Executive Vice President of Community Operations - Atlanta, GA

 

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.

Role Overview

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,