Operational Ownership Lead

About The Company

Built on a foundation of integrity, respect, and commitment, JPI stands out as one of the most active real estate developers and builders in the nation.  For more than 35 years, JPI has designed and developed communities with best-in-class homes and amenities. JPI is committed to data-driven management and continuous improvement. Its team of experts utilizes data – including unparalleled market research, proven business processes, and proprietary models – to ensure that every decision is strategic, focused, and produces exceptional multifamily communities with the best risk-adjusted returns. More than just great communities, JPI is focused on leaving a lasting impact on the communities where we build and is continually committed to “Building What Matters.”  JPI operates as a subsidiary of Sumitomo Forestry, which is recognized as one of the largest home builders in the United States.

Why work for us?
 

We have a 35-year track record of developing multifamily communities with responsibility, accountability, and integrity.  Our stated purpose is to:

• Transform Building

• Enhance Communities

• Improve Lives

 

JPI has an ambitious and exciting vision for how we will achieve this, which makes for a positive and dynamic work environment, with many opportunities for personal development and growth.  As well as our highly competitive offering of compensation and benefits, we are committed to:

• Transformative careers in a transformative company

• Comprehensive training and development

• Promotion from within at all levels of the organization

• Borderless Careers, based on performance, potential, and personal ambition

Industry Recognition

• NMHC - #1 Fastest Growing Developer; #2 Fastest Growing Building; #8 Largest National Developer; # 11 Largest National Builder

• Real Page – Most active multifamily developer in DFW for the past 8 years

• Dallas Business Journal Best Places to Work – 2023

• Dallas Business Journal – Largest DFW Real Estate Developers - #11

JPI offers associates a comprehensive benefits package with competitive salaries and more, including:

• Competitive Bonus Program

• 4 Weeks PTO for All New Associates (Pro-Rated by Hire Date)

• 11 Holidays and 8 Early Release Days

• Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance

• 401(k) with Company Match (Up to 5% Match)

• Health Savings Account

• Flexible Spending Accounts (Dependent & Medical Reimbursement)

• Paid Parental Leave

• Paid Volunteer Time

• Tuition Assistance

• Phone Reimbursement

• Associate Referral Bonuses

About the Job.
JPI has an exciting opportunity for an Operational Ownership Lead to join our Operational Ownership team located in Dallas, TX.
Operational Ownership exists to preserve the integrity of the project lifecycle as envisioned/defined, ensuring a well-balanced approach to both technical and commercial outcomes that yield successful project delivery. This role is responsible for ensuring projects are set up correctly from the start and remain aligned through design, permitting, capital close, and construction operations.
The Operational Ownership Lead coordinates the technical and operational integrity of projects from predevelopment through construction completion. This role facilitates alignment between consultant teams, internal project stakeholders, and field operations to meet key schedule milestones. This role supports cross-functional resolution of complex project issues in a timely manner to keep the project schedule on track. The Lead plays a key role in applying and continuously improving established frameworks for drawing phases, milestone tracking, and documentation handoff, supporting JPI’s design and development goals while ensuring operational alignment. The position will report to the Director of Operational Ownership.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities

Owner Representation & Project Governance

• Serve as JPI’s owner’s representative from Notice to Proceed (NTP) through construction completion, closeout, and turnover, protecting the technical and commercial intent of the project as underwritten.
• Attend and actively participate in Owner-Architect-Contractor (OAC) meetings and Project Status Reviews (PSRs) as the owner’s voice, holding the general contractor accountable to contract scope, schedule, cost, and quality.
• Review construction meeting minutes prepared by the construction team for accuracy and drive issue-by-issue ownership between Operational Ownership and JPI Construction.
• Proactively manage construction-related risks with a forward-looking approach, identifying schedule and budget risks in advance; escalate issues carrying material budget or schedule impact in accordance with established Operational Ownership escalation thresholds.
• Act as the central point of contact for ownership-related construction administration matters, maintaining clear and consistent communication with internal teams (Construction, Investment Operations) and external partners (property management, consultants, lenders, and capital partners).

