples of Arnold Ventures’ work culture.  

• We are adaptable and comfortable with ambiguity 
• We are intellectually curious, open-minded, objective, humble, collegial, and receptive to feedback 
• We are action-oriented with strong self-direction and self-motivation skills with the ability to work simultaneously on multiple projects 
• We are able to interact confidently and collaboratively with team members and navigate relationships with external experts, government leaders, advocates, and individuals  

Arnold Ventures’ values reflect who we are as an organization, help us accelerate our strategic goals, strengthen our resolve, anchor us to our mission, and guide our decision-making. The successful candidate will also demonstrate the following core values that inspire the Arnold Ventures team to make a difference. 

• Respect for Ourselves & Others 
• Audacious Action 
• Collaborative Engagement 
• Depth of Thought 
• Clear Communication 

Arnold Ventures is an equal opportunity employer, committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender identity or expression, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, military/veteran status, or any basis prohibited by applicable law.  

Acknowledging the importance of diverse perspectives, Arnold Ventures is committed to employing individuals from a variety of backgrounds and with a variety of experiences. Members of historically marginalized communities and candidates who have been impacted by the systems we are seeking to change are strongly encouraged to apply.