Principal Advisor, Chief External Relations Officer

Salary : $133,459.46 - $208,197.34 Annually
Location : CA 90017, CA
Job Type: Full-time
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number: GOV18002
Department: Government Affairs
Opening Date: 03/25/2025
Closing Date: 4/16/2025 11:59 PM Pacific
FLSA: Exempt
Bargaining Unit: Non-Union

Job Summary
The seeks motivated professionals who want to use their talents and skills to make a difference. Our 750+ FTE staff are adaptive problem solvers and passionate about enriching people's lives. If you are mission-driven, dedicated to superior service and support, and can diligently work independently and in a collaborative environment, join our team. LAHSA is leading the fight to end homelessness in Los Angeles County. Here, not only would your work have a real impact on the community, but we also offer a comprehensive and competitive benefits package.

Created in 1993, LAHSA is a joint powers authority of the city and county of Los Angeles. As the lead agency in the HUD-funded Los Angeles Continuum of Care, we coordinate and manage over $800 million annually in federal, state, county, and city funds for programs providing shelter, housing, and services to people experiencing homelessness.

The Government Affairs Department of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) supports strategic initiatives throughout the agency, develops and maintains strategic partnerships, and plays a key role in narrative setting through relational organizing. Under the direction of the Chief External Relations Officer, the Principal Advisor to the Chief External Relations Officer and Deputy Chief External Relations Officer will play a pivotal role in enhancing community understanding, fostering strategic relationships, and showcasing how LAHSA and its service providers effectively deliver impactful services for individuals experiencing homelessness.

This role will focus on demonstrating the outcomes and strategies of LAHSA and its partners, ensuring that their successes and innovations are communicated clearly to stakeholders and the broader community. This position is essential for developing strategic partnerships with legislative bodies, community-based organizations, and entities serving vulnerable populations, including civil rights organizations. The Principal Advisor will leverage experience in homelessness programs, public relations, and strategic operations to implement initiatives that address homelessness and improve community outcomes.

The functions listed below are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed and are not to be interpreted as an exhaustive list of responsibilities.
Essential Job Functions

• Community Engagement and Relationship Building:
  • Cultivate and strengthen relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including community-based organizations, civil rights groups, human services agencies, healthcare providers, faith-based organizations, local officials, and individuals with lived experience of homelessness.
  • Partner with non-traditional allies, such as advocacy groups, academic institutions, and grassroots organizations, to expand the impact of LAHSA's initiatives.
  • Collaborate with legislative bodies and public officials to align strategies, promote equitable policies, and garner support for solutions to homelessness.
  • Develop and implement inclusive engagement strategies to deepen public understanding of homelessness and ensure diverse voices are valued in decision-making.
  • Build cross-sector partnerships to integrate civil rights and equity-focused approaches, addressing systemic issues like racial equity, healthcare access, and economic mobility to tackle the root causes of homelessness.

• Strengthening Systems and Enhancing Service Delivery:
  • Facilitate convenings, workshops, and collaborative forums that bring together LAHSA, service providers, and community stakeholders to strengthen collective capacity to deliver effective, equitable services.
  • Assess the capacity of LAHSA and its partners to deliver impactful services, identifying systemic gaps and opportunities to enhance effectiveness through shared learning and best practices.
  • Design and implement targeted training programs and resources to empower organizations serving vulnerable populations, foster continuous improvement and the scaling of proven interventions.
  • Collaborate with stakeholders to co-create innovative service models that address the evolving needs of the community, ensuring alignment with LAHSA's mission, strategic objectives, and a unified community response to homelessness.
• Strategic Initiative Development:
  • Provide strategic direction on the design and implementation of initiatives aimed at increasing the effectiveness of grant-making and service delivery within the homelessness sector.
  • Work closely with the Chief Executive Officer and Chief External Officer to develop agency-wide strategies that address systemic barriers to effective service delivery.
• Public Engagement and Advocacy:
  • Develop and execute public engagement strategies to raise awareness of homelessness issues and promote LAHSA's initiatives within the community.
  • Act as a spokesperson for LAHSA at public events, media engagements, and community meetings, effectively communicating the agency's goals and the importance of collaborative efforts to address homelessness.
  • Advocate for policies that support enhanced service delivery and community engagement, working with legislators and advocacy groups to influence positive change.
• Data Analysis and Performance Reporting:
  • Utilize data-driven approaches to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of community engagement efforts and service delivery initiatives.
  • Prepare comprehensive reports that highlight successes, challenges, and areas for improvement, providing actionable insights to the Chief Executive Officer and executive leadership.
• Collaboration and Coordination:
  • Foster collaboration among various stakeholders, including government agencies, community organizations, and service providers, to develop coordinated responses to homelessness.
  • Facilitate cross-sector partnerships that leverage resources and expertise to enhance service delivery and community engagement.
  • Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Familiarity with the homeless delivery system, particularly within the LA CoC, preferred.
• Preference will be given to applicants with a background in community engagement and relationship building with businesses, community organizations, elected offices and coalitions.
• Knowledge and understanding of policy, systems and local programs that impact homeless people and related public funding sources, regulations, requirements, and procedures.
• Knowledge, awareness, and exercise of cultural competency when collaborating with faith-based organizations, small provider agencies, and local communities.
• Ability to think critically and identify opportunities, challenges, needs and prioritization of work to meet mandatory deadlines for projects and organization.
• Ability to communicate, develop and maintain professional working relationships with management, co-workers, City and County department staff, service providers, elected offices, people with lived experience, and general public.
• Ability to work under pressure and handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Strong organizational and administrative skills as well as strong attention to detail is critical.
• Must have excellent time management, project management skills, and the ability to prioritize multiple tasks to meet deadlines.
• Candidate must have a valid California driver license and access to an insured vehicle. The ability for regional travel is required. Mileage for travel in fulfillment of job responsibilities will be reimbursed.
• Ability to competently use Microsoft Office 365 (Excel, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint), Facebook, Twitter, and other social media platforms.

