District Operations Director - Single Family Homes

Korn Ferry has partnered with our client on their search for District Operations Director - Single Family Homes

Operations & Property Management

• Oversee day-to-day operations across Orlando, Jacksonville and Treasure Coast, ensuring consistent execution of company procedures and a high-quality resident experience.
• Provide strategic oversight of property management functions, including service delivery, maintenance, renewals, and collections, with a focus on KPI achievement and cost control.
• Navigate complex municipal environments by building strong relationships with housing authorities and local agencies to ensure compliance and operational fluidity.
• Lead vendor management and service team performance, ensuring alignment with company standards, cost efficiency, and resident satisfaction.
• Conduct regular market visits and inspections to assess operational health, enforce standards, and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Implement frameworks for emergency response, business continuity, and risk mitigation across all markets.

Resident Experience

• Drive a resident-first culture by ensuring seamless onboarding, proactive communication, and responsive issue resolution across all touchpoints.
• Leverage resident feedback and satisfaction data to evolve service offerings, improve retention, and build long-term loyalty.
• Partner with leasing teams to monitor inventory, pricing, and occupancy trends, ensuring alignment with market demand and performance goals.
• Reinforce tenant policies and procedures while maintaining a positive, service-oriented relationship with residents.

Financial Management

• Lead the development and execution of annual operating budgets across assigned markets, with a focus on service cost management and NOI optimization.
• Oversee accounts receivable, rent collection, and resolution of arrears, ensuring minimal variance and strong financial performance.
• Review financial reports regularly to identify trends, risks, and opportunities, implementing corrective actions as needed.
• Contribute to long-term planning and investment prioritization in alignment with First Key Homes’ growth strategy.

Team & Talent Oversight

• Manage a regional team of 50–60 employees, ensuring clear accountability, performance consistency, and adherence to company policies.
• Identify workload efficiencies and talent gaps, optimizing team structure and resource allocation across markets.
• Lead workforce planning efforts in partnership with HR and third-party recruiters to support hiring, onboarding, and retention.

Strategic Partnerships & Compliance

• Maintain an active Florida real estate license and ensure compliance with state-specific laws and regulations.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders and external partners to align operations with broader strategic goals and regulatory requirements.
• Represent First Key Homes in municipal and community engagements.

Professional Experience/Qualifications

The ideal candidate will bring the following experience:

• 10–15+ years of senior-level operational leadership within residential real estate, property management, or single-family rental (SFR) environments, overseeing large-scale, multi-market portfolios.
• An active real estate license in Florida is required or must be obtained within120 days of hire.
• Experience navigating real estate laws and compliance, and a deep understanding of municipal engagement, housing authorities, and public-sector coordination.
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams across leasing, service, field operations, and resident experience, driving performance, accountability, and cultural alignment across diverse geographies.
• Strong financial oversight and budgeting expertise, with a track record of managingservice-related costs, optimizing NOI, and delivering consistent results across KPIs such as collections, renewals, and retention.
• Demonstrated success leading through organizational change, including assessing team dynamics, identifying talent gaps, and buildingbench strength to support long-term growth and operational resilience.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build trust, manage conflict, and influencecross-functional teams, third-party vendors, and internal stakeholders.
• Inspirational leadership style that fosters collaboration, encourages ownership, and leads with empathy, structure, and clarity.
• Comfortable operating in high-visibility, high-accountability environments, with a focus on resident satisfaction, team development, and community engagement.
• Strong understanding of strategic planning and operational execution, with the ability to translate corporate goals into market-level performance and team alignment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and property management platforms, including YARDI, with a commitment to data accuracy, reporting integrity, and system compliance.

Year One Critical SuccessFactors

The successful candidate should have successfully achieved the following within the first 12 to 18 months in this role:

• Drive Operational Excellence Across Districts: Establish consistent service delivery standards and operational processes across assigned markets, resulting in measurable improvements in resident satisfaction, service timeliness, and cost efficiency. Ensure alignment with First Key Homes’ national performance benchmarks and compliance protocols.
• Elevate Team Engagement and Culture: Assess and optimize team structure, talent, and engagement across leasing, service, and field operations. Implement leadership development and retention strategies to reduce turnover, foster accountability, and build a high performance, resident-first culture.
• Strengthen Governance and Cross-Functional Alignment: Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders across corporate functions (e.g., Legal, Compliance, Finance, HR) and ensure clear communication channels and accountability frameworks. Align district-level execution with enterprise goals, including NOI targets, renewal rates, and service SLAs.
• Enhance Resident Experience and Community Impact: Launch initiatives that improve resident engagement, retention, and satisfaction scores. Partner with local municipalities and housing authorities to strengthen community relationships and ensure compliance with local housing regulations.
• Optimize Financial Performance and Budget Discipline: Deliver against district-level financial targets by managing service costs, capital planning, and operational budgets. Identify opportunities for efficiency and margin improvement while maintaining service quality and compliance.

Preferred Education Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Finance, Planning or related field.
• Proficiency in Yardi (or similar systems).