Regional Service Manager

What You'll Actually Do

This role sits above the property level but stays close to the work. You'll spend real time in the field: walking communities, reviewing make-ready quality, inspecting service team output, and coaching Service Managers across a Southern California portfolio. Monthly feedback to Operations Managers and the VP of Maintenance Services keeps you accountable to what you find.

On the capital side, you'll review scope, track timelines, approve progress payments, and sign off on completed projects. That requires staying in close contact with Community Managers and Service Managers so nothing stalls without a clear reason.

Vendor and contract management is a meaningful part of this job. You'll define scope, set service standards, and negotiate pricing with outside contractors. The goal is to reduce contractor reliance where your in-house teams can handle the work, and to control cost per unit across maintenance parts, supplies, turns, and exterior maintenance.

You'll also build the operational infrastructure: preventative maintenance programs, QAR standards, procurement processes, and a training calendar that hits each service team at least quarterly. Service Managers under your oversight will participate in 30-60-90 day forecasting with their Community Managers, and you'll set the standard for how that happens.

What You Bring

• At least 3 years of multi-family housing experience, with a track record that includes managing maintenance operations across multiple sites
• EPA Universal certification (or Type I and II) for refrigerant recycling, required before or at start
• CPO certification and any other state or local credentials required for California operations
• Hands-on technical ability in plumbing, electrical, and appliances. You need to troubleshoot alongside your teams, not just direct from a distance
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office, and comfort with tools like Bluebeam for blueprint review or Smartsheet for project tracking
• Strong communication skills. You'll be translating field-level problems into actionable information for operations leadership, and vice versa
• Willingness to travel across the portfolio as the work requires

Context Worth Knowing

Griffis Residential operates a multi-community portfolio, and this position covers properties in the Anaheim and San Diego markets. Southern California's labor and contractor costs run high, which makes the cost-per-unit focus on this role genuinely consequential. A strong candidate here brings a track record of reducing vendor spend by building internal capability rather than just re-negotiating contracts. The difference between average and strong in this role often comes down to how well you can develop Service Managers. You're being asked to build competency across multiple teams simultaneously, so your ability to coach, identify skill gaps, and run effective field training matters as much as your own technical knowledge.