Chief Operating Officer

Location: Western Wisconsin
Reports To: Chief Executive Officer

About the Opportunity

Pathway Talent Partners is exclusively supporting a confidential search for a Chief Operating Officer on behalf of a highly successful, vertically integrated real estate investment, development, and property management organization headquartered in Western Wisconsin.

Our client oversees every phase of the real estate lifecycle, including acquisitions, development, construction oversight, asset management, and ongoing property operations. The organization has built an impressive portfolio of multifamily and commercial assets across multiple markets and continues to execute an aggressive growth strategy supported by significant assets under management and a robust development pipeline.

This is a unique opportunity for a proven executive leader to partner directly with ownership and play a pivotal role in shaping the future of a growing real estate platform.

Position Summary

The Chief Operating Officer will serve as a key member of the executive leadership team, responsible for driving operational excellence, organizational alignment, and scalable growth across the business. The COO will oversee the day-to-day operations of the organization while ensuring strong collaboration across development, construction, asset management, property management, finance, and administrative functions.

The ideal candidate will be an experienced operator who combines strategic vision with hands-on execution, has a strong understanding of real estate investment and operations, and possesses a track record of building high-performing teams and systems that support growth.

Key Responsibilities

Executive Leadership

• Partner closely with the CEO and executive team to execute the organization's long-term strategic vision.


• Evaluate growth initiatives, acquisitions, development opportunities, and market expansion strategies.


• Participate in annual business planning, budgeting, and organizational goal setting.


• Drive accountability and alignment across all major business functions.


• Foster a culture focused on collaboration, performance, innovation, and continuous improvement.

Operational Leadership

• Lead day-to-day operations across the enterprise.


• Develop scalable systems, processes, and reporting structures to support continued growth.


• Establish key performance metrics and operational standards across business units.


• Improve communication and execution across departments.


• Drive initiatives that enhance efficiency, profitability, and organizational effectiveness.

Development & Construction Oversight

• Provide executive oversight of development projects from acquisition through stabilization.


• Monitor project budgets, schedules, and overall performance.


• Collaborate with development, construction, finance, and operations teams to ensure successful project execution.


• Identify operational risks and implement mitigation strategies.


• Support due diligence and investment analysis efforts for new opportunities.

Asset Management & Portfolio Performance

• Oversee portfolio operations and asset performance.


• Monitor occupancy, rental rates, operating expenses, and NOI performance.


• Identify opportunities to maximize asset value and investment returns.


• Evaluate business performance and drive strategic operational improvements.


• Ensure execution remains aligned with overall investment objectives.

Property Management Leadership

• Provide strategic direction for property management operations.


• Support leasing performance, resident retention, maintenance, and customer experience initiatives.


• Promote operational consistency and excellence across all properties.


• Develop and implement best practices that support growth and scalability.


• Drive resident satisfaction and portfolio performance metrics.

Financial & Business Management

• Partner with finance leadership on budgeting, forecasting, and strategic planning.


• Monitor business unit performance and key operational metrics.


• Support capital allocation and investment decision-making processes.


• Utilize data and reporting to identify trends, opportunities, and areas for improvement.


• Champion financial discipline and operational accountability throughout the organization.

Team Leadership & Organizational Development

• Lead, coach, and develop department leaders and high-performing teams.


• Build organizational capacity to support future growth objectives.


• Support talent acquisition, succession planning, and leadership development initiatives.


• Foster accountability, professional development, and employee engagement.


• Help cultivate a culture aligned with the organization's values and vision.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Real Estate, Finance, Construction Management, or a related field.


• MBA or advanced degree preferred.


• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience, including executive operational responsibilities.


• Significant experience within real estate development, multifamily housing, property management, real estate investment, construction, or related industries.


• Proven success leading organizations through periods of growth and transformation.


• Strong understanding of development, operations, asset management, and financial performance metrics.


• Demonstrated ability to build teams, improve processes, and drive measurable results.


• Exceptional leadership, communication, and relationship management skills.

Preferred Experience

• Multifamily real estate development and investment environments.


• Vertically integrated real estate platforms.


• Asset management and property management leadership.


• Organizations with significant assets under management.


• Multi-market or multi-state operations.


• Founder-led, entrepreneurial, or growth-oriented businesses.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

This role offers the chance to join a well-established and growing real estate investment and development organization with a strong reputation, a substantial portfolio, and an ambitious growth strategy. The COO will work directly alongside ownership and executive leadership while helping shape the future of the business through operational excellence, scalable growth, and long-term value creation.