Policy Research Director

Enterprise Community Partners
$108,000 to $120,000,
tuition reimbursement, 401(k)
United States, D.C., Washington
Jan 05, 2026
Enterprise is a national nonprofit that exists to make a good home possible for the millions of families without one. We support community development organizations on the ground, aggregate and invest capital for impact, advance housing policy at every level of government, and build and manage communities ourselves. Since 1982, we have invested $80.9 billion and created 1 million homes across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands - all to make home and community places of pride, power and belonging. Join us at enterprisecommunity.org Working at Enterprise At Enterprise, you'll be part of a diverse, committed team making a difference every day. You will collaborate with some of the smartest minds and biggest hearts in our field. You'll be empowered to drive systems change and take bold steps to advance racial equity. And you will find a career home where you're valued and supported in your growth journey. Enterprise offers career opportunities in our offices across the country with anexceptional benefits package. Job Description Summary The Research Director works as a key member of Enterprise's Policy Development & Research team, which is part of Public Policy. The Policy Development & Research team provides thought leadership and data-backed recommendations to influence housing and community development policy, addressing both emerging policy issues and long-term needs. We conduct applied research and analysis on a range of issues. The position requires strong project management, data analysis, written and oral communication skills. Self-motivation and the ability to work both independently and as a team player within Enterprise and in conjunction with external research partners is critical for success. The position requires a strong ability to independently manage and prioritize multiple tasks. Reporting to the Vice President for Policy Development, the Research Director will lead the research, analysis, and project management necessary to meet critical deliverables on research grants and other large-scale projects as assigned. The Research Director will also respond to (and identify, where possible) opportunities to fund research projects consistent with their own subject matter expertise and support or lead similar responses for the PD&R team at large. The Research Director will serve as the lead researcher on demand-side housing policies related to low-income and unhoused populations and policy responses related to disaster recovery and mitigation in vulnerable communities. The Research Director is expected to draw upon subject matter expertise in the areas of housing affordability, rural housing needs, climate resilience, and other related fields in service of data-driven policymaking and program development. Research and other work products, including blog posts, issue briefs, white papers, and longer research reports, will be developed for internal and external audiences, and part of the Research Director's time will be spent disseminating PD&R work. Job Description Responsibilities Conduct high-quality research onhousing and community developmenttopics as assignedor asidentified. Lead research on rentalassistance, disaster recovery, and mitigation policies using qualitative and quantitative methods, aswarranted. Writeblog posts, issue briefs, white papers, and longer research reportswithlimitedguidance fromtheVP, Policy Development. Identifyemerging policy issues that wouldbenefitfrom grounding in data and conduct "rapid response" research to begin, frame, and inform policy discussions at the Federal and state/local levels. Write proposalstorespond to funding opportunities, serving as principal investigator onmulti-year research grants (asappropriate). Manageproject-levelresearch staff(internal and external)and oversee administration ofresearch grants, including managing third-party vendors, data providers and consultants as needed. Participate inPD&Rstrategic planning and resource management. Work collaborativelyacross Enterpriseto draw on internalexpertiseto advance research and respond to internal requests forpolicy-relatedanalyticsandknowledge. Required Qualifications Master's degree preferred in public policy, urbanplanning,economicsorrelated fieldsthatemphasizeanalyzing and interpreting both quantitative and qualitative information. 7+years relevant work experience, ideally with supervisory or leadership roles;additionalwork experience may substitute for graduate degree, andadditionaladvanced education may substitute for part of the work experience. Subjectmatterexpertiseinhousing policy,with a particular focus on demand-side housing policies (including but not limited to housing vouchers and homelessness responses) and vulnerable places. Candidateshouldpossesssubstantive knowledge ofurban economics,demographicsand/or real estate development, as well asexperiencewithcommon datasets and measurement techniques. Have pre-existing relationships with (potential) external collaborators and stakeholders Expertisetranslating and synthesizing quantitativeand qualitativeresearch for diverse audiences. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, preferably with editing,publishingand media experience. Facility with standard statistical methods and quantitative analysis software. (We are evolving to becoming an R shop.) Excellent critical thinking and creative problem-solving. Excellent organizational and time management skills;demonstratedability to manage complex projects with multiple stakeholders and partners. Experience reviewing and providing quality assurance on analyses conducted by others. Experience managing project budgets,resource tracking, andmanaging consultants and sub-contractors. Experience public speaking,teachingor leadingtrainings. Attention to detail and emphasis on accuracy and quality of work. Experience working on highly collaborative teams, both virtually and in-person. Curiosity, desire for self-improvement, and excitement about sharing new skills and knowledge. Demonstrated commitment to Enterprise's mission andvalues. Total Rewards at Enterprise: You will be working with a group of talented professionals who are motivated by serving the community and addressing the need for affordable housing. Enterprise offers a comprehensive total rewards package for you and your family. The base salary for this role is $108,000 to $120,000, depending on level of skills and experience. The salary range for this position is represented by the low and high end of the range for the amount to be paid for the position. Salaries paid at Enterprise will vary based on factors that may include skills, education, location, experience, and performance. The salary range is just a part of the total rewards package provided to employees at Enterprise, and other rewards may include annual performance bonuses and generous paid leave programs. At Enterprise, our benefits form a major component of our total rewards package.Benefits include dental, health, and vision care plans, as well as family-building benefits, such as adoption and surrogacy support. Enterprise allows flexible work arrangements to promote a better work-life balance. We offer health advocacy, EAP, and mental health benefits. We round out our total rewards package by offering financial education, wellness programs, and auto-enrollment in the company's 401(k) plan with employer matching contributions. Finally, you will have learning and development opportunities, including tuition reimbursement for job-related courses and certifications. Thank you for your interest in joining the Enterprise team in our effort and commitment to serve others. PLEASE NOTE: We are not able to provide sponsorship or relocation for this position. #LI-NU1 #ID