Director of Operations (Student Housing)

Tailwind Group is a top twenty owner and manager of off-campus student housing and brings a wealth of knowledge to the industry. We are committed to creating and sustaining a workplace culture that is second to none. We strive to fight for the highest possible good of the people that matter most, including our team members! Attracting and retaining the most talented and passionate individuals in our industry is an ongoing objective at Tailwind Group. We would love for you to join our team! 

The Director of Operations is primarily responsible for providing leadership, guidance, and strategy to our onsite property teams, and for driving property and portfolio leasing, operational, and financial performance. A successful Director of Operations will leverage their strong real estate and property management experience to lead approximately 75% of our workforce, train and empower strong leaders, and understand that this role is critical to the reputation and success of Tailwind Group. 

This is a full-time position working a standard schedule, Monday - Friday. Nights or weekends may be required from time to time dependent on business needs. 

This position can be fulfilled remotely and does require 30-50% travel. A candidate located in the Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN, area who can work out of the corporate office is preferred. 

The compensation range for this position is $126,000 - $185,000 plus bonus potential. This range is determined by current market data based on the position requirements and complexities. Final offers of employment will be based on multiple factors including candidate education, skills, experience, and location. 

Benefits & Perks

We strive to provide our employees with the most competitive benefits package in the industry. A few of those benefits and perks include: 

• Medical, Dental, & Vision Insurance for employees and their families 
• Vacation & Sick Leave + 12 Paid Holidays 
• 401(k) with company matching 
• On-the-job training and career development 
• Paid Parental Leave 

Responsibilities & Duties

• Lead, implement, and ensure execution of the strategic vision and objectives for the Operations Department:
• Consistent revenue growth and expense management 
• Reputation management and customer experience standards
• Process improvement and operational efficiencies 
• Property technology and latest industry trends 
• High occupancies, retention rates, and preleasing numbers on the property and portfolio levels 
• Management of the physical asset via turnover, capital projects, and preventative maintenance 
• Financial health of each property balance sheet, profit and loss statement, and budget to actual 
• Collaborate with peers to draft and communicate changing business plans that adapt to changing market conditions.
• Lead a people-focused culture: treating employees, residents, vendors, investors and communities with genuine care and empowering others to reach their highest potential.
• Develop and execute long-term strategies to enhance property value and focus relentlessly on resident satisfaction.  
• Monitor and evaluate property performance, addressing operational challenges promptly and effectively. 
• Collaborate with senior leadership on strategic initiatives, growth plans, and opportunities to expand and improve the student housing portfolio. 
• Collaborate with the finance, accounting, and asset management teams on the drafting and final approvals of each property’s annual budget.
• Collaborate cross-departmentally to create and execute a monthly process to monitor financial performance, comparing and analyzing results with plans and forecasts. 
• Collaborate with the Operations Support and Leasing & Marketing leaders to align and execute upon property and portfolio strategies and efforts.
• Represent the Operations Department in Tailwind Group’s Leadership Team. 
• Partner with leasing and marketing teams to design and execute upon strategies to maximize lead generation and lead-to-lease conversion performance across portfolio.
• Participate and lead operations-related execution of property transitions and due diligence processes. 
• Hire, train, and empower current and future leaders in the Operations Department. 
• Represent Tailwind Group in the national student housing landscape via interviews, publications, conferences, and other engagements as needed. 

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, real estate, or a related field.
• Seven or more years of progressive experience in student or multi-family housing. 
• Three or more years of experience leading regional manager teams and building trust and collaboration between stakeholders. 
• Three or more years of experience leading and developing large-scale teams.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Deep knowledge of property management standards including Fair Housing Laws, Tenant/Landlord rights, and other real estate principles. 
• Strong ability to recognize trends and opportunities and lead and collaborate on strategies to maximize performance.
• Possess strong financial acumen and experience with budget management and financial analysis. 
• Proven leadership, delegation, project management, and team-building skills.
• Ability to manage priorities, leverage feedback to make improvements, remove obstacles, and motivate high performing teams. 
• Demonstrate a high level of integrity and professionalism.  
• Possess strong administrative, organization, and communication (written and verbal) skills.
• Experience with Entrata software is preferred. 
• Ability to travel 30-50% of the time.

To learn more about our core values, mission, and vision, check out: http://thetailwindgroup.com/.  

A complete list of responsibilities and duties can be provided during the interview process.  

This position is not eligible for Visa sponsorship at this time. Tailwind Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 

Notice to Third Party Agencies: We are not accepting resumes from recruiters or employment agencies for this position.