Housing Planning Specialist – On Call, Part Time

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Virginia.

📋 Description

• Offer expertise on local pro-housing regulatory reforms, particularly in land use, zoning, development review, and permitting practices that can enhance housing supply and expedite home construction.

• Act as a subject matter expert during listening sessions and training sessions throughout the United States.

• Lead discussions among local participants to pinpoint feasible, contextually appropriate regulatory reforms with the highest potential impact.

• Utilize HUD’s State and Local Best Practices for Home Construction and pertinent provisions of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act while formulating recommendations, training materials, and stakeholder dialogues.

• Review and contribute to HUD written materials on land use, zoning, and development review aimed at local government audiences.

• Collaborate with HUD, other technical assistance providers, and ICF team members to ensure that content is accurate, practical, consistent, and ready for implementation.

• Assist in efforts under HUD Technical Assistance initiatives, including the Thriving Communities or Community Compass Technical Assistance programs.

⛳️ Requirements

• A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in urban or regional planning, public administration, public policy, government, real estate development, housing, or a related field, OR at least 10 years of relevant professional experience.

• A minimum of 7 years of proven experience in land use, zoning, development review, building or planning approvals, permitting modernization, or related pro-housing reforms.

• In-depth knowledge of how state and local regulatory requirements influence housing supply, development costs, project feasibility, and construction timelines.

• Proven ability to translate complex policy or regulatory concepts into actionable guidance for local governments, practitioners, community stakeholders, or housing industry audiences.

• Experience in developing, reviewing, or delivering training presentations and facilitating discussions with diverse groups.

• Willingness and ability to travel to approximately two to four listening sessions across the United States.

• Direct experience providing advice to municipalities, counties, states, planning agencies, housing agencies, or development partners on zoning, land use, permitting, or process enhancements.

• Familiarity with HUD housing supply initiatives, HUD’s State and Local Best Practices for Home Construction, and the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act.

• Experience in delivering a standardized, client-approved presentation deck while maintaining an engaging and adaptable facilitation style.

• Proven track record in leading listening sessions, workshops, or peer-learning discussions.

• Excellent verbal, interpersonal, facilitation, presentation, and written communication skills.

• Strong analytical abilities and problem-solving skills.

• Capability to provide consistent, high-quality content while adapting examples and discussion techniques for different community settings.

• Ability to operate effectively in a collaborative, multi-partner environment and manage variable, project-driven assignments.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Excel.

• Travel within the United States is mandatory.

🏝️ Benefits

• Remote work options available.

• Part-time, on-call schedule with flexible hours.

• Travel and meals, along with incidental expenses, reimbursed according to applicable federal per diem rates.

• Opportunity to serve as an on-call subject matter expert for future projects.

• Reasonable accommodations for disabilities, veterans, and sincerely held religious beliefs.

• Commitment to equal opportunity employment.