Community Relations Director

Looking for an opportunity with a dynamic, fun, and goal-oriented company? We’re growing quickly and we’re looking for some not-so-typical talent to join our team.

Progress Residential® is the largest providers of high-quality, single-family rental homes in the United States. With more than 90,000 homes across some of the fastest-growing markets, our residents appreciate the flexibility, freedom, and convenience of living in a single-family home without the obligations of home ownership.

Progress is committed to making the home rental process easy and enjoyable for the residents we serve by empowering our team members and investing in innovative systems and technology. Our portfolio has continued to grow substantially the past few years and we see increasing demand for professionally managed single-family rental homes and anticipate continued growth.

Employment with Progress Residential is conditional on a satisfactory background and drug screen.

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JOB SUMMARY

The Community Relations Director serves as a key leader within the Market Services team and plays a critical role in shaping and executing the company’s strategic priorities across community engagement, public-private partnerships, and cross-functional operational initiatives. This highly visible position is responsible for leading enterprise-wide initiatives that strengthen relationships with housing authorities, government and municipal agencies, HOAs, and nonprofit partners while enhancing our presence and impact within local communities.

This role reports to the Divisional Vice President and maintains a matrix relationship with the Vice President of Government Affairs. The Director will serve as a strategic advisor and cross-functional liaison, ensuring alignment between corporate objectives and local market needs across housing, compliance, customer service, and community development efforts. This role blends strategic vision with operational execution, directly impacting resident satisfaction, regulatory compliance, and community reputation.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Lead cross-departmental strategic initiatives in collaboration among Market Services, Affordable Housing, Leasing/Onboarding, Legal, Government Affairs, Customer Care, Marketing, Construction and Maintenance Services, Compliance and Communication teams.
• Lead workforce housing and community development initiatives in partnership with local agencies, schools, workforce boards, first responders, and nonprofit organizations.
• Develop and lead at team of Community Engagement Managers across multiple markets.
• Serve as a key strategic advisor to senior leadership on housing-related trends, opportunities, and risks affecting portfolio performance.
• Cultivate and maintain high-level relationships with housing authorities, municipal leaders, law enforcement, HOAs, and third-party agencies to advance business objectives.
• Identify opportunities for local sponsorships, civic engagement, and brand presence to strengthen community ties.
• Partner with internal and external stakeholders to ensure compliance with affordable housing and HOA regulations, including Housing Choice and annual certifications.
• Represent the organization at industry events, policy discussions, housing summits, and public forums.
• Oversee case management escalations and ensure timely, empathetic resolution of complex resident concerns.
• Drive efficiency in application workflows, leasing approvals, and onboarding processes in collaboration with internal teams and HOA boards.
• Design and implement strategies to improve customer experience, retention, and operational compliance.
• Track and report on engagement metrics, community impact stories, and success indicators to provide actionable insights and inform strategic planning.
• Display a strong understanding of Progress Residential lease application, leasing processes, lease agreement and company policies and procedures, while accurately providing answers and explanations to applicants/new residents in a user-friendly manner.
• Maintain confidentiality and adhere to regulations such as the Fair Housing Act.
• Carry out other duties as assigned that are in the best interests of the customers and the company.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree in Public Administration, Urban Planning, Business, or related field preferred
• Valid Driver’s License and ability to travel up to 60% as needed
• Real Estate License (must be obtained within 90 days of hire, if not currently held)
• 7 years of previous property management experience, affordable housing, government relations, or strategic project leadership
• 5 years of supervisory experience across multiple markets
• Proven ability to lead high-impact initiatives across multiple teams and stakeholder groups
• Strong understanding of affordable housing programs, HOA governance, and public-private partnerships
• Exceptional communication and relationship management skills
• High degree of professionalism, discretion, and cultural competency
• Strong analytical, project management, and problem-solving abilities
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite; experience with Yardi Voyager and Salesforce a plus

What you can expect from us:

Progress Residential® offers all the financial and non-financial incentives you would expect from an innovative real estate investment and management firm:

• In addition to outstanding training, we host quarterly summits and town hall meetings to encourage growth, knowledge sharing and a good time. After all, it’s about progress, not perfection.

• We offer competitive compensation, including a performance-based bonus.

• Our generous benefits package includes comprehensive healthcare coverage for you and your family, parental leave, paid time off, 401k match, 10 paid holidays and much more.

Closing Statement:
This summary is not an all-inclusive description of job duties. Other job duties and responsibilities may also be assigned by the incumbent’s supervisor at any time based upon Company need.

Progress Residential® is a proud Equal Opportunity employer, m/f/d/v.

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