About ROC USA
ROC USA® is a national non-profit social enterprise that helps residents form limited equity cooperatives and purchase their Manufactured (“Mobile”) Home Communities. ROC USA represents more than 346 Resident Owned Communities (“ROCs”) and 22,000 member-owners in 21 states. ROC USA focuses on making market- and policy-based sector change to scale grassroots cooperative development and build a movement with low-income communities and homeowners. Our vision is for millions of families to thrive in resilient, resident-owned communities.
ROC USA empowers homeowners to purchase the land beneath their homes by facilitating market development, negotiating with investor-owners, and providing financing through ROC USA® Capital, a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). Our national team and affiliated non-profits offer training and technical assistance, ensuring these cooperatives succeed.
With 3 million individual homesites in 50,000 Manufactured Home Communities and ROC USA’s leadership in this market, ROC USA is well positioned to capitalize on the growing recognition of the importance of preserving these communities. With nearly 40 years of experience, we advocate for resident ownership at all levels of government.
Our journey begins with fostering a clear, shared understanding of the nature of work that is required to increase competency and the effectiveness of ROC USA and the network in addressing systematic and organizational challenges.
Residents in ROC USA communities, 89% of whom are low- or very low-income, have a voice in the national organization. Central to our vision for community power building is the ROC Association, which is made up of co-ops in the network. Co-ops elect 3 community leader Directors to the ROC USA Board of Directors and operate as a volunteer organization with a Board and 2 national committees. ROC USA supports the Association’s activities, including peer networking, grant making, and policy advocacy.
Performance and Impact
Over 40 years, this resident ownership model has delivered in extraordinary ways for both low-income homeowners and investors, who have invested more than $1 billion. ROCs have proven to be remarkably resilient in strong and weak economic cycles.
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Homes in ROCs have been demonstrated to sell faster and for 16% more per square foot than comparable homes in comparable investor-owned communities, as the ROC model stabilizes site-fees, and the coop takes pride in their community and plans for needed capital improvements (2006, UNH).
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Homeowners in ROCs report feeling more economically secure than homeowners in commercially owned Manufactured Home Communities. (2006, UNH)
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Site fees in ROCs are $50 below market after five years of ownership and $100 per month below market after 10 years (2023, Colliers).
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Sites fees in ROCs are raised 1% annually on average compared to 4 to 6% in commercially owned Manufactured Home Communities (2023 ROC USA and Colliers).
Financial Strength
ROC USA has an operating budget of approximately $8 million. After achieving operating self-sufficiency in 2018 and 2019, ROC USA made a significant investment in our operating capacity to prepare the organization for the next stage of growth. In 2023, ROC USA had an earnings ratio of 72%. Our net asset ratio is 23% and total assets exceed $142 million.
Recognition
ROC USA’s community ownership work has been cited by media such as The New York Times (“Investors are Buying Mobile Home Parks. Residents are Paying a Price”, March 27,2022), The Financial Times (“Why Big Investors are Buying U.S. Trailer Parks,” Feb. 2020), HBO’s Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (“Mobile Homes,” April 2019), which has been viewed 10 million times, and in A Transform Finance report.
Position Overview
The Governance & Business Advisor (formally known as “technical assistance”) provides consulting services, operational insight, and analysis to the volunteer members of the Boards of Directors who represent the owners of resident owned communities (ROCs). In this role, the Advisor supports each ROC community with appropriate governance practices and implements industry best practices through structured business planning and training. Through coaching, guidance, and advisement, the Advisor helps to ensure the cooperative maintains compliance with both local and state regulatory requirements, as well as the proper governance activities as outlined in the community’s business formation documents.
Key Responsibilities
Business Advising
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Collaborate with community leaders and stakeholders to create business plans that identify yearly goals, to include but not limited to infill, infrastructure repairs/replacements, and compliance items, broken down into quarterly periods.
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Leverage the service unit subject matter expertise of staff, the Advisor will evaluate new opportunities for increased revenue (i.e. infill), assessing market viability, potential risks, and forecast return on investment, in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.
