Portfolio Director (Affordable housing leadership role in the Twin Cities)

Aeon is a nonprofit developer, owner, and manager of affordable communities in the Twin Cities. For 40 years, we have been at the forefront of creating housing that goes beyond shelter. Our housing serves as a platform for resilience, opportunity, and lasting impact. With a portfolio of almost 5,000 apartment homes, Aeon provides stability for thousands of residents each year.

Our focus is on bold, forward-thinking solutions that address the need for affordable housing. Through innovation, collaboration, and an unyielding commitment to community, we are building stronger, more sustainable futures. Join a mission-driven team that is shaping the future of affordable housing and making a lasting impact. Learn more at www.aeon.org.

Aeon is seeking an experienced Portfolio Director to lead a portfolio of affordable communities across the Twin Cities. This is a senior leadership role responsible for operational excellence, financial performance, team development, and resident outcomes across multiple properties. The Portfolio Director exercises broad independent judgement and decision-making authority over property operations, financial performance, talent management, and strategic initiatives within the assigned portfolio. We are looking for a leader who excels at balancing strong operational performance with a deep commitment to the people and communities we serve, leads with cultural competence, and has a proven ability to build trust and foster meaningful partnerships across diverse communities.

You will lead, coach and mentor Property Managers and site teams, building leadership capability across the portfolio while preparing the next generation of property management leaders. You'll foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and exceptional service while partnering closing with leaders across Asset Management, Compliance, Maintenance, Resident Services, Finance, and Development to solve complex challenges and strengthen property performance.

This role offers the opportunity to shape operational strategy, influence organizational success, and help shape the future of affordable housing across the Twin Cities. As a member of Aeon's collaborative leadership team, you'll mentor emerging leaders, improve operations across a diverse portfolio, and contribute to high-quality housing experiences that support resident stability, connection, and overall community well-being.

Success in this role requires the ability to develop high-performing teams, drive measurable operational and financial results, build trusted relationships across the organization, and continuously improve the resident and employee experience. The successful candidate will quickly establish credibility with Property Managers and cross-functional partners while strengthening portfolio performance, developing future leaders, and advancing Aeon's commitment to operational excellence.

The Portfolio Director will report to Aeon's Senior Director of Property Management.

Key responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Lead, coach, and develop Property Managers and site teams across a portfolio of affordable and supportive housing communities, creating a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous learning, and professional growth.
• Develop strong relationships with site leaders, providing coaching, support, and guidance to help teams achieve operational goals while delivering exceptional resident service.
• Identify leadership potential and support career development opportunities that strengthen Aeon's leadership pipeline.
• Lead the selection and hiring process for assigned positions in partnership with Aeon's Talent Acquisition Manager, making final hiring decisions for the assigned portfolio. Interview, evaluate and select candidates who align with Aeon's mission, values and operational needs, following Aeon's structured hiring process. Mentor and support Property Managers in building strong teams by modeling and reinforcing effective, equitable hiring practices while coaching leaders to make thoughtful, high-quality hiring decisions.
• Model inclusive leadership practices that foster belonging, respect, and trust among employees, residents, service providers, and community partners.

• Provide strategic oversight and operational leadership for an assigned portfolio of affordable and supportive housing communities, ensuring alignment with Aeon's standards, mission, and business objectives. Establish operational priorities, allocate resources, and resolve complex operational issues.
• Direct portfolio performance by establishing expectations, monitoring results, holding Property Managers accountable, and implementing strategies that achieve occupancy, financial, compliance and resident satisfaction goals.
• Analyze portfolio performance data, identify opportunities for improvement, and develop and effectively implement operational strategies that strengthen property operations and resident outcomes.
• Conduct regular property visits to evaluate operational performance, identify opportunities, ensure accountability, and provide coaching that improves results across the portfolio.
• Establish and advance best practices that improve consistency, efficiency, and service delivery across the portfolio.

• Partner with Property Managers and Asset Management to develop, manage, and monitor annual operating budgets, forecasts, and long-term financial plans.
• Analyze financial performance and operational trends to identify opportunities, mitigate risks, and support strong asset performance. Interpret financial and operational data to independently recommend strategies that improve portfolio performance and support organizational objectives.
• Ensure assigned properties operate within established financial guidelines while balancing fiscal responsibility with Aeon's commitment to residents and communities.
• Support strategies that improve net operating income (NOI), preserve housing quality, and maintain long-term sustainability.

