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Role Description

Gilbane Development Company is looking for a Special Projects Lead, a strategic leadership role responsible for driving high-impact initiatives across the P3 student housing portfolio. This position oversees new business transitions, operational enhancements, training programs, project supervision and support, and cross-functional projects that support growth, efficiency, and excellence in service delivery. The ideal candidate is a dynamic leader with deep industry knowledge, exceptional project management skills, and a passion for innovation in student housing operations.

Responsibilities

• New Business Transitions
  • Lead the onboarding and integration of newly acquired or developed student housing properties.
  • Develop and execute transition plans including staffing, systems implementation, vendor coordination, and resident communications.
  • Serve as the primary liaison between leadership, property teams, and campus and ownership groups during transitions.
  • Work with facilities vendors to coordinate contracts and obtain all required paperwork to finalize delivery partner agreements.
  • Monitor the effectiveness of facilities operations and ensure cleanliness, safety, and operational policies and procedures are meeting all standards and stated goals and objectives.
  • Track overall effectiveness of resident work order process; facilitate efficient processing and completion of work orders as necessary.
  • Monitor and report on the administration and progress of ongoing leasing and marketing efforts to ensure alignment to overall occupancy and financial goals.
  • Assist in the coordination of hiring and training site employees and assist in the implementation of new employee training sessions.
• Operational Oversight & Strategic Projects
  • Identify and implement operational improvements across the portfolio to enhance performance, resident satisfaction, and cost efficiency.
  • Act as the liaison for all Property Management software including RealPage and any CMMS systems utilized by operations and in coordination with all Gilbane Network System teams.
  • Coordinate, lead and manage special projects such as technology rollouts, sustainability initiatives, and capital planning support.
  • Collaborate with regional and site-level teams to ensure alignment with corporate goals and compliance standards.
  • Serve as the on-site Operations Director during periods when the position is vacant, which may include extended travel as required.
• Training & Development
  • Design and deliver training programs for property operations staff focused on operational excellence, customer service, and compliance.
  • Support the development of SOPs and best practices for property operations, leasing, maintenance, and resident engagement.
  • Partner with HR and Learning & Development teams to assess training needs and measure effectiveness.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Work closely with departments including Marketing, Finance, IT, and Legal to ensure cohesive execution of strategic initiatives.
  • Facilitate communication and coordination across teams to drive project success and resolve operational challenges.
• Performance Monitoring & Reporting
  • Assist in the establishment of KPIs and metrics to track progress of special projects and operational initiatives.
  • Provide regular updates and executive-level reporting on project status, risks, and outcomes.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Real Estate, Hospitality, or related field (Master’s preferred).
• 7+ years of experience in student housing, multifamily, or property management, with at least 3 years in a senior or corporate-level role.
• Experience with acquisitions, development, or repositioning of student housing assets.
• Proven success in managing complex projects and cross-functional teams.
• Strong understanding of property operations, leasing strategies, and resident experience.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and organizational skills.
• Proficiency in project management tools and property management software (e.g., Yardi, Entrata).
• Ability to travel as needed to support property transitions and training initiatives.

Requirements

• This position can be performed remotely or from any U.S. location where Gilbane has an office.
• 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 $95,200.00 - $132,200.00 plus benefits and retirement program.

Benefits

• 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.