NW Regional Director of Property Operations at Catholic… · Bellingham

Overview

Catholic Housing Services believes everyone deserves the right to a safe, affordable place to call home. Inspired by this vision, CHS develops, owns and manages affordable housing programs for low-income families and individuals in 70 properties across Western Washington.

The Regional Director is the senior operational leader responsible for ensuring assigned properties consistently achieve agency performance expectations, maintain regulatory compliance, deliver high-quality housing, and operate in alignment with the mission, values, strategic priorities, and operational standards of the agency. The Regional Director is accountable for portfolio performance and is expected to proactively identify challenges, implement corrective actions, and ensure all properties operate efficiently, safely, and professionally.

The Regional Director provides leadership, oversight, and accountability for property operations, financial performance, compliance, resident satisfaction, staff development, asset preservation, and risk management throughout the assigned portfolio. The Regional Director is responsible for ensuring agency resources are effectively managed, property operations achieve established Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and all properties reflect the agency's commitment to quality housing, strong community relationships, and exceptional resident services.

This position offers a compensation at $103,747.07 per year.

Full‑time, 40‑hour position include a competitive benefits package:

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus life insurance and long‑term disability
• Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) options
• Generous paid time off, including paid sick leave, 15 vacation days, 12 paid holidays, and 1 personal holiday
• CCS/CHS 403(b) Employee Savings Plan
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Responsibilities

The Regional Director is accountable for overseeing and ensuring the quality of our housing and the financial sustainability of a portfolio of affordable housing developments across Western Washington. The portfolio includes workforce housing, farmworker housing, permanent supportive housing, and commercial rental spaces, with services provided by partnering agencies. This portfolio is a mix of low-income and subsidized housing serving individuals, families, veterans, seniors, agricultural workers, and persons with disabilities, including individuals who may be experiencing homelessness.

Property management and supportive services work in tandem to promote housing stability, resident success, community engagement, and health and safety standards. The Regional Director is responsible for ensuring properties operate in compliance with regulatory requirements, funding obligations, agency standards, and industry best practices while maintaining strong financial performance, excellent physical conditions, high occupancy levels, and positive resident outcomes.

PROPERTY OPERATIONS MONITORING

• Review and evaluate every Weekly Comprehensive Property Report submitted by all Property Managers under their supervision on a weekly basis.
• Review all reports on a weekly basis and hold Property Managers accountable for achieving established Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), occupancy goals, collections targets, resident retention goals, compliance requirements, maintenance standards, and financial performance.
• Meet with Property Managers regarding underperforming KPIs and, in conjunction with the Property Manager, develop a Property Corrective Action Plan with measurable goals, timelines, and accountability measures.
• While Property Corrective Action Plans are in effect, continue to meet with Property Managers regularly to monitor progress, provide support, and ensure sustainable improvement.
• All Property Corrective Action Plans will be submitted to the CHS SharePoint site. The Director of Property Management and Agency Director will review reports and corrective action plans to ensure implementation and accountability.
• In the absence of a Property Manager completing the Weekly Comprehensive Property Report, the Regional Director shall complete and post the report to the CHS SharePoint site.
• Ensuring occupancy standards and revenue goals are achieved through active monitoring of leasing activities, vacancies, waitlists, unit turnover, applicant processing, marketing efforts, and coordination with referral agencies.
• Monitor property operations through the use of property management software including account ledgers, cash receipts, transactions, delinquencies, move-ins, move-outs, service requests, income certifications, inspections, and compliance activities.
• Promote early intervention best practices for eviction prevention. Work with property teams to implement resident-centered strategies that support housing stability while ensuring lease compliance and protecting the financial health of the property.
• Meet regularly with Property Managers and Maintenance staff to provide leadership, guidance, and support while ensuring properties remain financially viable, compliant with contractual obligations, and maintained in accordance with agency standards.
• Respond to tenant complaints and issues promptly and seek resolution at the lowest level possible.
• Ensure each property maintains strong curb appeal, cleanliness, safety, and overall physical appearance. Grounds, landscaping, common areas, building exteriors, signage, vacant units, and community spaces shall be maintained in a manner that reflects agency standards and promotes resident satisfaction.
• Conduct regular site visits and inspections of exterior grounds, common areas, vacant units, occupied properties as appropriate, and commercial spaces to assess property conditions, operational effectiveness, safety concerns, and staff performance.
• Ensure property operations are aligned with agency mission, strategic goals, policies, procedures, and service philosophy while promoting operational excellence and quality resident outcomes.