• Build authentic, trusted relationships with residents, community partners, and service providers through respect, responsiveness, and a commitment to understanding and partnering with the communities Aeon serves.
• Support property teams in creating welcoming, inclusive communities where residents feel valued and heard.
• Partner with Resident Services and community organizations to address challenges, strengthen connections, and support positive resident experiences.
• Approach decisions, challenges, and relationships with curiosity, respect, and awareness of the diverse experiences, perspectives, and needs of residents, employees, and community partners.
• Exercise sound judgment when resolving complex or highly sensitive resident, operational, legal or community concerns that may significantly impact property operations, resident relationships, or Aeon's reputation.

• Collaborate with leaders across Asset Management, Compliance, Maintenance, Resident Services, Finance, and Development to address complex challenges and advance organizational priorities.
• Partner with Property Operations leadership to shape strategy, improve operational systems, and implement effective solutions across Aeon's portfolio.
• Support organizational initiatives, change management efforts, and continuous improvement strategies that advance Aeon's mission.
• Serve as a representative of Aeon's values and commitment to equitable, high-quality affordable housing.

If you're an experienced property management leader with proven success coaching teams, driving performance, building trusted relationships, and advancing a mission-driven organization, we'd love to hear from you.

We are looking for a leader who demonstrates:

• Minimum of 5 years of demonstrated success leading property management teams in a Regional Manager, Portfolio Manager, Area Manager, or similar senior-level capacity.
• Demonstrated success managing multiple properties and portfolios of 400+ apartment homes.
• Strong understanding of affordable housing operations, including federally assisted housing programs and regulations such as LIHTC, Project-Based Section 8, HOME, or similar programs.

• Proven success leading, coaching, and developing Property Managers and onsite teams, including guiding leaders through performance management, difficult employee relations matters, organizational change, and professional development.
• Demonstrated ability to build trusted relationships with residents, employees, vendors, service providers, and community partners.
• Strong communication, conflict resolution, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to create inclusive team environments where employees feel supported, valued, and empowered to succeed.
• Demonstrated self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and personal accountability, including the ability to reflect on one's impact, seek and apply feedback, acknowledge mistakes, and continuously grow as a leader.
• Models integrity, humility, and accountability by taking ownership of decisions and outcomes while creating a culture where others are empowered and held accountable.

• Demonstrated success managing budgets, financial performance, forecasting, and operational metrics with strong attention to detail and follow-through.
• Strong ability to analyze data, identify trends, solve complex problems, and implement effective solutions.
• Results-oriented approach with the ability to balance operational goals, financial responsibility, resident needs, and organizational priorities.
• Experience improving underperforming properties through strategic planning, operational execution, financial analysis, coaching and accountability.

• Must be a resourceful, problem solving, relationship-building, seeker of excellence, with a commitment to Aeon's mission.
• Must demonstrate cultural competence and the ability to build effective relationships across diverse communities, recognizing and valuing the experiences, perspectives, and needs of residents, employees, vendors, and community partners.
• Experience working with individuals and communities impacted by poverty, mental health challenges, substance use, trauma, or housing instability.
• Commitment to learning and participating in Aeon's diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.
• Valid driver's license, vehicle insurance, and regular access to reliable transportation required.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to remain in stationary position for extended periods while working at a computer and attending meetings.
• Ability to operate standard office equipment, including computers, phones, printers and other office technology.
• Ability to move throughout the office and travel to and throughout assigned properties to conduct meetings, property tours, inspections, and other job-related activities. This includes accessing leasing offices, common areas, occupied and vacant apartment homes, and other areas of the property, including ascending and descending stairs in buildings without elevators and navigating uneven surfaces.
• Ability to reach, bend, stoop, and access files, storage areas, office equipment, and supplies.
• Ability to lift, carry, push, or move materials weighing up to 15 pounds, such as office supplies, meeting materials, or event equipment.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with employees, residents, vendors, community partners, and others in person, by telephone, and through virtual communication platforms.
• Ability to work in a variety of indoor environments with moderate noise levels, including offices, occupied residential communities, meetings, and community events.

The physical requirements described above represent the essential functions of this position and may be performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

Aeon is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees. Applicants may review the EEOC's Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination Is Illegal notice.