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Develop and implement strategies to improve key metrics for success, ensuring the Board of Directors adhere to approved policies, rules, bylaws and other industry standard accountability measures. Collaborate with community leaders to create business plans that prioritize long-term viability of the community operations to include functioning and safe infrastructure, strong recurring revenue, and reduced vacancy loss.
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Serve as an accountability partner to the Board, promoting reliance on third-party professional services to mitigate risk and prevent volunteer burnout.
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Support corporation needs by monitoring compliance with loan covenants, regulatory agreements, subsidies and grants, and other reporting requirements. This includes informing the implementation to correct any non-compliance as soon as identified.
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Reinforce with resident leaders the important of leveraging corporate business and real estate attorneys to ensure compliance with laws pertaining to operating a manufactured housing community for rent, municipal, state, and federal licensing, Corporate (cooperative) business functions, Fair Housing laws, and landlord-tenant law.
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Maintain positive working relationships with municipal and state regulatory agencies, industry professionals, Non-profit affiliates, and Internal/external stakeholders to further the affordable housing preservation mission of ROC USA.
Governance Advising
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Support the facilitation of community meetings and presentations to ensure adherence to governance practices required to maintain the cooperative's legal status. This includes holding the board accountable for proper preparation, notification, documentation, parliamentary procedures, and accurate meeting minutes.
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Provide ongoing consulting and empowerment to ROC business leaders, identifying educational opportunities, resources to guide decision-making, and growing their financial literacy to improve their performance with fiduciary responsibilities to the Corporation (Cooperative).
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Train Boards on enforcing policies that are necessary to support the operation of the corporation in strict adherence with parliamentary procedures and cooperative principals legally enforceable and in accordance with industry standards.
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Work continuously to deepen all residents and member engagement, fostering a strong pipeline of future volunteer board members who are well-prepared to lead and govern effectively.
Community Development and Resident Engagement
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Promote an inclusive culture by creating opportunities for all residents to actively participate in community decision-making processes, with attention to underrepresented groups within the community.
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Develop strategies to address barriers to participation for underrepresented groups, ensuring their voices are heard in governance and community activities.
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Encourage diverse representations on the Board and committees, ensuring leadership reflects the demographics of the community.
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Ensure cooperative policies and practices reflect a commitment to equity.
Preferred Qualifications
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A bachelor’s degree in finance, business, real estate, or a related field is preferred or other relevant experience in related fields.
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Familiarity with Parliamentary Procedure and/or relevant volunteer experience.
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Experience with cooperatives, homeowner associations, or condo associations is a plus.
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Conversational Spanish abilities, with a preference for fluency.
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Experience with reviewing and understanding financial reporting to include profit & loss, budget analysis, balance sheets, and other like metrics.
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Experience working with Salesforce, Box, and/or Monday.com technology systems.
Required Skills & Competencies
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Ability to be relatable and develop trust of residents and stakeholders and continue to meet or exceed those stakeholders’ expectations to deepen trust and commitment of those we seek to serve.
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Ability to manage multiple tasks for multiple stakeholders with an understanding of basic corporate business functions and the core competencies of managing the business of a land lease community or rental property.
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Excellent interpersonal, communication, and negotiation skills, with experience in meeting facilitation and conflict mediation.
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Strong skills in documentation, problem-solving, data collection, analysis, and decision-making.
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Self-motivated and capable of working with minimal supervision, managing tight deadlines, and handling flexible schedules.
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The ability to provide coaching and guidance to varying educational levels and socio-economic pressures, while maintaining a professional and calm presence.
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Ability to thrive in dynamic, fast-paced environments with shifting priorities and evolving objectives.
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Must excel at adapting to change, managing ambiguity, and delivering results under uncertain conditions.
Travel Requirements
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A willingness to travel and work evenings and weekends as needed.
Salary and Benefits
Benefits include a comprehensive Health Plan (medical, dental, and vision), a Flexible Spending Account, a Health Care Support Program, and additional benefits. The salary range is $65,000–$70,000, commensurate with experience and expertise.
ROC USA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, veteran status, or any other legally protected status.