Chief Operating Officer

About the Company

brightSTAR Communities is a premier operator of Manufactured Home Communities (“MHC”) and Recreational Vehicle Resorts (“RV”) across the United States. Our mission is to create vibrant, affordable communities for working families and retirees, as well as attractive vacation destinations for RV travelers.

At brightSTAR, we partner with exceptional leaders to support our rapid growth and meet the needs of our residents by consistently executing our disciplined approach to community building. By combining institutional discipline with our entrepreneurial spirit, we deliver meaningful benefits to our residents and significant growth for our investors. We are guided by a few Core Beliefs:

• CHARACTER MATTERS
• business should be a FORCE FOR GOOD
• we all profit most when we work for a PURPOSE GREATER THAN OURSELVES
• every decision should maximize LONG-TERM VALUE FOR ALL STAKEHOLDERS

We strive to live our Values every day:

• AUTHENTICITY - We are real, honest, and transparent.
• EXCELLENCE – We solve problems and are obsessed with greatness.
• PARTNERSHIP – We bring out the best in each other.

The Position

We're seeking an exceptional operations leader to join our executive team as Chief Operating Officer. This is a rare opportunity to build the operational foundation for what will become the industry's next great brand.

We need a proven operations executive who can transform our bold vision into reality - creating a scalable, data-driven operating system that delivers extraordinary guest experiences while driving superior financial performance. The ideal candidate brings both strategic vision and execution excellence, with a track record of building process-driven organizations that perform at the highest level.

For the right leader, this represents more than a career move, it's a chance to leave a lasting legacy by redefining what's possible in community living and outdoor hospitality.

Position Mandate & Key Objectives

The COO will have comprehensive responsibility for leading all day-to-day operations across a rapidly growing portfolio of manufactured home communities, RV resorts & marinas. As a key member of the senior management team reporting directly to the CEO, the COO will be the primary executor of the company's strategic plan. The central mandate is to design, implement, and lead a scalable, institutional-quality operating platform that ensures brand consistency, drives financial outperformance, and relentlessly champions our people-first culture.

Key Objectives (First 12-24 Months):

• Develop the "brightSTAR Operating System": Conduct a comprehensive audit of all current operational policies, procedures, and systems. Design and document a scalable playbook covering all facets of property operations, including financial controls, property maintenance, capital project management, resident relations, community engagement, and sales/leasing.
• Build the Outdoor Operating Platform: Identify and implement the specific systems, KPIs, dashboards, and operating guidelines required to manage a best-in-class, scalable entry into the RV resort and marina asset classes.
• Drive Portfolio Performance and Profitability: Assume full P&L responsibility for the entire operating portfolio. Implement rigorous budgeting, forecasting, and reporting processes. Develop and execute strategies to optimize revenue (e.g., occupancy, rent growth, ancillary income) and control operating expenses to exceed NOI and cash flow targets.
• Build a High-Performance Field Organization: Recruit, train, and mentor an A-level team of operators & sales staff, instilling a culture of ownership, accountability, and service excellence that aligns with brightSTAR's core values.

Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership & Execution

• Partner directly with the CEO to formulate and execute the company's annual and long-term strategic objectives.
• Translate the corporate strategy into actionable, measurable operational goals for the entire portfolio, implementing systems for tracking progress and ensuring accountability.
• Serve as a key advisor to the CEO on all operational matters, providing data-driven insights and recommendations to inform high-level decision-making.
• Lead the annual operating and capital budget process for the entire portfolio, collaborating with accounting, operations, asset management and marketing leaders to establish challenging but achievable financial targets.

Operational Excellence & Process Improvement

• Establish and enforce standardized operational policies, procedures, and best practices across the portfolio.
• Oversee all core property management functions, including leasing, rent collection, resident services, expense management, preventative maintenance, and capital improvement projects.
• Champion the use of technology and data analytics to drive operational efficiency, enhance decision-making, monitor performance, and improve the resident/guest experience.
• Support the acquisitions process by planning integrations, and leading post-close operational transitions.

Sales, Marketing & Customer Experience Leadership

• Oversee the performance of sales and marketing functions, ensuring strategies are aligned with operational capabilities and financial goals.
• Guide the development and implementation of marketing initiatives designed to drive occupancy, attract new residents and guests, and enhance brand reputation.

Leadership, Culture & Team Development

• Lead, mentor, and inspire a geographically dispersed team of regional and community managers, fostering a positive, high-performance work environment.
• Act as the primary champion of brightSTAR's mission and values throughout the organization, ensuring that every operational decision and action reinforces our commitment to building exceptional communities.
• Develop and implement comprehensive training and professional development programs to enhance the skills and capabilities of our on-site and regional teams.
• Establish a culture of continuous improvement, empowering team members to identify and implement better ways of serving our residents and achieving our goals.

Required Experience & Qualifications

• A minimum of 15 years of progressive leadership experience in real estate operations, with a demonstrated track record of increasing responsibility and success.
• At least 5 years of experience in a senior multi-site operational leadership role (e.g., COO, EVP/SVP/VP of Operations) with full P&L responsibility for a significant portfolio (50 properties preferred).
• Direct and substantial experience in the manufactured housing, RV resort, or hospitality sectors is strongly preferred. Experience in an institutional RV or marina environment is highly valued.
• Demonstrable success in a high-growth, entrepreneurial setting. Proven experience building scalable systems and successfully integrating multiple acquired assets is essential.
• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Real Estate, or a related field is required. An MBA or other advanced degree is a significant plus.

Who You Are

• Strategic Thinker & Strategic Executor: Possesses the intellect to engage in high-level strategic planning and the operational discipline to translate that strategy into on-the-ground reality. Can develop the vision and build the detailed roadmap to achieve it.
• Deep Financial Acumen: Exhibits a sophisticated understanding of property-level financial statements, budgeting, forecasting, and the key operational levers that drive NOI.
• Masterful Process & Systems Builder: A natural talent for creating order, efficiency, and consistency. Has a proven ability to design, document, and implement scalable systems and repeatable processes that form the foundation of operational excellence.
• Inspirational, Servant-Leader: A leader who attracts, develops, and retains top talent by empowering their team. Builds strong, trusting relationships and leads by example with high integrity and a hands-on approach.

What We Offer

brightSTAR Communities offers a competitive salary based upon experience, bonus and a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance options
• HSA with a monthly Company contribution for those who elect a high-deductible health care plan
• 401(k) with a generous Company match

Equal Opportunity Statement

brightSTAR Communities is committed to diversity and inclusivity in the workplace. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals and are dedicated to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.