Operations Assistant

About the Company

The Gelman Companies (Gelman) is real estate firm based in Washington, D.C., founded in 1925. The company owns and operates a growing portfolio of multifamily communities primarily in the Washington metropolitan area, along with a portfolio of commercial properties.

Gelman is known for its long-term ownership approach and hands-on, tenant-focused management. The team operates in a highly collaborative, fast-paced environment with direct access to senior leadership and a strong emphasis on accountability, responsiveness, and continuous improvement.

About the Role

This role is ideal for someone early in their career who is eager to learn, highly disciplined, and motivated to take ownership of responsibilities in a fast-paced environment. The Portfolio Operations Assistant works directly with senior leadership to ensure the smooth execution of key operational, compliance, and financial processes across multiple residential communities.

This is not an entry-level administrative position — it is a high-responsibility support role with significant exposure to executive-level decision-making and portfolio operations. The role involves managing a high volume of detail-oriented tasks across multiple systems and stakeholders, often requiring rapid prioritization, strong follow-through, and the ability to operate with a high degree of accuracy.

Responsibilities

• Monitor and manage delinquency reporting across the portfolio
• Coordinate with attorneys regarding collections, filings, and legal timelines
• Track and support rent collection initiatives and documentation
• Support the full lease lifecycle, including lease preparation, review for accuracy, and coordination across systems and teams to ensure timely and error-free execution
• Procure and maintain required licenses, permits, and regulatory filings
• Coordinate with vendors and internal teams on scheduling, onboarding documentation, and project follow-through
• Serve as a point of coordination for time-sensitive matters such as violations, legal deadlines, and operational issues, ensuring prompt action and resolution
• Maintain and update internal databases, reporting systems, and operational trackers, ensuring accuracy and alignment across platforms
• Assist with compliance tracking and documentation across multiple regulatory requirements
• Support special projects led by executive and regional leadership
• Effectively prioritize competing responsibilities, with a clear understanding of time-sensitive legal, leasing, and compliance deadlines
• Ensure deadlines are met and follow-ups are executed consistently and without oversight
• Identify inefficiencies and recommend process improvements where appropriate

Qualifications

Previous real estate or property management experience is helpful but not required. We are willing to train the right candidate who demonstrates drive, discipline, and the ability to learn quickly.

Must be willing to maintain responsiveness outside of standard business hours when needed.

Required Skills

• Extremely organized and detail-oriented
• Meticulous and thorough in documentation and follow-up
• Self-motivated and proactive — does not wait to be told what to do
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Comfortable interfacing with attorneys, vendors, and site teams
• High level of discretion and professionalism
• Able to manage multiple priorities simultaneously in a fast-paced environment
• A natural “owner” of their responsibilities
• Highly dependable and consistent
• Comfortable working behind the scenes to ensure operations run smoothly
• Interested in long-term growth within residential real estate operations