Director of Leasing

Aeon•Minneapolis, MN

7h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Director of Leasing leads the development, standardization, and continuous improvement of leasing practices across Aeon's affordable housing portfolio. This role establishes consistent leasing frameworks across a range of housing programs, including LIHTC, Project-Based Section 8, Long-Term Homeless Housing, Coordinated Entry, and other affordable housing models, while ensuring processes remain compliant, effective, and practical for site teams. In close partnership with the Executive Vice President of Operations and the Senior Director of Property Management, the Director of Leasing serves as both strategist and practitioner, providing direct leasing support at properties experiencing occupancy challenges, developing training programs, and building systems that improve leasing performance across the portfolio. This role works closely with property management, compliance, and marketing teams to strengthen occupancy, enhance staff capability, and ensure a consistent resident experience. The Director of Leasing will begin as an individual contributor and will play a key role in building a small team of roving leasing specialists while shaping Aeon's centralized leasing and lead management strategy. The successful candidate brings strong multifamily leasing expertise, a track record of improving occupancy performance, and the ability to balance process development, staff coaching, and field-based execution. This individual is equally comfortable designing leasing frameworks and working alongside site teams to implement them.

Requirements

Five or more years of multifamily leasing experience with a demonstrated ability to improve occupancy, leasing performance, and customer experience.
Knowledge of affordable housing programs, including LIHTC, Project-Based Section 8, HOME, 202 PRAC, Long-Term Homeless Housing, Coordinated Entry, Senior Housing, NOAH, and other income-restricted housing programs, or a strong aptitude and commitment to developing this expertise.
Experience creating leasing procedures, training programs, operational standards, or process documentation.
Proficiency with property management software; FortressOS experience preferred.
CRM experience is a plus.
Ability to operate effectively at both strategic and tactical levels, translating broad objectives into practical, measurable results.
Strong coaching, facilitation, and relationship-building skills with the ability to influence and support staff across multiple locations.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to simplify complex program requirements into clear, actionable guidance.
Highly organized and self-directed, with the ability to manage multiple priorities across a diverse portfolio.
Strong problem-solving skills, sound judgment, and a commitment to customer service and Aeon's mission.
Ability to engage in culturally responsive communication and work effectively with people from a wide range of backgrounds.
A valid driver's license, vehicle insurance, and regular access to a reliable vehicle are required.

Nice To Haves

FortressOS experience preferred.
CRM experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

Assess leasing practices across the portfolio to identify inconsistencies, operational gaps, and opportunities for improvement.
Develop and implement standardized leasing processes, tools, and documentation that drive consistency, efficiency, and compliance across properties.
Establish program-specific leasing frameworks for Aeon's diverse housing portfolio, including LIHTC, Project-Based Section 8, HOME, 202 PRAC, Long-Term Homeless Housing, Coordinated Entry, Senior Housing, NOAH, and other income-restricted housing programs.
Ensure leasing practices align with program requirements while remaining practical, efficient, and executable for site teams.
Maintain and update leasing playbooks, policies, and reference materials as regulations, best practices, and organizational priorities evolve.
Provide hands-on leasing support at properties experiencing occupancy challenges, including directly leasing units when needed to maintain momentum and reduce vacancy loss.
Utilize on-site engagement to identify operational barriers, uncover root causes of leasing challenges, and inform portfolio-wide process improvements.
Partner with Portfolio Directors and Property Managers to improve leasing performance, stabilize occupancy, and equip site teams with the tools and knowledge needed for long-term success.
Identify trends and recurring challenges across the portfolio and recommend solutions related to staffing, training, processes, compliance, or resident experience.
Design and deliver leasing training programs that promote consistent execution, strong customer service, and program compliance across the portfolio.
Provide formal training, field-based coaching, and individualized support tailored to the needs of property teams.
Develop training materials, job aids, and operational resources that support onboarding, professional development, and ongoing learning.
Evaluate leasing competencies and collaborate with operational leaders to create targeted development plans for property staff.
Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and leasing excellence throughout the organization.
Serve as the organizational subject matter expert on leasing workflows within FortressOS and other leasing-related systems.
Leverage CRM tools, leasing metrics, and performance data to monitor lead conversion, identify bottlenecks, and improve leasing outcomes.
Develop recommendations for a centralized lead management strategy that supports portfolio-wide occupancy goals and operational efficiency.
Support the future development and oversight of roving leasing specialists and other centralized leasing resources as organizational needs evolve.
Partner closely with Portfolio Directors, Property Managers, Compliance staff, and other stakeholders to align leasing practices with operational goals and regulatory requirements.
Collaborate with Leasing and Marketing leadership to ensure leasing execution supports broader marketing, branding, and resident acquisition strategies.
Work with compliance and regulatory teams to maintain adherence to all applicable affordable housing program requirements.
Contribute leasing expertise and performance insights to organizational planning, reporting, budgeting, and strategic decision-making.
Partner with Aeon's Talent Acquisition Manager to ensure effective and equitable recruitment and hiring, to build a team that is able to deliver on Aeon's promises to our residents and community.