COO - Multifamily & Affordable Housing Developer - Chicago

Job Summary Macdonald & Company is pleased to be exclusively retained by a leading Mulitfamily & Affordable Housing Developer based out of Chicago to find and appoint a COO to help scale and structure the platform as they go into their next phase of growth. OpportunityThe Chief Operating Officer is responsible for building and leading an integrated, high-performing operating platform that connects acquisitions, development, construction, asset management, and property management functions. This role ensures the enterprise consistently meets its goals for deal execution, portfolio growth, and operational sustainability across the full real estate lifecycleThe COO serves as the operational leader of the organization, driving cross-functional alignment and resource allocation to eliminate inefficiencies and enforce accountability across the full lifecycle of each asset. Additionally, this role leads the company’s EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) framework, ensuring organizational clarity, execution discipline, and alignment with strategic priorities. An owner’s mindset in managing risk and reward for the company is essentialThe COO is successful when the enterprise grows predictably, projects stabilize cleanly, operating teams are prepared to handle the growth, and business unit objectives are coordinated in service of long-term performanceKey ResponsibilitiesExecutive LeadershipServe as operational counterpart to the CEO (Visionary); translate vision into execution and provide candid feedback on feasibility, capacity, and trade-offsPartner with the CEO’s direct reports as the executive leadership teamBuild the infrastructure required to scale consistently and reliably in to the 10-year vision, handling increasing deal volume without loss of execution qualityRepresent the Pipeline business to the board and other external stakeholders as requested by the CEOPipeline Leadership & ExecutionEnsure the heads of Development, Acquisitions, Construction, Asset Management, and Property Management are clear on expectations and have the tools to succeedDrive the team to achieve the EOS V/TO goals, scaling construction and development operations to meet annual delivery targets of 15-20 projectsOwn the full lifecycle of projects from deal identification through stabilized operationsTranslate CEO-level growth objectives into executable plansEnsure that pipeline decisions reflect full lifecycle economics, not deal-level optimizationEnsure each project is delivered on time, on budget, to quality standard, and achieves timely stabilizationEnsure development supports long-term operational efficiency and asset performanceEnsure assets meet or exceed underwriting projectionsHold functional leaders accountable for KPIs including occupancy, NOI, expense control, and complianceEOS Leadership & Organization AlignmentLead the company’s EOS implementation and ongoing execution through the 6 Key ComponentsFacilitate Level 10 (L10) leadership meetingsDrive accountability through scorecards, Rocks, and measurable outcomesLead quarterly and annual planning processesCross-Functional IntegrationAlign acquisitions, development, operations, and construction teams on underwriting assumptions, scope, and execution plansEnsure structured transition protocols exist from construction completion through stabilizationEliminate silos and drive collaboration across departmentsOperational Excellence & Process StandardizationEnsure SOPs exist where needed and are consistently enforcedEnsure the organization has real-time visibility into budgets, timelines, and performance.Drive continuous improvementLeadership & Team DevelopmentEstablish clear roles, responsibilities, and performance expectationsBuild a culture of accountability, execution, and collaborationAddress and solve organizational challenges quickly and decisivelyKey Performance Indicators (KPIs)Successful delivery of 15–20 projects annually (on time, on budget, and stabilized)Lease-up velocity and stabilization timelinesPortfolio occupancy and NOI performanceEOS execution effectivenessTeam alignment and execution effectivenessEducation & ExperienceBachelor’s degree in Real Estate, Business Administration, Construction Management, or related field required - Master’s degree (MBA or related) preferred10–15+ years of experience in real estate operations, with significant exposure to: Affordable Housing, Development & Construction, Property & Asset ManagementProven track record of scaling operations and managing high project volumeExperience implementing and leading EOS or similar operating systems preferredDeep understanding of the full real estate lifecycleStrong leadership and organizational design experienceExperience implementing systems, processes, and performance management frameworksProven track record of assembling and leading successful teamsWork experience with EOS a plus