SUPERVISION AND LEADERSHIP

• Provide leadership to staff in the areas of property management and compliance as well as in supporting and promoting the mission of the agency and advocacy within the community.
• Select, supervise, train, mentor, coach, and evaluate staff within the portfolio.
• Support the professional growth and development of staff supervised and supported.
• Create a positive company culture that promotes employee engagement, professional development, accountability, and staff retention.
• Promote and develop ongoing training and support around best practices in affordable housing, leadership development, compliance, and special initiatives.
• Ensure attendance at all CHS mandatory trainings for employees and facilitate regular meetings.
• Provide leadership and vision for how CHS can best serve residents through affordable housing best practices and seek opportunities for ongoing program development.
• Assist in the promotion of community within CCS/CHS buildings by working closely with service staff.
• In collaboration with CCS, represent the agency in local government and community efforts to end homelessness and address housing stability barriers. Participate in advocacy efforts related to these initiatives.
• Build relationships with local neighborhood organizations, community leaders, service providers, and stakeholders to further common goals.
• Develop and safeguard a workplace that values and supports a culturally and ethnically diverse environment.
• Hold staff accountable for achieving performance objectives, operational standards, compliance requirements, customer service expectations, and agency goals.
• Lead and manage employee performance through coaching, training, recognition, corrective action, and performance evaluations.
• Ensure agency policies, procedures, values, and strategic initiatives are consistently implemented throughout the portfolio.
• Exercise sound judgment and leadership during emergencies, critical incidents, resident crises, regulatory investigations, and situations involving significant organizational risk.

FISCAL MANAGEMENT

• Assure that annual budgets for property operations are prepared for each property in accordance with the CHS budget process.
• Monitor and control expenses within the constraints of the annual budget including monitoring monthly financial statements and reviewing variances with the appropriate Property Accountant and Site Manager.
• Ensure programs submit timely billings, reports, write off bad debt when appropriate, and process invoices promptly to maintain financial stability.
• Monitor the collection of rent and other monies; review delinquencies to ensure profitability for each property and identify appropriate action steps.
• Negotiate and implement rent increases with funders and monitoring agencies.
• Assist agency leadership to identify and apply for viable funding resources to support the properties.
• Maintain effective communications and working relationships with funders, investors, lenders, and community partners.
• Assist accounting staff with annual audits as needed.
• Assume responsibility for the financial performance of the assigned portfolio, including achievement of occupancy, revenue, collections, expense management, and net operating income goals.
• Analyze financial reports and identify trends, variances, risks, and opportunities. Develop and implement corrective actions as necessary to improve financial performance.
• Monitor delinquency, vacancy loss, concessions, bad debt, write-offs, and collection practices to ensure fiscal sustainability.
• Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiencies, maximize revenue, reduce operating expenses, and preserve agency resources while maintaining service quality and compliance.
• Collaborate with Accounting, Asset Management, Facilities, and agency leadership to support the long-term financial health and sustainability of the portfolio.

FACILITIES MANAGEMENT

• Collaborate with the Asset Director and Facilities Director to identify maintenance issues and capital needs that affect building security, safety, functionality, and asset preservation.
• Monitor and continue development of CHS's emergency preparedness program, including emergency response plans for each building in the event of earthquakes, fires, and extreme weather events. Ensure each property has an emergency evacuation plan.
• Perform site visits of each property regularly including walking exterior grounds, vacant units, common areas, commercial spaces, and building systems.
• Review and plan long-term maintenance programs for each property including building systems, building envelope, structural components, and capital improvement needs with funders, the Property Manager, and the Asset and Facilities teams.
• Monitor and track unit turnover, service requests, preventative maintenance programs, vendor performance, and work order completion for timeliness and quality.
• Monitor annual apartment inspections for each property to ensure they have been completed, documented, and deficiencies corrected.
• Negotiate service contracts with vendors including landscaping, pest control, janitorial, security, and other contracted services.
• Follow Procurement procedures for vendor management and purchasing.
• Work with Commercial Tenants as needed on lease administration and building-related issues.
• Respond to after-hour emergencies that may require management oversight.
• Ensure all properties are maintained in a clean, safe, attractive, and welcoming condition that reflects agency standards and protects the value of agency assets.
• Hold property management and maintenance staff accountable for maintaining strong curb appeal, positive first impressions, and high physical standards at all portfolio properties.

