Director of Maintenance

Director of Maintenance Elmington Living At Elmington Living, we don't just manage properties — we build communities people are proud to call home. As the team behind 70+ affordable and market-rate assets across the country, we've earned our reputation through relentless care, sharp execution, and an eye for detail that never quits, guided by People First, Always. Execution with Integrity. Excellence by Design. Position Summary  The Director of Maintenance, based in Nashville, TN provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for the maintenance function across Elmington's full multifamily portfolio, spanning affordable housing and conventional / market-rate communities throughout the Southeast. This role focuses on asset preservation, operational excellence, regulatory and physical-condition compliance, maintenance training, and capital project planning across both asset types. The Director of Maintenance serves as the organization's maintenance subject matter expert, partnering closely with Regional Vice Presidents, Regional and Property Managers, executive leadership, and the Development and Construction teams to protect the portfolio's physical assets while driving consistency, efficiency, and resident satisfaction — regardless of funding source or asset class. WHY YOU'LL LOVE WORKING HERE

• Competitive compensation that reflects the market and the impact of the role
• Bonus opportunities tied to achievable KPIs
• Medical, dental, and vision benefits starting the 1st of the month following your hire date — no long waiting period
• Company-provided life insurance, short-term disability, and long-term disability coverage
• 401(k) eligibility after 90 days, with company match
• Vacation, sick, and personal time accrual to help you recharge
• 10 paid holidays each year
• Cell phone reimbursement to support you while you're out in the field

Key Responsibilities Portfolio Maintenance Leadership

• Provide maintenance leadership and support across the full portfolio of affordable and conventional communities
• Establish and maintain company-wide maintenance standards, policies, and best practices, with track-specific guidance where affordable and conventional needs diverge
• Conduct routine site visits and property assessments across both portfolio types
• Identify operational risks and develop corrective action plans
• Monitor maintenance KPIs, including work order completion rates, preventive maintenance compliance, and apartment home turn performance, with weighting appropriate to each asset type (e.g., turn speed and make-ready cost carry particular weight on the conventional side; inspection readiness carries particular weight on the affordable side)

Compliance Confidence

• Lead portfolio preparation for NSPIRE inspections across HUD-assisted and tax-credit affordable communities
• Lead preparation for lender- and insurer-driven physical condition assessments (PCAs) and loss-control inspections across the conventional portfolio
• Perform mock inspections and compliance audits appropriate to each community's regulatory or ownership requirements
• Develop corrective action plans and oversee implementation portfolio-wide
• Train site teams on NSPIRE standards, PCA/lender inspection expectations, life safety requirements, and inspection protocols relevant to their communities
• Track recurring deficiencies across the portfolio and establish preventative solutions

Team Leadership & Support

• Design and implement maintenance training programs for both affordable and conventional site teams
• Develop onboarding and skill-development curricula for Maintenance Supervisors and Technicians, including amenity and building-systems training relevant to conventional communities
• Conduct in-person and virtual training sessions
• Identify succession planning opportunities within maintenance teams portfolio-wide
• Promote safety awareness and OSHA compliance across the portfolio

Capital Project Planning & Scoping

• Assist in identifying capital improvement needs across both affordable and conventional communities
• Develop scopes of work for major repair, replacement, and renovation projects, evaluating affordable projects against life-cycle and compliance needs and conventional projects against rent-premium and repositioning ROI
• Conduct site assessments for roof replacements, HVAC upgrades, apartment home renovations, exterior improvements, plumbing and electrical upgrades, and accessibility improvements
• Collaborate with vendors, consultants, and contractors to obtain proposals across both portfolio types
• Support budget development and capital forecasting for the full portfolio

Budget & Vendor Management

• Assist with annual maintenance and capital budget planning across affordable and conventional communities
• Review maintenance expenditures and identify cost-saving opportunities
• Develop strategic vendor relationships, including vendor pools suited to compliance-driven affordable scopes and value-add conventional renovation programs
• Evaluate contractor performance and pricing
• Support procurement and purchasing initiatives

Risk Management & Asset Preservation

• Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations across all communities
• Monitor life-safety systems and emergency preparedness plans portfolio-wide
• Evaluate property conditions and prioritize long-term asset preservation strategies for both affordable and conventional assets
• Support insurance inspections and lender-required property assessments across the full portfolio

Qualifications & Requirements

• 7+ years of multifamily maintenance experience
• 3+ years in a regional or corporate maintenance leadership role
• Strong understanding of both affordable housing operations (including tax credit housing requirements) and conventional/market-rate operations, including renovation and value-add program execution
• Extensive knowledge of NSPIRE standards, property condition assessment (PCA) and lender/insurance inspection processes, preventive maintenance programs, capital planning processes, and building systems and infrastructure
• Experience managing multiple properties across a large geographic region, ideally spanning both affordable and conventional asset types
• Experience with LIHTC, HUD, Section 8, RAD, PBRA, and other affordable housing programs preferred
• CAMT (Certified Apartment Maintenance Technician), EPA Universal Certification, CPO Certification, HVAC Certification, or OSHA 10/30 Certification preferred
• Fair Housing certification required within 7 days of employment

Core Competencies

• Strong strategic and operational leadership across a large, geographically dispersed maintenance organization spanning multiple asset types
• Deep technical expertise across building systems, trades, and capital planning processes, including both compliance-driven and ROI-driven scopes
• Ability to influence and align cross-functional teams, including RVPs, Property Managers, Development, and Construction
• Strong training and coaching orientation, with a track record of developing maintenance talent
• Sound judgment in risk management and asset preservation decisions, balanced against leasing and NOI considerations on the conventional side

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

• Travel more than 50% throughout the Southeast portfolio, including regular site visits, inspections, training sessions, and project reviews across both affordable and conventional communities
• Occasional participation in after-hours emergency response and support
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation required
• Primarily field-based, with time split between properties, vendor/contractor sites, and the Nashville office
• Ability to communicate effectively in person, by phone, and electronically
• Occasionally move about the office to access files, office equipment, and meeting locations
• Ability to lift, carry, push, or pull up to 15-25 pounds occasionally
• Ability to bend, reach, stoop, and kneel as needed
• Frequently stand, walk, climb stairs, and move throughout properties during inspections
• May be exposed to varying weather conditions while performing outdoor duties

JOIN US At Elmington Living, we're redefining what property management can look like — and we're looking for leaders ready to help us raise the bar. With 70+ communities across the U.S. and a fast-growing presence rooted in Nashville, our work is driven by heart, hustle, and an unwavering commitment to doing things the right way. If you're ready to bring your experience, energy, and leadership to a company built on People First, Always. Execution with Integrity. Excellence by Design. — we'd love to meet you.

Elmington is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.

This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship