Maintenance Operations Manager

B I R G E & H E L D – Investing in Communities to Transform Lives. 270 Unit Multifamily Community Ansley Commons (Ladson, SC)

It's fun to work in a company where people truly believe in what they are doing. At Birge & Held, we are committed to bringing excitement and energy to the business of multifamily housing. We expect every employee within our organization to be a leader working in a collaborative environment towards a shared vision. At Birge & Held, our employees have a Passion for People, demonstrate Leadership at Every Level, and are Always Learning & Innovating. Through these core values, we make our purpose a reality, “Investing in Communities to Transform Lives.”

About the role

The Maintenance Operations Manager will oversee the day-to-day maintenance of the assigned B&H portfolio. This individual will be responsible for ensuring that physical assets are maintained to the highest standards, managing on-site maintenance teams, optimizing preventative maintenance programs, and ensuring compliance with safety and operational protocols. The ideal candidate is a hands-on leader with strong technical skills, excellent organizational abilities, and a proactive, solutions-driven mindset. This role reports to the Operations Manager.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and support property-level Service Managers and maintenance staff across assigned B&H properties.
• Train, mentor, and evaluate maintenance team members; participate in hiring, coaching, and performance reviews.
• Foster a culture of safety, accountability, and high performance throughout the maintenance team.
• Develop, implement, and monitor preventive maintenance programs to reduce downtime and extend the life of community assets.
• Perform regular property inspections and audits to identify maintenance needs, safety risks, and improvement opportunities.
• Confirm accurate replacement of capital items, ensuring proper evaluation of repair vs. replacement decisions.
• Ensure standard response expectations are met: completion of work orders within 48 hours (excluding emergencies) and unit turns within five(5) working days, unless otherwise directed by the Community Manager.
• Partner with Operations Managers to schedule and execute renovation and capital improvement projects.
• Monitor project timelines, budgets, and vendor performance to ensure timely and quality outcomes.
• Ensure all maintenance activities comply with OSHA regulations and local, state, and federal laws.
• Promote and enforce safe work practices across all maintenance operations.
• Manage vendor relationships and oversee third-party service providers, including those handling landscaping, HVAC, plumbing, and general maintenance.
• Ensure cost-effective use of vendors while adhering to property budgets and prioritizing quality and value.
• Maintain control of maintenance supply inventories and oversee procurement of tools, parts, and equipment.
• Ensure efficient and cost-effective supply usage across all communities.
• Provide after-hours support and respond to emergency maintenance needs across the portfolio as required.
• Ensure on-call responsibilities are distributed and covered across all communities appropriately.
• Track and report key maintenance performance indicators (KPIs), including work order completion times, budget adherence, and asset condition trends.
• Collaborate with leadership on improvement strategies and cost-saving initiatives.
• Perform on-site maintenance work as needed to support property functionality and address high-priority issues.
• Maintain grounds as necessary to ensure a clean, safe, and welcoming environment for residents and visitors.
• Assist with other B&H assets as needed to drive company-wide success.

Requirements

• Strong leadership geared towards mentoring and leading maintenance teams.
• At least three (3) – five (5) years of demonstrated success in apartment maintenance.
• A minimum of 3–5 years of experience in HVAC or formal technical training in heating and air conditioning is required.
• EPA certification required for refrigerant handling, or willingness to obtain certification upon hire.
• HVAC certification, required.
• Experience in residential property maintenance required.
• Working knowledge of OSHA standards and other environmental safety standards.
• Must be self-motivated, able to complete assigned tasks and can negotiate competitive pricing of supplies and contracted work.
• Provide your own hand tools including but not limited to power drills, impacts, and all non-powered hand tools.
• Able to operate all necessary tools to perform the essential functions of the position.
• Able to multi-task and prioritize work orders.
• Exhibit strong attention to detail.
• Able to perform at high levels in a fast-paced work environment and successfully adapt to changing priorities and work demand.
• Able to think logically to troubleshoot, analyze situations, and make sound business decisions.
• Able to lift, push, and pull up to 75 pounds.
• Able to perform a variety of duties in all types of weather.
• Smart phone preferred for work purposes.

Benefits

• Maintain work-life balance with a generous paid time-off policy including up to 18 days of PTO per year.
• 12 full days and two half day holidays including a floating holiday and your birthday.
• Veterans Day as a paid day off for those who have served in the military.
• 8 hours of Volunteer Paid Time Off (PTO) each year.
• Up to 3 weeks of paid parental leave and 6 weeks of paid childbirth leave.
• Monthly commission opportunities and additional quarterly bonuses based on site-specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
• Exclusive employee discounts at Birge & Held properties.
• Robust wellness program with up to $25 in monthly gym membership reimbursements and access to certified health coaches.
• Competitive dental, vision, and comprehensive medical plans with convenient online tools.
• 401(k) plan with competitive employer contributions.
• Company paid basic life insurance policy with the opportunity to elect supplemental life insurance.
• Optional ancillary benefits including Long-Term Disability (LTD), Short-Term Disability (STD), and Critical Illness Insurance.
• Monthly phone stipend of up to $50.
• Tuition reimbursement program and support from a dedicated Talent Development team.