COMPLIANCE AND QUALITY MANAGEMENT

• Work with CHS Compliance and Quality Management team to ensure each property staff member is fully trained in the specific compliance requirements of their properties and agency standards.
• Monitor submission of move-in and annual recertification files for accuracy, completeness, and timeliness.
• Collaborate with CHS Compliance to ensure properties are meeting set-aside requirements, funding regulations, reporting obligations, and monitoring requirements.
• Monitor properties to ensure compliance with Fair Housing laws, Landlord-Tenant laws, agency policies, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices.
• Assist staff with implementation of new software systems, operational procedures, evolving regulations, and industry trends.
• Represent management at all funder inspections, audits, monitoring visits, and regulatory reviews.
• Develop and maintain partnerships with organizations and agencies that support affordable housing and resident success.
• Assist Compliance Specialists with annual audits, regulatory reviews, corrective action plans, and compliance monitoring.
• Provide leadership and oversight to ensure all properties consistently meet agency performance expectations, compliance standards, contractual obligations, quality benchmarks, and investor requirements.
• Monitor portfolio-wide performance indicators and implement corrective action plans when operational, financial, maintenance, occupancy, compliance, or resident service goals are not being achieved.
• Ensure properties operate in alignment with agency mission, strategic objectives, organizational values, and resident-centered service principles.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement through data analysis, audits, inspections, resident feedback, performance measurement, and operational reviews designed to improve outcomes, preserve assets, and strengthen portfolio performance.

JOB CONDITIONS

This position requires the employee to work in an environment where there may be exposure to blood, bodily fluids, and potentially infectious material and chemicals, dust, noise and odors. Working conditions include frequent interruptions, sharing workspace with colleagues, working alone, flexibility in scheduling, extensive computer use, and interactions with individuals who are angry and/or dealing with mental health and substance abuse issues.

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum of five (5) years of property management experience in affordable housing managing several sites and a team of staff members with regulatory restrictions or rent subsidies, including tax credit financed properties.
• Ability to communicate complex information to diverse audiences from residents to staff to leadership.
• Strong supervisory skills: hiring, coaching, training and evaluating.
• Experience working with ethnically and economically diverse people.
• Proficiency with computers (especially Windows and MS Office, Excel, Boston Post, MRI, RealPage), and ability to learn property management software.
• Requires current driver’s license, auto insurance, and access to reliable transportation to be able to visit sites regularly and in case of emergencies. (Mileage reimbursement is provided.)
• Commitment to working within the mission, goals and values of Catholic Community Services/ Catholic Housing Services.
• Support and contribute to a creative, collaborative and respectful environment that promotes teamwork.
• Demonstrates the necessary attitudes, knowledge and skills to deliver culturally competent services and work effectively in multi-cultural situations.
• Criminal History Background Checks are required prior to employment.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bilingual in English and Spanish
• Experience working with low-income families, homelessness, disabilities and supportive services.
• Minimum of three years working with special initiatives.
• Experience in development of multi-family property management.
• Experience in housing with resident support services provided on site.

SUBSTITUTE QUALIFICATIONS

• Five (5) years or more experience in Property Management, Asset Management or equivalent management experience (may substitute for affordable Housing Management experience).
• Experience with affordable housing regulatory or funding organization that demonstrates knowledge of compliance and affordable housing requirements.

Note to Internal Candidates: HR reviews internal compensation and determines any increase based on their experience and also agency internal equity factors.

Catholic Community Services and Catholic Housing Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Please let us know if you need special accommodations to apply or interview for this position.

EMPLOYEE/EMPLOYER PLEDGE: We will not tolerate attitudes, behaviors, or statements that alienate, offend, or injure any person associated with CCS because of their racial or ethnic origin. We will enable and support all efforts to become aware of and eliminate racism and racist behaviors within CCS and the broader community. We will take exceptional steps to identify and root out such biases, especially where there appear to be long standing, institutional patterns of unacceptable behavior or lack of performance.