Senior Asset Manager - Purpose-Built Student Housing & Market Rate Multifamily

Gilbane Development Company; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 105,000 - 167,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Profit-sharing/401k

Gilbane University training

Job summary

Gilbane Development Company seeks a Senior Asset Manager to oversee a portfolio of purpose-built student housing and market-rate multifamily properties in Providence and Boston. You will direct third-party managers, implement business plans, and drive operating performance while balancing short-term priorities with long-term value.

The role requires strong financial modeling, analytical insight, and cross-functional collaboration across development, capital markets, and operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Real Estate, Business, or related field.
• 5+ years of real estate asset management, investments, acquisitions, development, or related functions.
• Experience with market rate multifamily and/or purpose-built student housing assets.
• Ability to independently oversee assets, direct third-party managers, and execute approved business plans.
• Strong understanding of property operations, leasing, budgets, forecasts, capital planning, and financial performance.
• Proficient in financial modeling; advanced Excel and PowerPoint.
• Experience with property management systems, market research, and reporting/analytics tools.
• Strong communication, organizational, and cross-functional relationship skills; ability to manage competing priorities.
• Willingness to travel periodically for property oversight and stakeholder engagement.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute business plans for assigned assets, aligning priorities with underwriting and strategy.
• Evaluate asset performance and adjust plans with Director, including risk mitigation.
• Support Development, Acquisitions, and Capital Markets with due diligence and market analysis.
• Lead stabilization and leasing recovery initiatives; elevate material risks to Director.
• Direct third-party property management and establish expectations and accountability.
• Prepare monthly and quarterly performance reports and forecasts with recommendations.
• Coordinate with Leasing & Revenue, Finance, Accounting, Development, and Operators to resolve issues.

Skills

Financial analysis

Portfolio management

Cross-functional collaboration

Strategic thinking

Travel willingness

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance/Accounting/Economics/Real Estate/Business

Tools

Yardi

Entrata

RealPage

CoStar

Power BI

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Senior Asset Manager - Purpose-Built Student Housing & Market Rate Multifamily

Job Locations: US-RI-Providence | US-MA-Boston

Overview

The Senior Asset Manager - Purpose-Built Student Housing & Market Rate Multifamily will oversee the day-to-day performance of an assigned portfolio of purpose-built student housing and market rate multifamily properties. As the primary owner representative, this individual will direct third-party property managers, execute approved business plans, identify risks and opportunities, and drive operating performance and long-term asset value.

Reporting to the Director of Asset Management, the Senior Asset Manager will exercise independent judgment and authority over day-to-day asset matters, while collaborating with the Director on portfolio strategy, material decisions, and matters requiring senior-level approval. The role spans development, lease-up, stabilization, transition, repositioning, and disposition, requiring close coordination with Leasing & Revenue, Development, Construction, Acquisitions, Capital Markets, Finance, Accounting, and third-party operators. The successful candidate will combine financial and operational expertise with market intelligence, sound judgment, and proactive problem-solving. This is a hands‑on position requiring regular property engagement, timely decisions, and an ability to balance immediate operating priorities with longer-term investment objectives.

What We're Looking For

We are seeking an analytical, investment-minded asset management professional who can connect property operations, market conditions, and financial performance to investment objectives. The ideal candidate brings multifamily and/or student housing experience, sound judgment, and demonstrated success managing business plans, budgets, leasing performance, and third-party operators.

This individual will be comfortable making decisions independently within established authority, escalating material issues appropriately, and translating data into practical recommendations. Strong collaboration, accountability, and the ability to use technology and market intelligence to improve decisions are essential. Candidates should be equally comfortable reviewing a detailed financial report, questioning an operator's assumptions, touring a competitive property, and presenting a concise assessment to senior colleagues.

Responsibilities

Portfolio & Investment Strategy

• Develop and execute business plans for assigned assets, aligning operating priorities with underwriting, ownership objectives, and investment strategy.
• Evaluate asset performance and value creation opportunities with the Director, recommending business plan adjustments, risk mitigation measures, and corrective strategies based on financial and market conditions.
• Support Development, Acquisitions, and Capital Markets with due diligence, market analysis, operating assumptions, and investment evaluations.
• Develop recovery strategies for underperforming assets and direct execution of approved action plans.

