Director of Property Operations

Govig & Associates; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Govig & Associates is seeking a Director of Property Operations in Phoenix to oversee a growing retail and industrial portfolio. You will manage third-party property managers, set budgets, and drive operational excellence across development and stabilized assets.

The role requires 10+ years in real estate operations, strong analytical skills, and the ability to bridge development, accounting, leasing, and executive leadership teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required or equivalent experience.
• 10+ years in commercial or mixed-use real estate operations, property management, or portfolio oversight.

Responsibilities

• Oversee third-party property management relationships across retail and industrial portfolio.
• Select and manage third-party PM firms, including contract negotiation and performance management.
• Set operational expectations, reporting standards, budgeting procedures, and service requirements for property managers.
• Lead operational reviews covering budgets, CAM reconciliations, collections, maintenance, and capital planning.
• Escalate complex issues involving leases, CC&Rs, and performance gaps to senior leadership.
• Collaborate with Development during design, lease-up, turnover, stabilization, and transition to operations.
• Develop operating budgets for projects from lease-up through stabilization and disposition.
• Ensure consistency in procedures, financial reporting, and tenant communications across the portfolio.
• Monitor financial performance, expense controls, variance analyses, and reporting to ensure accurate records.
• Ensure compliance with leases, management agreements, and regulatory requirements.
• Coordinate with Development and Tenant Coordination for openings and ongoing continuity.
• Provide leadership and mentorship to internal operations teams.

Skills

Leadership

Third-party management

Financial analysis

Contract negotiation

Budgeting

Tenant relations

Communication

Project development liaison

Education

Bachelor's degree in Real Estate, Business, Finance, Accounting

Job description

Are you ready to take the lead on property operations for one of the most active developers in the Southwest? A highly respected real estate developer with 50+ years of experience is looking for a Director of Property Operations to oversee operational performance across a growing retail and industrial portfolio!

ABOUT THE COMPANY

With over five decades of real estate development experience and more than 650 completed projects across the United States, our client has built a proven track record of creating value and delivering exceptional results. Committed to the highest standards, they continue to expand their diverse portfolio, bringing the same focus on quality and growth potential to every project they take on.

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY

The Director of Property Operations is responsible for overseeing operational performance, financial execution, and third party property management relationships and operational transitions across an active development and operating portfolio. This role serves as the company’s primary bridge between development, asset operations, tenant coordination, accounting, and third party management partners. Responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

• Serve as the primary manager of third‑party property management relationships across the retail and industrial portfolio.
• Select, onboard, and manage third‑party property management firms, including contract negotiation, transitions and ongoing performance management.
• Establish clear operational expectations, reporting standards, budgeting procedures and service requirements for all property managers.
• Conduct regular operational reviews with property management partners, including review of budgets, CAM reconciliations, collections, maintenance standards, tenant issues, capital planning, and operational performance
• Act as escalation point for complex operational issues, tenant concerns, lease and CC&R interpretation matters or performance gaps requiring senior‑level intervention.
• Partner closely with Development teams during project design, lease up, turnover, stabilization, and transition to ongoing operations.
• Develop operating budgets and review operational and maintenance assumptions for projects moving from lease-up through stabilization and disposition.
• Ensure consistency in operational procedures, financial reporting, budgeting discipline, documentation, and tenant communication standards across the portfolio.
• Oversee property financial performance, expense controls, variance analysis and operational reporting to assure accurate operational financial information.
• Monitor compliance with leases, management agreements, regulatory requirements, and company policies.
• Work closely with development during dispositions to provide accurate information to share with the buyer and coordination as needed with the property manager.
• Work closely with Tenant Coordination leadership to support successful openings and ongoing operational continuity.
• Provide leadership and mentorship where internal property operations support is required.

WHAT YOU NEED

To be successful in this role, the Director of Property Operations will have:

• Bachelor's degree in Real Estate, Business, Finance, Accounting or a related field; equivalent experience considered.
• 10+ years of experience in commercial or mixed use real estate operations, property management, or portfolio oversight, ground up development preferred.
• Demonstrated experience overseeing third-party property management firms and holding service providers accountable to operational, financial, reporting, and customer service expectations.
• Experience serving as the operational liaison between development and stabilized operations, providing property management expertise throughout planning, construction, lease-up, tenant occupancy, and asset stabilization.
• Strong understanding of CC&R’s, commercial leases, property operations, tenant relations, lease administration, CAM budgeting and reconciliations and property financial reporting.
• Thorough knowledge of property-level accounting, financial controls, accruals, reconciliations, variance analysis, and financial statement review.
• Experience reviewing and validating financial reporting to ensure accurate property records, clean corporate accounting, and compliance with owner reporting standards.
• Demonstrated ability to support projects through development, lease-up, stabilization, ownership transition, and disposition activities.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills with the ability to identify issues, develop solutions, and drive accountability.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with experience collaborating across development, accounting, finance, leasing, construction, and executive leadership teams.