Citizens’ and Planning Association; CHAPA Chief Executive Officer

ABOUT CHAPA

Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA) is the leading statewide advocacy organization for affordable housing in Massachusetts. CHAPA works to advance policies and programs that promote the production and preservation of housing that is affordable for households with low and moderate incomes, while fostering diverse, sustainable communities through planning and community development.

CHAPA brings together a broad and diverse “big tent” of stakeholders—advocates, developers, lenders, service providers, tenant organizations, public officials, and community leaders—to shape housing policy at the local, state, and federal levels. This coalition-based approach is central to CHAPA’s identity: we build consensus across stakeholders who may have competing priorities, finding common ground that moves housing policy forward for all.

Our Impact:

• Leading voice on affordable housing policy in Massachusetts for over 55 years
• Convener of the state’s most diverse housing coalition
• Home to the Housing Policy Action Center, Municipal Engagement Initiative, Housing Leadership Academy, and the Massachusetts Home ownership Collaborative
• Host of the region’s largest annual affordable housing event
• $3.1M operating budget with a diversified funding base

CHAPA has built a deeply collaborative, values-driven organizational culture under its current leadership. The next CEO will be expected to honor and sustain that culture while bringing their own strengths to the role.

CHAPA seeks a dynamic, strategic, and highly collaborative Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead the organization into its next chapter. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in Massachusetts housing policy, established relationships across the state’s housing ecosystem, demonstrated fundraising success, and a consensus-building leadership style.

The CEO will work closely with the Board of Directors, lead CHAPA’s experienced staff team, and serve as the organization’s primary external representative. This is an outward-facing role that requires someone who can navigate the complexities of state legislative and budget processes, maintain trusted relationships across diverse coalitions, and strengthen CHAPA’s financial sustainability through robust fundraising.

This role calls for a leader with a strong understanding of the Massachusetts housing landscape, including the legislative environment, advocacy community, development sector, and policy context. While existing relationships across these areas are highly valued, CHAPA is seeking a CEO who can both draw on prior experience and continue to build and deepen partnerships over time. The ideal candidate will be prepared to step into key conversations, quickly establish credibility, and grow relationships as part of the role.

Your commitment to housing justice, collaborative leadership style, and ability to hold space for competing perspectives will be instrumental in advancing CHAPA’s mission.

This role reports to CHAPA’s Board of Directors.

• Provide overall strategic direction for CHAPA in partnership with the Board of Directors
• Lead, support, and develop an experienced staff team, fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing organizational culture
• Sustain CHAPA’s trust-based management approach, where staff are empowered to do their best work with appropriate autonomy and support
• Maintain an even-keeled, positive leadership presence—particularly within uncertain political and policy environments
• Oversee all organizational operations, including policy development, research, advocacy, programs, communications, fundraising, and finance

• Lead CHAPA’s state and federal housing policy and advocacy agenda, including legislative priorities and budget advocacy
• Maintain established, trusted relationships with Massachusetts legislators, public officials, and key housing stakeholders
• Navigate the state legislative and budget process with confidence and existing expertise
• Convene, participate in, and lead diverse advocacy coalitions, skillfully navigating competing or conflicting…