The Terner Center is seeking a talented Deputy Director of Policy to advance housing policy work in California and at the federal level. The Deputy Director elevates Terner research in policy settings, including legislative briefings, conferences, and other policy meetings; solicits input on new and emerging research opportunities that draw on policy opportunities; writes frequent short-form commentaries, blogs, and Op-Eds; and manages ongoing operations of the Terner Center’s overall policy work.

To ensure that the Center’s research informs and shapes relevant legislation, rulemaking, and agency guidance, the Deputy Director is responsible for briefing legislators and policymakers; giving written and verbal testimony; and for building relationships with state and federal legislators, as well as legislative and executive staff. The Deputy Director also serves as Terner’s lead on state and federal task forces, policy working groups, and similar high-priority efforts; coordinating Terner’s external engagement through participating and presenting research in relevant conferences; serving as a primary contact for the media; and assisting with fundraising to support policy work.

The Deputy Director collaborates closely with the Terner Center’s leadership team to identify areas where timely research could inform policy opportunities and to ensure that policy work is coordinated across the Terner Center and Terner Labs and other partner organizations.

The Deputy Director also manages the Center’s policy team, which may include staff policy associates, graduate student researchers, and Fellows.

The ideal candidate will have:

• a minimum of five years of relevant leadership experience working in a policy role in housing, land use, real estate, or urban policy in academia or with a nonprofit, government, advocacy, or a public policy organization;
• demonstrated subject knowledge of housing policy and federal, state, and municipal housing programs or land use regulations;
• the ability to analyze and explain legislative and regulatory language;
• expertise in building collaborations across agencies and sectors;
• the ability to write short pieces on timely housing policy topics and/or connecting existing research to policy opportunities; and
• experience overseeing teams, mentoring professional colleagues, and/or directly managing staff or students.

The Terner Center seeks candidates whose experience has prepared them to contribute to our commitment to diversity and inclusion in our internal management practices and collaborations, research agenda, and methodological approaches. They will also bring an understanding of the history and current realities of inequities in housing markets and the skill and dedication to apply this lens to their work.

This position will be located at the Terner Center’s offices in Oakland, California (not main campus). Flexibility may be available to work remotely 1-2 days per week.

Salary will be $140,000 – $170,000, commensurate with experience. The position is open until filled. Review of applications will begin July 14, 2025.