Senior Director of Operations

[[JD_HEADING:Overview

The Miami]]

Design District is a walkable, architecturally significant neighborhood where global fashion houses, chef-driven restaurants, Class A office space, cultural institutions, structured parking, and public art all sit within a few blocks of each other. Running it at a trophy-asset standard, while bringing new buildings online, takes strong operational leadership on the ground, not just at a strategic level.

We are looking for a Senior Director of Operations to take direct ownership of how the district runs day to day, across every property, and to lead the operational side of its next phase of growth. The role combines executive-level accountability with hands-on management of the physical portfolio.

The Role

Reporting to Vice President, Property Management, the Senior Director of Operations is responsible for the physical, technical, and life-safety operations of the full multi-building portfolio: retail, restaurants, Class A office, event and cultural spaces, structured and surface parking, valet, and district common areas, along with the building systems that support them.

This is a multi-property role. The Senior Director will oversee each asset directly rather than through an intermediary layer, setting the operating standard, walking the properties, and holding internal teams and service partners accountable to it.

As the district delivers new Class A office and mixed-use buildings, this person will also manage the transition of each asset from construction into stabilized, tenant-ready operations.

What You'll

Own

Portfolio Operations and Direct Property Oversight

● Day-to-day operational oversight across every property, driving operational excellence through one consistent standard district-wide.

● Accountability for the condition, performance, and presentation of each asset, from building systems to district common area finishes.

● Management of property-level operations teams, chief engineers, and on-site staff to ensure consistent execution across the portfolio.

● Protection of tenant operations and the guest experience, minimizing disruption to sales, brand presentation, and district activity.

● Coordination with tenants on shutdowns, construction, deliveries, and utility interruptions in occupied, high-profile spaces.

Engineering and Technical Systems

Responsible for the performance, reliability, and lifecycle of building systems across the portfolio, including:

● HVAC platforms, rooftop units, VAV systems, controls, and central-plant interfaces

● Cooling towers, pumps, hydronic systems, and building automation systems

● Elevators, escalators, and vertical transportation equipment

● Fire alarm, sprinkler, smoke-control, and life-safety systems

● Electrical distribution, emergency power, and lighting controls

● Roofing, waterproofing, facades, and specialty architectural building-envelope systems

● Parking garages, revenue-control systems, LPR, and valet infrastructure

● Access control, CCTV, and physical security technology

● Plumbing, grease, stormwater, and drainage systems

Also responsible for establishing and enforcing preventive and predictive maintenance standards across every asset.

Capital Projects and Future Development

● Operations lead through design, construction, and turnover of future Class A office and mixed-use developments in the district.

● Direction of large, complex capital programs, structural, envelope, mechanical, electrical, and infrastructure, across both new development and the existing portfolio.

● Pre-occupancy commissioning of life-safety, BAS, vertical transportation, and central-plant systems, and standing up vendor and maintenance programs before each new asset opens.

● Partnership with Development, Construction, Leasing, and Marketing from early planning through stabilization so new assets are operationally sound and ready for a luxury tenant base.

● Building the long-range capital and staffing plan needed to operate an expanding district without disrupting existing tenants and guests.

Financial and Commercial Accountability

● Ownership of annual operating budgets and capital plans across the portfolio, with influence on NOI through cost control, energy performance, and capital sequencing.

● Maintenance of a five-year capital improvement plan.

● Leadership of bid leveling, scope review, and contract negotiation, plus vendor procurement, compliance, and performance management.

● Direction of invoice validation, cost-control programs, and risk-management and insurance loss-prevention initiatives.

Team Leadership

● Leadership and staffing of a multidisciplinary operations organization, engineering, facilities, maintenance, and operational support, across multiple properties.

● Setting measurable service-level standards for internal teams and third-party vendors, and holding both accountable.

● Management of 24/7 emergency response and after-hours escalation across the portfolio.

● Close coordination with property management, development, construction, leasing, legal, finance, security, marketing, and events.

Life Safety, Resilience, and Emergency Response

● Full readiness for hurricanes, flooding, utility failures, fire impairments, and other emergencies across every asset.

● Ownership of life-safety compliance and emergency preparedness district-wide, including seamless logistics for high-profile events, valet, parking, and traffic flow.

What You'll Bring

● 15+ years of progressively responsible property operations, engineering, or facilities management experience, including 7+ years in a senior or executive role overseeing complex, high-profile commercial or mixed-use real estate.

● Direct, multi-property (portfolio or campus) oversight experience. This is not a single-asset role.

● Experience in leading large, complex capital projects in occupied properties, ideally including bringing new Class A office or mixed-use assets, luxury retail, hospitality, mixed-use, resort, trophy office, or high-end residential environments.

● Strong command of HVAC, BAS, vertical transportation, electrical, plumbing, roofing, waterproofing, and fire/life-safety systems.

● Executive presence and the ability to communicate credibly with ownership, senior leadership, and luxury tenants.

● Hurricane and emergency-response experience, particularly in a South Florida context.

Education and Credentials

● Bachelor's degree preferred in engineering, facilities management, construction, business, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience. Advanced degree (MBA or technical master's) a plus.

● RPA, LEED, or comparable credentials preferred.

Pay: From $165,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan

Work Location: In person