Director of Property Management in Grand Rapids, Michigan at Dwelling Place of Grand Rapids

Job Title: Director of Property Management & Compliance

Department: Property Management

Reports To: Chief Programs Officer

Employment Type: Full-time, 40 hours per week

FLSA Status: Exempt

Approved By: Chief Culture & Community Officer

Approved Date: 2026

Your Role
You provide strategic leadership for the organization's property management and compliance functions, ensuring that operations, resident experience, regulatory compliance, and financial performance work together to support a high-performing housing portfolio.

You are responsible for building strong teams, developing effective systems, ensuring regulatory compliance, and creating a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement. You partner closely with Asset Management, Real Estate Development, Resident Services, Finance, and Executive Leadership to align daily operations with long-term organizational goals. Your leadership helps ensure that residents have access to stable, quality housing while protecting and strengthening the organization's assets.

What You’ll Do

Property Management Leadership & Portfolio Performance

· Provide overall leadership and direction for property management operations across the portfolio.

· Establish and execute strategies, organizational structures, workflows, and communication systems that support occupancy, resident retention, financial performance, and operational excellence.

· Evaluate portfolio trends and recommend operational, staffing, or policy changes to improve results.

· Ensure consistent implementation of property management policies, procedures, and best practices across all communities.

Compliance, Risk Management & Regulatory Oversight

· Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local landlord-tenant laws, fair housing requirements, accessibility standards, and property-specific regulatory obligations.

· Oversee property preparation for agency reviews, inspections, audits, and review corrective action plans to ensure timely resolution of findings.

· Ensure accurate and timely reporting to leadership, investors, regulatory agencies, and lenders.

· Partner with the Senior Compliance Manager to strengthen compliance training, oversight, and reporting throughout the portfolio.

Team Leadership & Organizational Development

· Lead, mentor, and develop Portfolio leaders, compliance staff, and other department team members.

· Foster a culture centered on accountability, collaboration, resident-focused service, and continuous improvement.

· Establish clear expectations, performance goals, and development plans for team members to ensure they have the training, tools, and resources needed to succeed.

Financial Planning & Asset Performance

· Collaborate with Finance, Asset Management, and onsite teams to develop annual operating budgets and long-range financial plans.

· Monitor financial performance and operating costs across the portfolio and identify opportunities to improve revenue, control expenses, and support long-term asset sustainability.

· Partner with Asset Management to support refinancing, rehabilitation, repositioning, and portfolio optimization efforts.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Strategic Planning

· Partner with Real Estate Development and Asset Management to support new construction, acquisitions, rehabilitation projects, and re-syndications.

· Provide operational and compliance expertise during project planning, underwriting, design review, lease-up planning, and transition to operations.

· Collaborate with Resident Services to support housing stability, resident engagement, and successful resident outcomes.

· Work with Leasing and occupancy teams to ensure smooth transitions from applicant selection through move-in.

Emergency Response & Portfolio Support

· Provide leadership during major property emergencies, crises, or natural disasters affecting the portfolio.

· Support issue resolution for resident concerns or operational matters that have escalated beyond the Property Manager or Portfolio Manager level.

· Serve as a senior resource and decision-maker for complex operational and compliance challenges and support the leadership and property management teams with additional responsibilities and special projects as assigned, in response to evolving operational and business needs.

How You Work

· You lead with integrity, accountability, and a commitment to excellence.

· You balance strategic thinking with hands-on operational leadership.

· You use data, experience, and collaboration to make informed decisions.

· You build trust through transparency, consistency, and strong communication.

· You develop people and create environments where teams can thrive.

· You remain calm and solutions-focused when navigating complex challenges.

· You understand that strong compliance, operational performance, and resident experience are interconnected and essential to long-term success.

Your Work Environment

· You oversee multiple communities and work closely with Property Management, Compliance, Asset Management, Development, Resident Services, Finance, and Executive Leadership teams.

· Your work includes a combination of office-based leadership, site visits, meetings, and strategic planning activities.

· Periodic travel throughout the portfolio is required.

· Occasional evening, weekend, or emergency response availability may be necessary to support operational needs.

· Primarily office-based, but may operate in a hybrid environment with a mix of in-person and remote work, depending on organizational policy.

Why You’ll Love Working Here

· You'll lead a mission-driven portfolio that creates housing opportunities and strengthens communities.

· You'll influence organizational strategy while making a tangible impact on resident outcomes.

· You'll partner with a collaborative leadership team committed to innovation, growth, and continuous improvement.

· You'll have the opportunity to develop future leaders and build high-performing teams.

· You'll help shape the future of the organization's housing portfolio while advancing both operational excellence and mission success.

· You'll work in an environment that values people, accountability, partnership, and purpose.

We offer a comprehensive, market-competitive compensation package, benchmarked against industry standards to attract top talent. Our compensation philosophy is to match or exceed industry averages.

· Salary: $97,656 - $108,492

· Benefits: health, dental, vision, retirement plan including employer match, life and disability insurance, paid time off, access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and professional development support.

o Health & Wellness: Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance. Access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and mental health resources.

o Financial Future: A 403(b) plan with a generous employer match (100% of your contribution up to 5%). Company-paid basic life and long-term disability insurance.

o Work-Life Balance: Paid vacation, personal, and sick time, plus 14 paid holidays per year. We support flexible working hours in the summer and hybrid remote work options for eligible positions.

o Career Growth: Opportunities for professional development through training programs, mentorship, and tuition reimbursement program.

Our Commitment

We are an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive and respectful workplace. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds and experiences and value the diverse perspectives that strengthen our team.

Who We Are

For more than 40 years, Dwelling Place has been a nonprofit housing provider and community advocate based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. We believe that housing is the foundation for thriving communities. Our team is bold, determined, creative, and inclusive, working every day to make sure that safe, affordable housing is not just an idea, but a reality.

Our Culture

Our team is action-oriented, empathetic, and inclusive—advocates in action who believe real change happens through persistence, collaboration, and respect. Here, you’ll do meaningful, purpose-driven work alongside colleagues who are dedicated to developing housing solutions that put people first and honor the voices and experiences of residents and the communities we serve, while supporting one another every step of the way. We foster an environment where openness, creativity, and continuous improvement are encouraged, and where people are empowered to grow, contribute, and make a real impact together.

What You Bring

Required

· Bachelor's degree in Business, Real Estate, Property Management, Public Administration, Finance, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

· 5 or more years of progressive property management experience, preferably in affordable housing, with experience leading and developing managers or multi-site teams.

· Strong knowledge of affordable housing programs and regulations, including LIHTC, HUD, HOME, and Fair Housing requirements.

· Experience managing operating budgets, financial performance, and portfolio-level reporting.

· Demonstrated ability to lead organizational change and improve operational performance.

· Strong communication, leadership, and relationship-building skills.

· Experience with property management software and reporting systems.

Preferred

· Certified Property Manager (CPM®), Housing Credit Certified Professional (HCCP®), Certified Occupancy Specialist (COS®), or similar professional designation.

· Michigan Real Estate Salesperson License.

· Experience supporting real estate development, acquisitions, rehabilitation, or repositioning projects.

· Experience leading regional, portfolio, or multi-site property management operations.