Director of Commercial Operations

About the role

The Director of Commercial Operations will provide strategic leadership and oversight for the day-to-day operations of a national commercial real estate portfolio primarily small-bay industrial properties, along with select office and flex assets. Reporting to senior leadership, this role is responsible for driving portfolio performance through the effective management of property management personnel, operational processes, tenant relationships, capital projects, and property-level financial results.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and oversight for all property management and operational activities across a national commercial real estate portfolio, ensuring consistent execution of company objectives and operating standards.
• Manage, mentor, and develop a team of property managers, regional managers, and operational support personnel, fostering accountability, professional growth, and high performance.
• Establish and maintain operational policies, procedures, and best practices to ensure consistency, scalability, and service excellence across all markets.
• Partner with Asset Management to develop and execute property-level business plans and value creation strategies.
• Oversee property operations to maximize occupancy, tenant retention, operating performance, and overall asset value.
• Monitor key performance indicators across the portfolio and implement corrective action plans when operational or financial performance falls below expectations.
• Lead annual operating budget preparation and ongoing forecasting processes in coordination with Asset Management and Accounting teams.
• Review and approve operating expenses, service contracts, and property-level expenditures while maintaining strong cost controls and financial discipline.
• Oversee vendor procurement, contract negotiations, and service provider performance to ensure quality service and cost efficiency.
• Maintain oversight of tenant relations, lease administration, renewals, move-ins, move-outs, and tenant satisfaction initiatives.
• Collaborate with Leasing teams to support marketing efforts, vacancy reduction strategies, tenant retention initiatives, and market positioning.
• Oversee capital improvement programs, tenant improvement projects, maintenance initiatives, and property inspections.
• Ensure compliance with all lease obligations, lender requirements, regulatory requirements, safety standards, insurance requirements, and company policies.
• Collaborate with Acquisitions, Asset Management, and Construction teams during property acquisitions, dispositions, refinancings, and transition activities.
• Develop portfolio-wide operating benchmarks and identify opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance tenant experience.
• Utilize data analytics and reporting tools to monitor performance, identify trends, and support strategic decision-making.
• Evaluate and implement property technology platforms, workflow automation tools, and AI-enabled solutions that improve operational efficiency, reporting accuracy, tenant communications, and portfolio oversight.
• Lead special projects and strategic initiatives designed to improve operational scalability and support continued portfolio growth.
• Prepare operational reports, presentations, and recommendations for senior leadership, investment committees, lenders, and ownership groups.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Real Estate, Finance, or a related field required.
• 8–12+ years of progressive commercial real estate operations or property management experience, including leadership responsibility for multi-property portfolios.
• Prior experience leading and developing property managers, regional managers, and support personnel across multiple markets.
• Strong understanding of commercial property operations, lease administration, budgeting, tenant relations, capital projects, and vendor management.
• Proven track record of improving operating performance, controlling expenses, increasing tenant retention, and driving portfolio-wide operational efficiencies.
• Experience working closely with asset management, leasing, accounting, construction, and investment teams within an institutional real estate environment.
• Strong financial acumen with the ability to analyze operating statements, budgets, forecasts, variance reports, and key performance metrics.
• Experience overseeing annual budget preparation and portfolio forecasting processes.
• Proficiency with commercial property management systems, including Yardi, as well as Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, organizational, and relationship management skills.
• Able to manage multiple priorities and teams across diverse geographic markets while maintaining attention to detail and execution excellence.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with a proactive and solutions-oriented approach.
• High level of personal and professional integrity, sound judgment, and accountability.
• Willingness to travel periodically to portfolio markets and company offices as required.