Change Management

• Perform timely technical and commercial validation of Potential Change Orders (PCOs) and Prime Contract Change Orders (PCCOs), and support resolution of issues, keeping JPI’s best interest in mind.
• Lead the cross-functional design coordination and issue resolution process during active construction.
• Support fast-track decision-making for resolution of owner-related RFIs, submittals, and field-driven revisions (after all preventative measures have been exhausted).
• Evaluate project-based design changes, budget alignment, and deviations from the construction documents, and help drive timely resolution to not affect project schedules.
• Route change orders requiring investor, lender, or partner consent through the appropriate approval path, and confirm authorized signature authority before execution.
• Meet on a recurring basis with the Manager or Director of Operational Ownership to review open change orders during the initial ramp period on each assignment.

Project Budget, Schedule & Delivery

• Serve as the owner and primary steward of the project budget during construction, tracking commitments, contingency usage, and forecast at completion.
• Own the owner-side milestones within the Integrated Project Schedule, owner-furnished items, long-lead procurement, jurisdictional approvals, inspections, and TCO/turnover sequencing, and actively remove roadblocks to achieving those targets.
• Track and provide support to the construction team with permitting, inspections, Certificates of Occupancy, owner acceptance of units, and other milestones to support timely project delivery.
• Report progress and exceptions through established dashboards and reporting cadences for internal and external teams.

Draws, Capital Compliance & Investor Support

• Review and submit accurate and timely construction funding draw requests to lenders and investors, validating the draw for mathematical accuracy and consistency between forms.
• Verify percent complete at the general contractor, subcontractor, and sub-tier levels, and confirm supporting documentation for stored materials and work in place.
• Plan and manage retainage releases, final draws, and equity installments in accordance with the loan documents and partnership agreements, confirming retainage release against the language of the construction management agreement.
• Support the Operational Ownership team with investor communications, including internal and external investor reporting, quarterly updates, investor meetings, and site tours.

Jurisdictional, Utility & Program Compliance

• Serve as the owner’s point of coordination with cities, AHJs, and utility providers through construction, including satisfaction of conditions of approval.
• Coordinate with cities and jurisdictions regarding development agreements, cost-sharing agreements, reimbursement agreements, and any other required agreements or documents.
• Coordinate and oversee LIHTC inspections, corrections, responses, and compliance requirements.
• Support implementation of policy and procedures for address registration.
• Support final drawing coordination with external jurisdictions.

Project Closeout & Turnover

• Lead owner-side project closeout activities, including final inspections, punch lists, warranty binder review and acceptance, and retainage release.
• Confirm delivery of required closeout deliverables to capital partners in accordance with the loan and joint venture documents.
• Coordinate transition to property management and Asset Management, confirming operational readiness and resolution of open punch and warranty items.

Capital Events & Asset Support.

• Support refinance and disposition analysis, due diligence, and closings.
• Support retail space leasing and tenant build-out coordination when applicable.

AI and Automation

• Uses approved enterprise AI tools (e.g., Claude Cowork, Microsoft Copilot) to draft, summarize, analyze, and accelerate everyday work.
• Applies sound judgment to review AI-generated outputs for accuracy, tone, and appropriateness before using or sharing them.
• Follows company data handling, confidentiality, and acceptable-use policies when working with AI tools and sensitive information.
• Demonstrates curiosity and willingness to adopt new tools; actively participates in AI training, office hours, and adoption campaigns.
• Uses AI assistants to reduce manual effort on routine tasks (email drafting, meeting notes, document summarization, basic research).

Non-Essential Functions & Responsibilities:

• Other duties as assigned.

Education, Work Experience, & Physical Requirements

• Bachelor's or master's degree in architecture, engineering, construction management, or a related field.

• 4 – 6 years of Experience including 2 of the following areas: development, design management and construction, preferably in the multifamily industry.

• Excel, Bluebeam, and Procore.

• Deep knowledge of project phasing, execution risks, and owner-driven design changes.

• Proven ability to manage multiple teams and projects while ensuring quality and consistency.

• Experience developing scalable tools and processes for design validation and documentation workflows.

• Act as a representative and advocate of JPI’s culture and guiding principles

• 5-day (Monday-Friday) Physical Co-location

• Daily Collaboration