About Us
Catalyst Housing Group is a mission-driven asset management firm that operates at the intersection of impact and innovation. We currently oversee 4,000 multifamily units in California, all of which were acquired via unique ownership and financing strategies we helped incubate. Our focus is on relentlessly pursuing scalable housing solutions that can help solve the affordability crisis in America.
Our flagship program is Essential Housing, which creates housing opportunity for low and moderate-income households - often described as the “missing middle” - who earn too much to qualify for traditional affordable housing and yet not enough for market-rate housing within the high-priced communities they serve. We have also launched a new program dedicated to housing and wealth-building opportunities for low-income households, and are excited to scale this in 2026 and beyond.
We believe operational excellence is necessary to achieve the impact we seek, and we work closely with our property management and construction partners to achieve this through a tech-enabled platform we’ve developed. Our cross-disciplinary team consists of experts in real estate, technology, and housing, united in our commitment to bring smart, efficient solutions to today’s toughest housing challenges.
As we grow, we are looking to hire talented people who share passionately in our mission. As a B-Corp, we believe it is possible to do well while doing good, and we are excited to hire like-minded individuals to help us build a world-class, impact-focused real estate firm.
About the Role
We’re seeking an experienced multifamily construction professional to provide asset management oversight and financial controls for capital expenditure projects across our housing portfolio. This role manages the business side of construction - budgets, compliance, financial tracking, and project oversight - while coordinating with our external construction management firm who handles day-to-day project execution.
This is a critical position ensuring projects are delivered on-time, on-budget, and in full compliance with prevailing wage and regulatory requirements. You’ll be managing approximately $10 million in annual capital projects across 14 properties, with direct impact on preserving affordable housing assets for thousands of California families.
Primary Responsibilities
Project Planning & Financial Oversight
Determine capital project priorities, resources, budgets, and timelines across portfolio
Conduct quarterly property inspections to assess capital needs and develop project pipelines
Review and approve scopes of work and project specifications from construction manager
Track project costs against budgets and available CapEx funding
Prepare and submit monthly draw requests to trustee
Create job costing entries and maintain financial tracking in property management system (Entrata)
Provide monthly and quarterly financial reporting on all active projects
Analyze variances and recommend corrective actions
Provide budget and project oversight for retail tenant improvements
Help manage insurance claims process
Drive capital project underwriting for both new acquisitions as well as existing project recapitalization efforts
Construction Manager Oversight
Review and approve construction manager’s contractor recommendations
Evaluate bid packages for completeness, competitiveness, and scope alignment
Assess change order requests for validity and fair pricing
Monitor construction manager performance and project execution quality
Conduct periodic site visits to verify progress and quality standards
Serve as escalation point for project issues or disputes
Review and approve invoices from construction manager and contractors before payment processing
Compliance & Risk Management
Create and manage CA DIR project numbers for prevailing wage compliance
Ensure all contractors are properly licensed, insured, and background-checked
Verify contractor information is properly loaded into property management system
Complete owner-required permitting and regulatory forms
Review and approve lien waivers prior to progress and final payments
Ensure prevailing wage requirements are followed on applicable projects
Maintain compliance documentation and audit readiness
Vendor & Stakeholder Management
Maintain database of qualified contractors with performance tracking
Coordinate with property ownership on approvals and reporting
Communicate with property management teams on project impacts
Manage relationships with trustees and lenders
Coordinate with architects, engineers, and consultants as needed
R&M and Preventative Maintenance Oversight
Administer preventative maintenance programs to drive maximum useful life of all critical systems
Oversee metrics and accountability around reactive work order and emergency responses
Oversee metrics and accountability around make ready processes and performance
Communicate with property management teams on R&M and PM system and process upgrades
Sustainability & Long-Term Asset Stewardship
Identify and prioritize energy efficiency improvements across portfolio (LED lighting, HVAC optimization, building envelope upgrades)
Pursue utility rebate programs and grant opportunities to offset capital project costs
Evaluate lifecycle costs vs. first costs when making repair vs. replace decisions
Ensure capital projects meet or exceed California Title 24 energy standards
Select durable, low-maintenance materials and systems that maximize useful life and reduce future capital needs
Coordinate with utility companies and third-party energy auditors on efficiency programs
Track and document energy and water consumption improvements post-project
Support green building certification efforts where applicable
Required Qualifications
Essential Experience:
7-10+ years in multifamily construction management, development, or owner’s representative roles
Deep experience with multifamily renovation and capital improvement projects
Proven track record managing construction budgets of $5M+ annually
Experience reading and interpreting construction documents, specs, and drawings
Strong knowledge of construction cost estimating and budget development
Demonstrated ability to evaluate contractor bids and pricing for reasonableness
Technical Knowledge:
Job costing and construction accounting principles
Multifamily building systems (mechanical, plumbing, electrical, envelope, life safety)
Understanding of state and federal construction regulations and requirements
Construction contracts, change order evaluation, and payment applications
Experience with property management software for financial tracking (Entrata highly preferred)
Lien law and payment/performance bond requirements
California prevailing wage requirements and CA DIR compliance (or willingness to learn quickly)
Required Skills:
Strong financial acumen and budget management
Excellent contract review and negotiation abilities
Analytical thinking - ability to spot issues in budgets, bids, and invoices
Clear written and verbal communication
Proficiency with property management software (Entrata experience a plus)
Comfortable with Excel for budget tracking and analysis
Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
Preferred Qualifications
Experience with affordable housing projects and compliance requirements
Familiarity with HUD, tax credit, or bond-financed project requirements
Background working with third-party construction management firms
Understanding of architectural and engineering coordination
What Makes This Role Different
Unlike a traditional construction manager who is on-site managing contractors daily, this role focuses on:
Financial controls - ensuring budgets are sound and spending is appropriate
Oversight - managing our external CM firm rather than managing contractors directly
Strategic planning - determining what projects to pursue and when in coordination with other asset managers
Compliance - ensuring all regulatory and funding requirements are met
Business judgment - evaluating recommendations and making sound approval decisions
Gaining advantage through tech - partner with business teams to implement process and technology improvements that drive better financial performance
This role is ideal for someone with deep construction knowledge who wants to focus on the business and financial aspects rather than day-to-day field supervision.
Work Environment
Mix of remote work (financial tracking, reviews, approvals) and field work (site visits, inspections)
Monthly site visits across California portfolio
Regular interaction with senior leadership, ownership entities, and external partners
Some flexibility in schedule, but must be responsive during business hours for approvals