Director of Strategic Projects

NATIONAL COMMUNITY RENAISSANCE•Rancho Cucamonga, CA

3d•$140,000 - $145,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Strategic Projects is responsible for providing senior-level leadership, oversight, and execution of complex, high-profile projects and organizational initiatives. This role oversees project strategy, operational execution, budgeting, stakeholder engagement, and cross-functional collaboration to ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and aligned with organizational objectives. The Director of Strategic Projects serves as a key liaison between internal departments, executive leadership, clients, and external partners while driving operational excellence, compliance, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, preferred.
Minimum of 7–10 years of progressive leadership experience in project management, operations, property management, or strategic initiatives.
Experience managing large-scale, multi-site, or national portfolio projects preferred.
Strong understanding of operational processes, project lifecycle management, budgeting, and organizational strategy.
Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Demonstrated experience managing property transitions, acquisitions, and operational improvement initiatives preferred.
Strong financial acumen with experience managing budgets, forecasting, reporting, and performance metrics.
Exceptional leadership, organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to present to executive leadership and external stakeholders.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, project management software, and reporting tools.
PMP certification or equivalent project management certification preferred.

Nice To Haves

Experience managing large-scale, multi-site, or national portfolio projects preferred.
Demonstrated experience managing property transitions, acquisitions, and operational improvement initiatives preferred.
PMP certification or equivalent project management certification preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead the planning, execution, and oversight of high-impact strategic initiatives across the organization, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and business objectives.
Develop and implement comprehensive project plans, including scope, timelines, budgets, deliverables, staffing plans, and resource allocation.
Partner with executive leadership to identify organizational priorities, drive cross-functional initiatives, and implement operational improvements.
Lead and manage multiple strategic and high-profile projects simultaneously while ensuring successful delivery and measurable outcomes.
Oversee project timelines, budgets, and performance metrics to ensure operational efficiency, accountability, and achievement of project objectives.
Monitor project progress and financial performance, proactively addressing delays, budget variances, operational risks, and resource challenges.
Develop and standardize processes, tools, workflows, and reporting structures to improve scalability, consistency, and operational effectiveness across the portfolio.
Analyze operational data, project performance metrics, and business trends to support decision-making and continuous improvement initiatives.
Manage complex property transitions, acquisitions, and special projects, ensuring operational readiness, compliance, efficiency, and seamless execution.
Coordinate cross-functional operational initiatives related to property management, regional operations, compliance, maintenance, and organizational growth.
Ensure projects and initiatives comply with company policies, industry standards, regulatory requirements, and operational benchmarks.
Conduct periodic project reviews, audits, and assessments to ensure documentation accuracy, operational consistency, and quality assurance.
Provide leadership, mentorship, and strategic direction to project managers and cross-functional teams.
Foster a collaborative, results-driven culture focused on accountability, innovation, communication, and continuous improvement.
Facilitate cross-functional meetings and strategic planning sessions to ensure alignment between departments and stakeholders.
Supervise and provide oversight to the Senior Project Manager of Property Management and the Regional Initiatives Manager, ensuring effective execution of organizational initiatives and strategic priorities.
Support team development through coaching, performance management, and professional growth opportunities.
Work closely with the Sr. Vice President of Strategy and Enterprise Development on strategic operational initiatives, including the development and oversight of the 3rd Party Scorecard and PM Fee Calculator.
Provide executive leadership with strategic recommendations, operational reporting, and project updates to support organizational decision-making.
Assist in the evaluation and implementation of enterprise-wide initiatives designed to improve operational performance, client satisfaction, and portfolio growth.
Serve as the primary liaison with national clients, executive leadership, vendors, consultants, and key stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle.
Build and maintain strong professional relationships while ensuring clear communication and stakeholder engagement.
Negotiate vendor contracts, monitor vendor performance, and ensure services and deliverables meet organizational expectations and project requirements.
Present project updates, operational reports, and strategic recommendations to executive leadership and external stakeholders.
Identify, assess, and mitigate project risks that may impact timelines, budgets, operations, or organizational performance.
Develop contingency plans and implement proactive solutions to maintain project momentum and organizational stability.
Lead organizational change management efforts, including stakeholder communication, implementation planning, training, and operational transition support.
Oversee the resolution of complex operational issues and project-related challenges in a timely and effective manner.