Training & Experience

• Any combination of extensive and applicable work experience and educational credentials to perform the above duties successfully.

LICENSE:

• A valid California Class C Driver License is needed to carry out job-related essential functions. The candidate must have a good driving record for a minimum of three (3) years.

Schedule

• The Executive Director or designee may change the schedule of positions between hybrid and onsite, as necessary to accomplish LAHSA business.

Applicants may make a reasonable accommodation request for this job by calling the Human Resources Department at (213) 683-3333; or via email at humanresources@lahsa.org.

We are an Equal Opportunity / E-Verify Employer.
We want to support all staff in reaching their personal and professional goals. Working for LAHSA has many benefits. Join our LAHSA team!

Medical Insurance
LAHSA pays a portion of the premiums for medical for all full-time employees and their dependents. Employees are responsible for the difference in the premiums through automatic bi-monthly payroll deductions.

Medical plans are administered through ADP Workforce. The following are enrollment options:

Medical
HMO/PPO: Kaiser Permanente, Aetna

Dental Insurance
LAHSA pays a portion of the premiums for selected dental benefits for all full-time employees and their dependents. Employees are responsible for the difference in the premiums through automatic bi-monthly payroll deductions.
Dental plans are administered through ADP Workforce. The following are enrollment options:

Dental
HMO/PPO: Guardian Dental

VSP Vision Plan
LAHSA offers this voluntary comprehensive vision plan to all full-time employees through ADP Workforce. It includes yearly comprehensive exams, lenses, frames and contact lenses. All premiums are pre-taxed and paid 100% by the employee through automatic bi-monthly payroll deductions.

AFLAC Supplemental Insurance
LAHSA offers this voluntary supplemental insurance to all full-time employees. Plan options include personal accident, personal cancer indemnity, personal short-term disability, and personal life insurance plans. Most premiums are pre taxed and paid 100% by the employee through automatic bi-monthly payroll deductions.

ADP Flexible Spending Accounts
LAHSA offers employees this voluntary flexible spending account plan through ADP Workforce. Employees may elect to participate in dependent care or health care expense accounts. All premiums are pre-taxed and paid 100% by the employee through automatic bimonthly payroll deductions.

Life Insurance
LAHSA pays 100% of the premium for $50,000 basic life insurance coverage through ADP.

Voluntary Group Life Insurance
LAHSA offers employees this voluntary group life insurance through Lincoln Financial. Employees may elect to participate in dependent care or health care expense accounts. All premiums are pre-taxed and paid 100% by the employee through automatic bimonthly payroll deductions.

Long Term Disability
LAHSA pays 100% of the premium for long term disability coverage through ADP.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program Eligibility
LAHSA is considered a government employer for the PSLF Program.

Pension Plan
LAHSA provides a 401A pension plan through Lincoln Financial. After 6 months of employment, employees are eligible for contributions of 6% of the employee's salary with a qualification date of 500 hours or 6 months after the date of hire.

Deferred Compensation Plan
LAHSA provides a 457 Deferred Compensation plan through Lincoln Financial. Employees may elect to defer up to IRS maximum limit per year of their earned salary for income tax purposes.

Time Off Administrative Leave
Chief Executive Officer, chiefs, and directors receive five (5) days of admin leave each calendar year in addition to the time-off below.

Vacation
Vacation is earned according to each month of service commencing with the employee's initial date of hire.

• Less than three (3) years of employment, eighty (80) hours per year.
• Three (3) to six (6) years of employment, one hundred twenty (120) hours per year.
• More than six (6) years of employment, the one hundred twenty (120) hour total shall be supplemented by one (1) workday of paid leave for each twelve (12) months greater than seventy-two (72) months of employment. This vacation accrual is capped at thirty (30) workdays per year

Maximum accrual of vacation leave is 240 hours.

Sick Leave
Full-time employees accrue sick leave at a rate of 12 days per year. Maximum accrual of sick leave is 160 hours.

Paid Holidays
All employees receive the following observed company holidays off:
New Year's Day
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
President's Day
Cesar Chavez Day
Memorial Day
Juneteenth Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Indigenous People's Day
Veteran's Day
Thanksgiving Day
Day After Thanksgiving
Christmas Day

In addition to the above holidays, full-time regular employees are entitled to two (2) "Floating Holidays" during the calendar year.
Updated 01/15/2025