Director of Maintenance & Construction

Mon Ami Real Estate; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 125,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision

401(k) with company match

10 paid holidays

PTO starting at 15 days

Paid parental leave

Job summary

Mon Ami Real Estate in Chicago seeks a Director of Maintenance Construction to oversee construction projects, capital improvements, and building systems across a national retail, office, and industrial portfolio.

This leadership role combines technical depth with project management and entrepreneurial drive, managing budgets, vendors, and schedules while working closely with asset management, acquisitions, leasing, and property management teams.

Qualifications

• Background in engineering, construction management, facilities management, or architecture.
• 10+ years commercial real estate experience strongly preferred.
• Ability to evaluate a building and form an independent opinion.
• Experience managing multiple simultaneous projects across different geographies.
• Strong negotiator who pushes back on scope creep and inflated bids.
• Comfortable traveling regularly throughout the portfolio.
• Highly organized, cost-conscious, and practically minded.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage capital improvement plans across the national portfolio.
• Evaluate building systems—roofing, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, structural, asphalt.
• Lead construction and major maintenance projects from scope through completion.
• Conduct property inspections and condition assessments; produce actionable findings.
• Source, vet, and manage contractors nationally; negotiate pricing, contracts, and scopes.
• Assist with budgeting and capital forecasting.
• Create standards, specs, and best practices across the portfolio.

Skills

Engineering

Construction management

Facilities management

Architecture

Project management

Job description

About Mon Ami Real Estate

Mon Ami Real Estate is a value-driven owner-operator specializing in sub-$20 million retail and industrial properties across the United States. The firm focuses on the overlooked middle market, targeting assets with intrinsic value and clear opportunities for operational improvement and value creation.

Director of Maintenance Construction

National Portfolio

• Chicago, IL

About Mon Ami Real Estate

Mon Ami Real Estate is a value-driven owner-operator specializing in sub-$20 million retail and industrial properties across the United States. The firm focuses on the overlooked middle market, targeting assets with intrinsic value and clear opportunities for operational improvement and value creation.

Over the past 15 years, Mon Ami has acquired more than 350 properties across 30+ states and currently manages a portfolio exceeding $400 million in assets. The firm's success is built on disciplined acquisitions, entrepreneurial thinking, and a hands-on approach to asset management.

Unlike many institutional real estate firms, Mon Ami is highly action-oriented. The team excels in complex, time-sensitive transactions where it can identify opportunities others overlook, close quickly and reliably, and execute business plans internally. Team members have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact while working directly with senior leadership on acquisitions, operations, and value creation initiatives.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Mon Ami Real Estate is seeking a Director of Maintenance Construction to oversee construction projects, capital improvements, property maintenance, building systems, and vendor relationships across a national portfolio of retail, office, mixed-use, and industrial properties.

This is a highly visible leadership role responsible for protecting and enhancing the value of the portfolio through effective project management, preventative maintenance programs, and disciplined capital deployment. The ideal candidate combines technical expertise with strong project management and leadership skills and is comfortable operating in an entrepreneurial environment where priorities can shift quickly.

The Director will oversee the full lifecycle of construction and maintenance projects, including budgeting, bidding, vendor selection, scheduling, execution, and quality control. Responsibilities include managing tenant improvements, renovations, roof and parking lot projects, building system upgrades, deferred maintenance initiatives, and ongoing repair programs across the portfolio.

The position works closely with asset management, acquisitions, leasing, and property management teams to identify opportunities, evaluate building conditions, forecast capital expenditures, support due diligence efforts, and improve overall property performance.

Travel to properties throughout the United States will be required.

What You’ll Own

• Develop and manage capital improvement plans across the national portfolio
• Evaluate building systems - roofing, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, structural, asphalt
• Lead construction and major maintenance projects from scope through completion
• Conduct property inspections and condition assessments; produce actionable findings
• Build, implement, and execute preventative maintenance programs
• Source, vet, and manage contractors nationally - negotiate pricing, contracts, and scopes
• Support acquisitions and due diligence: review engineering reports, flag deferred maintenance, size capital requirements
• Assist with budgeting and capital forecasting
• Create standards, specs, and best practices across the portfolio

What We’re Looking For

• Background in engineering, construction management, facilities management, or architecture with hands-on building systems knowledge
• 10+ years commercial real estate experience strongly preferred
• Can evaluate a building and form an independent opinion, not just read someone else’s report
• Experience managing multiple simultaneous projects across different geographies
• Strong negotiator who pushes back on scope creep, inflated bids, and unnecessary spend
• Comfortable traveling regularly throughout the portfolio
• Highly organized, cost-conscious, and practically minded

What Makes You The Right Fit

• You’ve caught problems before they became expensive and you have examples
• You know when to hire a specialist and when the answer is already obvious
• You’re comfortable challenging consultants and contractors when the numbers don’t make sense
• You spend capital like it’s your own money

Compensation Structure

This role reports directly to the VP of Asset Management Operations and carries company-wide authority on all technical and construction matters. Base salary compensation range is $125,000 - $175,000, commensurate with experience, plus eligibility for an annual performance incentive plan targeting 10-20% of base salary, based on portfolio performance.

Benefits include medical, dental, and vision coverage with premiums shared by Mon Ami and no waiting period - coverage begins the first of the month following hire - a 401(k) plan with a company match of up to 3.5% of eligible compensation and immediate vesting, 10 paid holidays, PTO starting at 15 days annually and increasing with tenure, and paid parental leave.