Director, Title and Settlement Services

The Amherst Group's companies are comprised of leading real estate investment and advisory firms with a mission to transform the way real estate is owned, financed and managed.  Amherst leverages its proprietary data, analytics, technology, and decades of experience to seek solutions for a fragmented, slow-to-evolve real estate ecosystem and to materially improve the experience for residents, buyers, sellers, communities, and investors.  Today Amherst has over 1000 employees and $14.1 billion in assets under management.

Over the past decade, Amherst has scaled its platform to become one of the largest operators of single-family assets and has acquired, renovated, and leased more than 46,000 homes across 32 markets in the U.S.  The firm delivers customized, stabilized cash-flowing portfolios of assets to its investors, wrapped in all the ongoing services required to manage, own, and finance the asset including property management, portfolio management, and a full capital markets team.  In addition to its single-family rental platform, Amherst’s debt business pursues two distinct credit strategies in mortgage-backed securities and commercial real estate lending.  Over its 25-year history, Amherst has developed a deep bench of research and technology talent, and leverages data and analytics at every stage in the asset lifecycle to improve operations and preserve long-term value for our investors and the more than 188,000 residents the firm has served.

The [Senior] Director, Title & Settlement Services will play a critical role in designing and managing  Amherst’s strategy regarding Title & Settlement service delivery for our single family business lines. This role will work with our Acquistions, Capital Markets and Dispositions teams to ensure high quality, scalable, efficient delivery of Title & Settlement services across our business lines and geographies, managing our relationships with Title & Settlement providers as well as coordinating development our internal capabilities. This role will have accountability for the execution and management of Amherst’s Title & Settlement strategy, including management of program rollout, evolution of operating models, and P&L responsibility for the program.

This role will also work with the Product, Transaction Management, Closing and Finance teams to drive efficiency and improve the overall transaction experience for internal operators and all transaction parties through operational and technological integrations with our service providers. This individual will play a critical role in ensuring smooth and efficient transactions, minimizing risk, and maximizing cost-effectiveness.  The role will develop, implement and manage Key Performance Indicators around the transaction process, working with functional leaders, strategic operations and product management to manage performance and identify optimization opportunities. This role will work with these partners to design functional roadmaps to accomplish the company’s strategic goals and drive the functions’ optimization, then manage the teams to the successful completion of these initiatives.

Key Responsibilities:

• Title Company Management:
  • Establish and manage relationships with title companies, ensuring they meet the Amherst’s standards for quality, service, and compliance.
  • Negotiate favorable terms and pricing for title insurance and settlement services.
  • Oversee the performance of title companies and identify areas for improvement.
  • Develop and maintain service provider capacity across business lines and geographies.
• Product Partnership & Process Optimization:
  • Identify and implement process improvements to streamline title and settlement operations, reducing turnaround times and minimizing costs.
  • Develop and maintain standard operating procedures for title and settlement processes.
  • Leverage technology to automate and improve efficiency.
• Risk Management:
  • Assess and mitigate risks associated with title and settlement transactions, including title defects, fraud, and regulatory compliance.
  • Implement risk management strategies and controls to protect the Amherst’s assets and interests.
• Regulatory Compliance:
  • Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations related to title insurance, settlement services, and real estate transactions.
  • Stay up-to-date on industry trends and regulatory changes.
• Functional Development & Leadership:
  • Develop the operations necessary to execute on Amherst’s title strategy
  • Lead and manage a team of title and settlement professionals, if required.
  • Provide training, development, and mentorship to team members.
  • Foster a positive and collaborative work environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, law, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in the real estate industry, with a focus on title and settlement services.
• Strong understanding of title insurance, settlement procedures, and regulatory requirements.
• Experience managing teams and leading projects.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and other relevant software.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in business administration or law.
• Certification in real estate or title insurance.
• Experience working in a REIT or similar real estate organization.
• Knowledge of automation tools and technologies.

​Amherst is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information or veteran status, and encourage all applicants to apply.