Thank you for your interest in employment opportunities at the Terner Center for Housing Innovation.
Established in 2015, the Terner Center is a leading voice in the formulation of practical solutions and policies to meet the challenges of developing homes and communities that are affordable, vibrant, and environmentally sustainable.
Our Values
With a small but dynamic core staff, team members at the Terner Center take on a variety of different roles on many projects in a fast-paced, data-driven environment. We hold our work and each other to high standards through constructive feedback and iterative review. Most of all, we are committed to the success and growth of each member of our team. We encourage staff to share their knowledge, time, and perspectives, and to seek out opportunities for professional and educational development.
A key aim of our work is to guide and elevate the scholarship and leadership of students at UC Berkeley on issues in housing policy, development, and design. We regularly hire UC Berkeley graduate and undergraduate students from a variety of programs for semester appointments. Please check below for opportunities for students.
OUR CULTURE
- We strive to foster collaboration and team engagement. Impactful research and policy development are rooted in exchange, both within our team and with external partners and organizations.
- We expect our staff to value research that is independent, based in evidence, and rigorous. We look for team members who are committed to producing high-quality and impactful work that advances the Terner Center’s mission.
- We believe our work is stronger when it engages a broad set of stakeholders. We look for team members who are always thinking about new ways to amplify our work and reach new audiences.
- We are family-friendly. With several working parents on our team, we offer flexibility in scheduling and enjoy when kids of all ages visit our office or pop up on video calls.
- We are committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace where every team member is welcomed, valued, and supported.
- We are an equal opportunity employer and seek applications from people with diverse backgrounds of all kinds. We encourage people who have lived experience with the challenges of housing affordability to apply.
BENEFITS
- Comprehensive medical insurance, including health, dental, and vision coverage through UC Berkeley. Click here to learn more.
- Retirement savings or pension opportunities as well as retirement counseling and education through UC Berkeley. Click here to learn more.
- Paid vacation, sick time, and holiday leave.
- Access to the educational and professional development benefits of a world-class academic institution.
CURRENT OPENINGS
Current Openings
- Director of Operations & Strategy
- Graduate Student Researchers
Director of Operations & Strategy
The Terner Center is seeking a Director of Operations & Strategy responsible for translating organizational vision into the systems, priorities, resources, and cross-functional execution needed to advance high-impact housing research and policy engagement. Reporting to the Managing Director and serving on the Executive Team, the Director will provide strategic leadership across finance, operations, fund development, communications, and organizational planning. This role will help ensure the Center’s fiscal health, strengthen internal systems, foster a supportive and inclusive organizational culture, and position the Center for long-term impact and sustainability.
The Director of Operations & Strategy will focus on driving the Terner Center’s financial sustainability and organizational growth. Serving as a key enabler of the Center’s long-term mission, the Director oversees the infrastructure and resources necessary to advance high-impact housing research. This position requires a leader who can ensure that the Center remains nimble and effective in a fast-moving policy and research landscape.
Qualified candidates will bring substantial relevant leadership experience, with a track record in fund development, strategic planning, operations, financial management, communications, or related areas. Familiarity with housing, community development, and/or policy-relevant research environments is strongly preferred. This is an opportunity to help shape the next chapter of a mission-driven research center working to advance bold, evidence-based solutions to the nation’s housing challenges.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic Fundraising and Development: Oversee the execution of the fund development strategy and steward relationships with philanthropic partners and key institutional stakeholders to secure long-term investment in the Center’s mission.
- Financial Strategy and Leadership: Lead strategic budget planning and forecasting to ensure fiscal health and sustainability. Align multi-year funding portfolios with organizational priorities and staffing needs.
- Organizational Growth and Strategy: Translate organizational vision into actionable priorities, ensuring the Center’s systems, resources, and cross-functional execution are optimized for high-impact policy engagement and research.
- Operational Enablers: Strengthen internal controls, decision-making systems, and communications infrastructure as foundational supports for resource generation and organizational accountability.
This position will be located at the Terner Center’s offices in Oakland, California, with flexibility to work remotely 1-2 days per week. Salary will be $190,000 – $210,000, commensurate with experience. The position is open until filled.
For more information and to apply, please visit the UC Berkeley Careers site and visit this page or search for Job ID 86744.
Graduate Student Researchers
The Terner Center is seeking up to five UC Berkeley graduate students to serve as GSRs in fall 2026 (8/19/2026 – 12/31/2026) and support our research projects. GSRs will be expected to work 20 hours/week during the semester. The positions will be hybrid, with GSRs working at least eight hours/week in the Terner Center’s office in downtown Oakland.
We are hiring for several distinct roles, which may involve the tasks listed below. Each role will focus on one of these areas rather than combining multiple areas.
Graphic design and publication layout: Support the design and layout of Terner Center publications. Qualified candidates must have experience using Adobe InDesign.
Qualitative research on rental assistance: We are beginning a collaborative study of pilot programs to provide cash assistance to low-income renters in place of traditional housing vouchers. The GSR will support desk research on how the pilot programs are structured, virtual and/or in-person qualitative interviews with public housing agency staff, and virtual and/or in-person qualitative interviews with program participants. Preferred candidates have familiarity with rental assistance programs, experience qualitative interviewing, and strong communication skills.
Affordable housing analysis: We are conducting an analysis of the first round of LA County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency funding awards, with the goal of understanding how the suite of financial products the agency offered influenced affordable housing project design and costs. The GSR will be conducting quantitative and qualitative analyses related to affordable housing development. Qualified candidates must either have a strong background in affordable housing finance, or have completed CYPlan 235 (Affordable Housing Finance) and/or CYPlan 238 (Boyce Development Studio). They should also have demonstrated ability to work independently and have strong project management and communication skills.
Quantitative data wrangling to understand the impact of ADUs on household wellbeing: We are conducting a sweeping study of ADUs in California and their effect on long term housing supply as well as homeowner and renter financial metrics. Qualified candidates will need to clean, organize, merge and analyze complex datasets. Qualified candidates must be meticulous, patient, and proficient in Python.
Seasonal farmworker housing assessment: The Terner Center is leading a collaborative assessment of physical conditions and renovation needs of migrant farmworker housing sites across California. The project will engage residents of the housing sites about their experiences and needs, as well as a diverse range of other relevant stakeholders. Qualified candidates have strong project management and communication skills. Preferred candidates also have familiarity with farmworker housing or related topics.
Application deadline: Friday, August 7, 5:00 pm PT