Director of Utilities - Atlanta, GA

Director Of Utilities

At Cortland, we operate with a forward-thinking approach that challenges conventional norms and actively seeks insights beyond traditional industry boundaries. As a recognized leader in the multifamily sector, our focus on performance, innovation, and disciplined execution continues to drive strong growth and market leadership. We are committed to building a best-in-class organization by empowering top talent with the resources, autonomy, and support needed to deliver results and advance their careers in a high-performance environment.

Role Overview

As the Director of Utilities, you will lead enterprise-wide utilities managementincluding energy, water, and wasteto support operational excellence, financial performance, and environmental sustainability. This role is responsible for optimizing utility-related expenses, ensuring regulatory compliance, and enhancing the overall performance of our communities. Working cross-functionally with operations, ESG, and resident experience teams, this leader will help create more efficient, informed, and environmentally responsible communities.

• Lead utilities budgeting and forecasting for energy, water, and waste across the portfolio
• Track and report performance against budget, proactively addressing variances to reduce operational expenses and free up capital for innovation
• Oversee resident and common area utility billing and recovery processes, ensuring compliance and driving process improvements
• Evaluate utility performance and develop regular reports to identify trends, inefficiencies, and opportunities for improvement
• Measure, verify, and report utility cost savings, maintaining transparency and supporting continuous optimization
• Deliver timely utilities performance updates and strategic recommendations to senior leadership
• Collaborate closely with the ESG team to advance environmental goals and improve portfolio-wide sustainability outcomes
• Design and implement resident engagement programs that promote energy, water, and waste reduction across communities
• Promote increased utilities knowledge among associates and residents to support operational excellence and behavior change
• Ensure compliance with all applicable jurisdictional reporting requirements
• Maintain the accuracy and completeness of utility data and metering systems
• Proactively communicate anomalies or performance shifts to internal stakeholders and collaborate on resolutions or innovation opportunities

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, finance, accounting, energy management, sustainability, environmental policy, or a related field
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in utilities expense management, budgeting, and financial analysisexperience in the multi-family real estate industry strongly preferred
• Proven people leadership experience, with demonstrated success in coaching, collaboration, and cross-functional influence
• Advanced analytical skills, including expert-level proficiency in Excel
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to tailor messaging for diverse audiences
• Familiarity with accounting principles and ESG reporting frameworks preferred
• Demonstrated ability to build relationships and influence stakeholders at all levels of the organization

About Cortland

Founded in 2005, Cortland is an international, vertically integrated multifamily real estate investment, development, and management firm with a resident-centric approach to living experiences. Recognized as one of the top 10 multifamily owners and operators in the US, Cortland combines in-house design, construction, and operations to deliver value and innovation across its portfolio.

Join us as we reimagine apartment living and drive outsized returns through purpose, performance, and people.

Cortland is an equal opportunity employer, and we're proud to support and celebrate diversity in the workplace. We are committed to equal consideration for all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. If you have a disability and need an accommodation or assistance with the application process and/or using our website, please email Careers@cortland.com

Cortland is a drug-free workplace.

Cortland participates in e-verify to verify the employment status of all persons hired to work in the United States.