Asset Oversight & Performance Management

• Serve as the primary day-to-day owner representative for assigned properties, directing execution of approved business plans and operating priorities.
• Monitor financial and operating results against budgets, underwriting, and prior periods, including revenue, expenses, NOI, occupancy, achieved rents, concessions, leasing, collections, and cash flow.
• Diagnose variances, identify emerging risks, and direct corrective actions to improve performance and protect value.
• Lead stabilization, repositioning, and leasing recovery initiatives; elevate material risks and strategic changes to the Director.
• Prepare clear monthly and quarterly performance reports, forecasts, and business plan updates with recommendations and next steps.

Property Management Oversight

• Direct third-party property management companies, establishing expectations, priorities, performance measures, and accountability for results through regular financial, leasing, and operating reviews.
• Evaluate leasing, revenue management, expense control, collections, resident experience, and operational execution.
• Oversee critical student housing milestones, including preleasing, renewals, summer turn, and fall move-in readiness, with close attention to leasing pace, rent integrity, staffing, and operational readiness.
• Authorize operator actions within approved budgets and delegated authority; elevate material deviations and recommend management changes when warranted.

Market Intelligence, Data & Technology

• Track submarket supply, absorption, vacancy, rents, concessions, competition, employment, and enrollment trends to assess opportunities and risks.
• Conduct research and advise internal teams on market assumptions, asset positioning, development decisions, and investment strategy, including emerging risks from competing supply and changing renter demand.
• Use financial models, property management systems, market research platforms, and business intelligence tools to identify trends and guide decisions.
• Improve dashboards, reporting, and analytical workflows to strengthen portfolio visibility, data quality, and operator accountability; help establish consistent KPIs and reliable information for faster decision-making.

Capital Planning & Budgets

• Lead preparation and ongoing management of operating budgets, forecasts, and multi-year capital plans, subject to Director review and required approvals.
• Challenge assumptions and evaluate capital requests against asset performance, hold strategy, competitive position, operating needs, timing, and expected returns.
• Authorize routine operating and capital decisions within delegated limits; recommend material expenditures and budget changes for approval.
• Monitor approved capital programs against schedules, budgets, and expected outcomes.

Investor & Stakeholder Management

• Prepare asset-level financial analysis, performance narratives, and reporting for leadership, Capital Markets, investors, and lenders, distinguishing temporary variances from structural risks.
• Support investor diligence, property tours, refinancings, and strategic discussions, communicating risks, results, and recommended actions clearly and in coordination with the Director.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Coordinate Leasing & Revenue, Finance, Accounting, Development, Construction, Capital Markets, and operators to resolve issues and execute asset priorities.
• Partner with Finance and Accounting on cash flow forecasts, distributions, debt compliance, reserves, and ownership reporting.
• Provide practical operating insights and market intelligence to inform cross-functional business and investment decisions.

Team & Platform Development

• Improve asset management processes, performance dashboards, reporting standards, and portfolio governance.
• Share expertise with junior colleagues and partners, reinforcing accountability, analytical rigor, and follow-through.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Real Estate, Business, or a related field.
• 5+ years of relevant experience in real estate asset management, investments, acquisitions, development, or related functions.
• Experience with market rate multifamily and/or purpose-built student housing assets.
• Ability to independently oversee assigned assets, direct third-party managers, and execute approved business plans.
• Strong understanding of property operations, leasing, budgets, forecasts, capital planning, and financial performance.
• Proven ability to analyze financial statements, operating reports, market dynamics, and underwriting assumptions.
• Strong financial modeling skills and advanced Excel and PowerPoint proficiency.
• Experience with property management systems, market research, and reporting or analytics tools.
• Strong communication, organizational, and cross-functional relationship skills; ability to manage competing priorities.
• Willingness to travel periodically for property oversight and stakeholder engagement.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with both student housing and market rate multifamily, including development lease-ups or repositioning.
• Familiarity with joint ventures, debt compliance, institutional reporting, and investment performance metrics.
• Experience with Yardi, Entrata, RealPage, CoStar, Power BI, or comparable platforms.
• Experience supporting underwriting, asset-level cash flow projections, and capital investment analysis.

Salary to be determined based on factors such as geographic location, skills, education, and/or experience of the applicant, as well as the internal equity and alignment with the team.

The pay ranges from $105,000.00 - $167,000.00 plus benefits and retirement program.

Gilbane offers an excellent total compensation package which includes competitive health and welfare benefits and a generous profit-sharing/401k plan. We invest in our employees' education and have built Gilbane University into a top training organization in the construction industry. Qualified applicants who are offered a position must pass a pre-employment substance abuse test.

Gilbane is an affirmative action/Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, or disability status. Click here to view the physical demands and working conditions required to perform this role. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.