At Cortland, we operate with a forward-thinking approach that challenges conventional norms and actively seeks insights beyond traditional industry boundaries. As a recognized leader in the multifamily sector, our focus on performance, innovation, and disciplined execution continues to drive strong growth and market leadership. We are committed to building a best-in-class organization by empowering top talent with the resources, autonomy, and support needed to deliver results and advance their careers in a high-performance environment.

As the Executive Vice President of Community Operations, you serve as Cortland’s senior operator for the national portfolio—accountable for performance, resident experience, and the overall health of the operating platform. You lead Managing Directors and Directors of Operations and partner closely with Investments, Asset Management, Construction/CapEx, Marketing, and Talent to translate enterprise strategy into clear regional plans and measurable outcomes. You also own the strategy and delivery of Cortland’s third-party management platform, driving client success, retention, and growth. As both a culture carrier and results-driven strategist, you scale systems, elevate teams, and build trusted relationships with owners, investors, and partners to advance Cortland’s performance and reputation.

National Operations & Portfolio Performance

· Set and execute the national operating strategy across all communities; translate company goals into clear regional plans, budgets, and measurable outcomes.

· Own full P&L accountability for the operating platform; deliver NOI, margin, occupancy, renewal, and expense targets while safeguarding quality and compliance. Accountable for community-level and portfolio-wide NOI performance.

· Drive consistent, high-standard operating practices (SOPs), risk management, and safety across the portfolio.

· Ensure Cortland brand standards are consistently upheld, reinforcing our culture, associate experience, and resident-facing excellence.

People Leadership & Organizational Excellence

· Lead, develop, and hold accountable MDs, DOs, and national operations leaders; build bench strength and succession pipelines.

· Foster a culture grounded in Passion, Ownership, Integrity, Accountability, Thoughtful Communication, Collaborative Teamwork, Learning Agility, and Innovation.

· Elevate frontline capability through training, coaching, and performance management; celebrate wins and turn misses into learning opportunities.

Third-Party Management, Client Success & Retention

· Drive results and accountability for Cortland’s expanding third-party management business.

· Own national client relationships for third-party management; ensure contractual delivery, KPI performance, and executive-level communication.

· Establish client success frameworks—cadence, scorecards, QBRs, NPS/CSAT tracking—that strengthen renewal rates and multi-asset growth.

· Partner with Asset Management and Investments to align operating plans with ownership objectives and asset business plans.

Business Development for Third-Party Services

· Partner with Business Development and Marketing to target strategic ownership groups and investors; shape value propositions and pricing strategies for new mandates.

· Lead executive participation in RFPs, pitches, and finalist presentations; oversee underwriting and operational diligence for new wins.

· Build and manage a growth pipeline and conversion plan; monitor contract ramp-up, stabilization, and early-life performance

Cross-Functional Partnership & Platform Innovation

· Collaborate with Construction/CapEx and Development on renovations, unit turns, and amenity upgrades that protect NOI and brand integrity.

· Drive technology, data, and process innovation (e.g., PMS/BI, revenue management, maintenance optimization) to scale efficiency and performance.

· Champion the resident experience and brand consistency across marketing, digital leasing, and service delivery touchpoints.

Compliance, Risk & Governance

· Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations; maintain fair housing standards, safety practices, and audit readiness.

· Establish operating governance structures and performance review cadences with clear accountability and escalation protocols.

As the Executive Vice President of Community Operations your success will be measured by your ability to deliver sustained NOI growth, operational consistency, and strong portfolio performance across all markets. You will be expected to achieve results against financial, client, and resident satisfaction goals while fostering a culture of accountability, excellence, and innovation. Success will also be reflected in the strength and engagement of your leadership bench, the growth and retention of third-party relationships, and your ability to scale Cortland’s operating platform through disciplined execution and continuous improvement.

12–15+ years of progressive, multi-site multifamily operations leadership with full P&L accountability; 7+ years leading senior leaders (MD/DO level).

· Bachelor’s degree in Business, Real Estate, Finance, or related field required; MBA, CPM, or CAPS preferred.

· Proven success scaling regional and national portfolios and driving NOI growth through disciplined execution, innovation, and team development.

· Executive client management experience with institutional owners and investors; strong record of third-party management retention and portfolio expansion.

· Demonstrated business development expertise across RFP strategy, finalist presentations, pricing/underwriting partnership, and new-contract integration.

· Deep financial and analytical acumen, including budgets, pro formas, revenue management, CapEx/ROI modeling, and KPI dashboard oversight.

· Collaborative cross-functional leadership with Investments/Asset Management, Construction/CapEx, Marketing, and Talent teams.

· Technology-savvy operator with fluency in major PMS, BI, and reporting platforms.

· National travel required (40–60%) to markets, clients, and communities.

Founded in 2005, Cortland is an international, vertically integrated multifamily real estate investment, development, and management firm with a resident-centric approach to living experiences. Recognized as one of the top 10 multifamily owners and operators in the US, Cortland combines in-house design, construction, and operations to deliver value and innovation across its portfolio.

Join us as we reimagine apartment living and drive outsized returns through purpose, performance, and people.

Cortland is an equal opportunity employer, and we’re proud to support and celebrate diversity in the workplace. We are committed to equal consideration for all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. If you have a disability and need an accommodation or assistance with the application process and/or using our website, please email talentresources@cortland.com or call 404.965.3988.

Cortland is a drug-free workplace.

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all persons hired to work in the United States.