Operational Ownership Lead

JPI; Irvine (CA); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive bonus program

4 weeks PTO (pro‑rated)

11 holidays + 8 early release days

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life

Job summary

JPI is seeking an Operational Ownership Lead in Irvine, CA to safeguard project lifecycle integrity from predevelopment through construction completion. You will align design teams, consultants, and field operations to meet milestones while ensuring technical and commercial outcomes align with business goals.

The role emphasizes cross-functional collaboration, proactive risk mitigation, and continuous improvement of established workflows for drawing phases and documentation handoffs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in architecture, engineering, construction management, or a related field.
• 4–6 years of experience, including development, design management and construction in multifamily industry.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional design coordination and issue resolution to keep projects on schedule.
• Coordinate consultant onboarding, scope clarity, and financial control.
• Review consultant billings and ensure alignment with progress and scope.
• Maintain IPS and milestone tracking across development, design, preconstruction, and construction phases.
• Serve as owner’s representative during active build and support rapid issue resolution.

Skills

Project coordination

Cross-functional leadership

Design coordination

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in architecture/engineering/construction management

Tools

Excel

Bluebeam

Procore

Job description

About The Company

Built on a foundation of integrity, respect, and commitment, JPI stands out as one of the most active real estate developers and builders in the nation.

For more than 35 years, JPI has designed and developed communities with best-in-class homes and amenities.

JPI is committed to data-driven management and continuous improvement.

Its team of experts utilizes data – including unparalleled market research, proven business processes, and proprietary models – to ensure that every decision is strategic, focused, and produces exceptional multifamily communities with the best risk-adjusted returns.

More than just great communities, JPI is focused on leaving a lasting impact on the communities where we build and is continually committed to “Building What Matters.”

JPI operates as a subsidiary of Sumitomo Forestry, which is recognized as one of the largest home builders in the United States.

Why work for us?

We have a 35-year track record of developing multifamily communities with responsibility, accountability, and integrity.

Our stated purpose is to:

Transform Building Enhance Communities Improve Lives

JPI has an ambitious and exciting vision for how we will achieve this, which makes for a positive and dynamic work environment, with many opportunities for personal development and growth.

As well as our highly competitive offering of compensation and benefits, we are committed to:

Transformative careers in a transformative company

Comprehensive training and development

Promotion from within at all levels of the organization

Borderless Careers, based on performance, potential, and personal ambition

Industry Recognition

NMHC - #1 Fastest Growing Developer; #2 Fastest Growing Building; #8 Largest National Developer; # 11 Largest National Builder

Real Page – Most active multifamily developer in DFW for the past 8 years

Dallas Business Journal Best Places to Work – 2023

Dallas Business Journal – Largest DFW Real Estate Developers - #11

Benefits

• Competitive Bonus Program
• 4 Weeks PTO for All New Associates (Pro-Rated by Hire Date)
• 11 Holidays and 8 Early Release Days
• Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance
• 401(k) with Company Match (Up to 5% Match)
• Health Savings Account
• Flexible Spending Accounts (Dependent & Medical Reimbursement)
• Paid Parental Leave
• Paid Volunteer Time
• Tuition AssistancePhone Reimbursement
• Associate Referral Bonuses

About the Job

JPI has an exciting opportunity for an Operational Ownership Lead to join our Operational Ownership team located in Irvine, CA.

Operational Ownership exists to preserve the integrity of the project lifecycle as envisioned/defined, ensuring a well-balanced approach to both technical and commercial outcomes that yield successful project delivery.

This role is responsible for ensuring projects are set up correctly from the start and remain aligned through design, permitting, capital close, and construction operations.

The Operational Ownership Lead coordinates the technical and operational integrity of projects from predevelopment through construction completion.

This role facilitates alignment between consultant teams, internal project stakeholders, and field operations to meet key schedule milestones.

This role supports cross-functional resolution of complex project issues in a timely manner to keep the project schedule on track.

The Lead plays a key role in applying and continuously improving established frameworks for drawing phases, milestone tracking, and documentation handoff, supporting JPI’s design and development goals while ensuring operational alignment.

The position will report to the Director of Operational Ownership.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities

• Consultant Procurement Support procurement, contracting, and ongoing coordination of design and consultant services in collaboration with the OI Manager and other stakeholders.
• Lead consultant onboarding (internal and external design teams) to establish scope clarity, financial control, deliverable expectations, and coordination standards.
• Review and validate consultant billings for alignment with progress and scope.
• Internal Stakeholder Alignment Coordinate weekly design agendas with design teams and track progress toward milestone commitments.
• Facilitate external stakeholder and consultant coordination meetings.
• Support alignment with planning, building systems, engineering, and architectural expression with operational and financial goals.
• Coordinate the interior and exterior material selection process.
• Ensure timely completion of branding and FFE meetings, leading to selections that align with rent comps identified in the Pre-IC phase.
• Drawing Phasing & Development Milestones Maintain and manage the Integrated Project Schedule (IPS) across development, design, dfx, preconstruction, and actively remove roadblocks in achieving targets.
• Track progress over milestone gates, ensuring pre-aligned outputs are met and mitigate risks before construction release.
• Create and report out progress on dashboards for deliverable status across internal and external teams.
• Owner Support Lead the cross-functional design coordination and issue resolution process.
• Perform timely technical and commercial validation of PCCO’s, and support resolution of issues, keeping JPI’s best interest in mind.
• Support project-based design changes, budget alignment, and deviations from design documentation, and help drive timely resolution to not affect project schedules.
• Serve as owner’s representative for construction and operations during active build, supporting fast-track decision-making for resolution of owner-related RFIs, Submittals, and field-driven revisions (after all preventative measures have been exhausted).
• Support implementation of policy and procedures for address registration.
• Support final drawing coordination with external jurisdictions.

Non-Essential Functions & Responsibilities

• Other duties as assigned.

Education, Work Experience, & Physical Requirements

• Bachelor's or master's degree in architecture, engineering, construction management, or a related field.
• 4 – 6 years of Experience including 2 of the following areas: development, design management and construction, preferably in the multifamily industry.
• Excel, Bluebeam, and Procore.
• Deep knowledge of project phasing, execution risks, and owner-driven design changes.
• Proven ability to manage multiple teams and projects while ensuring quality and consistency.
• Experience developing scalable tools and processes for design validation and documentation workflows.
• Act as a representative and advocate of JPI’s culture and guiding principles
• 5-day (Monday-Friday) Physical Co-location Daily Collaboration General

General Base Pay Range

Please note that the posted annual base pay range reflects the anticipated compensation range for this position at the time of posting. Actual compensation offered will be determined based on a variety of factors, including the candidate’s experience, skills, qualifications, internal equity with existing associates, and the Company’s budget at the time of the offer. This range applies to base salary only. Additional compensation, such as bonuses or incentive plans, may be available and will be discussed with the Recruiter during the interview process.

Annual Base Pay Range: $150,000-$170,000