Director, Community Marketing & Communications

Job description

City Irvine State California Job Location Irvine Regional Office (Derian) Position Type Regular The Director, Community Marketing and Communications provides strategic leadership for community marketing, customer engagement, and communications initiatives across the Essex portfolio. This role is responsible for developing and executing integrated marketing strategies that support property performance, portfolio objectives, resident engagement, and broader business goals. You will lead a team of marketing professionals while partnering closely with Operations, Revenue Management, Development, Redevelopment, Communications, and other business leaders to deliver innovative, data-driven marketing programs. This position plays a critical role in shaping portfolio-wide marketing strategies, driving customer acquisition and retention, strengthening property positioning, and enhancing the resident experience. The ideal candidate is a collaborative and results-oriented marketing leader with deep expertise in multifamily housing, community marketing, communications, and customer engagement. Success in this role requires a strategic mindset, strong business acumen, and the ability to translate market insights into actionable plans that create measurable business impact. WHAT YOU WILL DO: Strategic Leadership & Portfolio Marketing Develop and execute long-term marketing strategies that align with organizational priorities and portfolio objectives. Lead community and local marketing initiatives across the Essex portfolio to drive awareness, traffic, leasing performance, and retention. Direct marketing strategy for acquisitions, dispositions, lease-ups, redevelopment projects, and other business-critical initiatives. Establish marketing KPIs, performance benchmarks, and reporting frameworks to measure effectiveness and drive continuous improvement. Analyze market trends, customer behavior, competitive activity, and performance metrics to identify opportunities and inform strategic decisions. Represent the marketing function in cross-functional leadership discussions and provide recommendations that influence portfolio and business strategy. Community Marketing & Partnerships Develop community partnerships and local marketing programs that strengthen brand awareness and generate qualified leasing opportunities. Partner with Operations and Sales teams to identify property-specific marketing opportunities and deliver targeted solutions. Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with vendors, strategic partners, and community organizations. Leverage local market insights and partnerships to enhance property positioning and support portfolio objectives. Serve as a trusted strategic partner to Operations, Revenue Management, Development, Redevelopment, Communications, and other business leaders to support portfolio objectives. Customer Engagement & Communications Oversee email marketing strategy and execution to support prospect conversion, resident engagement, and customer retention. Provide strategic direction for reputation management, resident and prospect surveys, business listings, and customer experience initiatives. Partner with Communications teams to support internal and resident-facing communications. Ensure all customer-facing communications are clear, consistent, and aligned with Essex brand standards. Develop compelling messaging and content that strengthens customer engagement and supports business objectives. Team Leadership & Organizational Development Lead, mentor, and develop Community Marketing & Communications team members, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and high performance. Establish team priorities, performance expectations, and scalable processes that drive efficiency and consistency. Provide coaching, development opportunities, and ongoing feedback to support career growth and organizational success. Partner with senior leaders to align marketing strategies with broader organizational goals. Drive change management and continuous improvement initiatives within the marketing function. Recruit, select, develop, and retain top talent, while making recommendations regarding promotion, advancement, corrective action, and termination decisions as appropriate. Ensure effective utilization of team resources while maintaining alignment with changing business priorities and organizational needs. Drive change management initiatives and foster adoption of new programs, technologies, and processes across the organization. Partner with senior leaders to align marketing initiatives with broader business goals and organizational priorities. Process, Technology & Innovation Establish standards, processes, and best practices that create consistency and scalability across the portfolio. Oversee marketing technology platforms and systems to optimize performance and support business needs. Evaluate emerging technologies and identify opportunities to improve marketing effectiveness, customer engagement, and operational efficiency. Lead the responsible adoption of AI and other innovative solutions to enhance content development, analytics, and marketing execution. Budget & Vendor Management Develop, manage, and optimize marketing budgets across programs, initiatives, and portfolio investments. Ensure expenditures align with financial objectives and deliver measurable return on investment. Negotiate vendor agreements and strategic partnerships to maximize value and business outcomes. Oversee vendor performance, contracts, deliverables, and ongoing relationship management. Evaluate resource allocation and investment priorities to ensure marketing expenditures support departmental goals and organizational objectives. Market Intelligence & Business Insights Maintain a strong understanding of West Coast multifamily housing markets and evolving customer expectations. Monitor competitive activity, industry trends, and market conditions to guide marketing strategy. Develop recommendations that strengthen property differentiation and competitive positioning. Leverage data, research, and performance insights to identify opportunities for innovation, growth, and enhanced customer engagement. WHAT YOU WILL NEED: Bachelor’s degree (B.A./B.S.) in Marketing, Communications, Business Administration, Real Estate, or a related field. 10+ years of progressive marketing experience with demonstrated success developing and leading community marketing programs within the multifamily housing or property management industry. 8+ years of leadership experience managing marketing teams and cross-functional initiatives. Proven ability to develop and execute strategic marketing programs across a complex portfolio or enterprise organization. Strong experience in community marketing, local marketing, customer engagement, communications, and relationship management. Experience developing and overseeing email marketing, content strategies, and communication programs. Demonstrated success building strategic partnerships and negotiating with vendors and external partners. Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate complex data, market research, and performance metrics into actionable strategies. Experience managing budgets, evaluating ROI, and optimizing marketing investments. Proven project management skills with experience leading multiple initiatives simultaneously. Experience establishing scalable processes, SOPs, and operational best practices. Demonstrated ability to lead organizational change and support the adoption of new technologies and processes. Experience evaluating and leveraging emerging marketing technologies, including AI-powered solutions. Experience with marketing and content management platforms; Yardi, RentCafé, Site Manager, Funnel, and HubSpot experience preferred. Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office applications. Exceptional written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills. WHAT THE JOB REQUIRES: Hybrid work model: 4 days in-office (Monday-Thursday) at Essex’s corporate office in Irvine, CA. Hybrid schedule subject to change at Essex's sole discretion. Ability to lead multiple initiatives and competing priorities in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. Strong collaboration with regional and corporate business partners across multiple functions. Periodic travel throughout Essex markets to support property initiatives, business meetings, vendor partnerships, and strategic projects. Frequent use of standard office equipment and prolonged periods of sitting or standing. WHAT YOU WILL BRING TO THE TABLE: Strategic leadership capabilities with the ability to connect marketing activities to business outcomes. Strong business acumen and understanding of multifamily housing market dynamics. Exceptional relationship-building skills with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels of the organization. A data-driven and customer-centric mindset that balances creativity with measurable performance. Excellent communication and presentation skills with the ability to effectively convey recommendations and insights to senior leadership. Strong problem-solving and decision-making capabilities in complex business environments. A collaborative leadership style that inspires trust, accountability, and high performance. A passion for innovation, continuous improvement, and delivering exceptional customer experiences. #LI-Hybrid #LI-AA1 All full-time regular associates are offered competitive salaries, experience career growth, and are eligible for benefit packages that include medical, dental, vision, paid parental leave, 401k employer match, excellence rewards, wellness programs, and much more. With our 12 paid holidays and 15 PTO days, work/life balance is a priority! Additionally, most positions are eligible for a housing discount of 20%. Essex provides great communities in which to live, work and invest. We are a purpose-driven company, and we pride ourselves on promoting an internal culture of growth and opportunity by engaging, enabling, and empowering our teams. Working at Essex is not a destination. It is a journey where you can confidently build your career. New hires generally start between $142,000.00 - $177,000.00 per year. The final salary offer will be determined after reviewing relevant factors, including but not limited to skill sets; relevant experience; internal equity; and other business and organizational needs. This role is also eligible to participate in Essex’s discretionary Annual Bonus program that is commensurate with the level of the position.