Vice President of Residential Management

Bear Property Management•Pleasant Prairie, WI

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

Bear Real Estate Group is seeking a strategic, results-driven Vice President of Residential Property Management to lead and scale the Company’s residential property management division. This executive provides leadership and oversight for a growing portfolio of affordable housing, market-rate communities, lease-up developments, and future residential assets. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the Vice President is responsible for portfolio performance, organizational leadership, and operational strategy across Affordable Housing, Market Rate, Lease-Ups, Compliance, and Operations & Performance. The role drives occupancy, resident satisfaction, regulatory compliance, revenue growth, and long-term asset value while developing talent, strengthening operational consistency, and building the infrastructure needed to support continued portfolio growth. As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, the Vice President partners closely with Development, Asset Management, Finance, Marketing, and other business leaders to align property operations with company objectives and contribute to enterprise-wide strategic initiatives and key business decisions.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Real Estate, public Administration, or equivalent experience
10+ years of progressive multifamily property management experience
5-7 years leading directors or regional leadership teams
Experience overseeing portfolios exceeding 2,000 residential units preferred
Experience integrating acquisitions and lease-up communities
Demonstrated success improving NOI, occupancy, resident satisfaction, and employee retention
Demonstrated success leading organizational change, improving employee engagement, developing leaders, and driving culture transformation initiatives
Deep knowledge of multifamily property operations, financial reporting, and budget management
Strong understanding of affordable housing operations and compliance requirements, including LIHTC, HUD, and Fair Housing regulations
Exceptional leadership and people-management skills, with the ability to develop and hold accountable a team of directors
Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate data into actionable operational strategy
Strong communication and presentation skills, with experience engaging executive leadership, ownership groups, and regulatory agencies
Proficiency with property management software (Yardi, RealPage, or similar) and Microsoft Office Suite

Nice To Haves

Certified Property Manager (CPM) or Accredited Residential Manager (ARM) designation preferred
Housing Credit Certified Professional (HCCP), Tax Credit Specialist (TCS), or Specialist in Housing Credit Management (SHCM) certification preferred

Responsibilities

Provide strategic and operational leadership for the entire Multifamily division, setting direction, priorities, and performance expectations across all managed properties.
Directly lead and develop leadership for Affordable Housing, Operations & Performance, Compliance, Lease-Ups, Market Rate, and administrative support staff.
Build a high-performing leadership team by setting clear goals, conducting regular performance reviews, coaching, accountability, and developing succession plans for key roles.
Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, resident service, and continuous improvement.
Serve as the primary liaison between the Multifamily division and executive leadership, ownership groups, and other internal departments.
Provide executive oversight of all lease-up activities for new developments, acquisitions, and repositioned communities.
Establish leasing velocity, occupancy, pricing, and stabilization benchmarks.
Partner with Development and Asset Management to ensure seamless transition from construction through stabilized operations.
Evaluate staffing, marketing, and operating readiness before property openings.
Ensure newly stabilized communities transition successfully into ongoing operations.
Oversee performance and strategy across both the Market Rate and LIHTC portfolios, ensuring each segment meets its distinct financial, occupancy, and regulatory objectives.
Ensure properties remain competitively positioned, well-maintained, and financially optimized within their local markets.
Ensure LIHTC and other affordable properties maintain full compliance with program requirements while achieving strong occupancy and operating performance.
Guide portfolio-level decisions on repositioning, renovation, and unit-mix strategy that account for the differing requirements of Market Rate versus LIHTC assets.
Own portfolio operating performance and achievement of annual NOI, occupancy, revenue, and expense targets.
Approve annual operating and capital budgets.
Lead monthly portfolio performance reviews with directors and regional leadership.
Develop corrective action plans for underperforming assets.
Evaluate pricing, staffing, and operating models to improve financial performance.
Partner with the Director of Lease-Ups and Regional Managers to oversee due diligence, lease-up, and stabilization efforts for new acquisitions and development properties.
Set lease-up performance benchmarks and monitor progress across both Market Rate and LIHTC assignments.
Ensure successful operational onboarding, lease-up, stabilization, and integration of newly developed and acquired residential communities.
Ensure affordable and mixed-income properties are managed in accordance with program requirements, including LIHTC, RAD-PBV, RAD-PBRA, HOME/HTF, Section 18, Section 8, and other regulatory frameworks.
Maintain a proactive compliance program, ensuring properties pass agency audits, physical inspections, and file reviews with minimal findings.
Oversee organizational compliance with Section 504, including reasonable accommodations, accessibility standards, staff training, and resolution of grievances.
Stay current on federal, state, and local housing regulations and ensure policies and procedures evolve accordingly.
Oversee resolution of compliance issues, audit findings, and regulatory correspondence.
Contribute to broader organizational strategic planning, including portfolio growth, acquisitions, dispositions, lease-up strategy, stabilization planning, and long-term residential expansion.
Collaborate with HR, Accounting/Finance, Marketing, and Executive Leadership to align property operations with company-wide objectives.
Represent BREG at industry events, owner/investor meetings, municipalities, and regulatory agencies.
Develop and implement policies, procedures, and training programs that standardize best practices across the division.
Promote a culture grounded in accountability, collaboration, innovation, resident service, and continuous improvement.
Lead through coaching, mentorship, and professional development.
Model the Company's leadership values and ethical standards.
Lead and champion organizational change initiatives, ensuring teams successfully adopt new processes, systems, and strategic priorities.