Why Commercial Property Management Executive Search Firms Are Critical in Today’s CRE Labor Market

As the U.S. commercial real estate market continues to evolve post-pandemic, finding qualified leadership for property management roles has become increasingly difficult. A shrinking labor pool, record-setting property values, and rising operational complexity have made it harder—and more urgent—than ever to hire skilled executives who can manage commercial assets efficiently.

A specialized commercial property management executive search firm, like Executive Property Staffing, LLC, helps real estate organizations overcome this challenge by delivering focused recruitment solutions tailored to the industry’s most complex roles. From senior property managers to directors of operations and executive VPs, commercial portfolios demand professionals who can lead teams, manage budgets, navigate regulatory risk, and preserve asset value in an unpredictable market.

Here’s how a commercial property management executive search firm helps businesses secure top talent—based on real industry data.

CRE Hiring Pressures Are Growing

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that employment of property, real estate, and community association managers will grow 5% from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations. However, growth is only part of the challenge—replacements for retiring talent are a more immediate concern.

According to ULI’s Emerging Trends in Real Estate 2024, a significant portion of real estate leadership is nearing retirement age. Nearly 40% of the commercial real estate workforce is over age 55, and the industry continues to struggle with attracting younger professionals into long-term property operations careers.

A 2023 NAIOP survey of commercial property executives found that 60% of respondents reported difficulty filling property management roles, especially in Class A office and industrial sectors. Contributing factors include:

• Limited training pipelines

• Competition from other industries

• Lack of awareness among younger professionals

• Increased operational complexity due to ESG reporting, tenant tech, and risk management

Why Hiring the Right Leader Matters More Than Ever

Commercial property managers today do far more than oversee leases and maintenance. Their role now includes:

• Implementing ESG initiatives

• Managing vendor contracts and negotiations

• Overseeing tenant experience platforms and smart building systems

• Ensuring regulatory compliance (ADA, energy codes, safety)

• Delivering reports to REITs, institutional owners, or asset managers

According to Deloitte’s 2024 Commercial Real Estate Outlook, 64% of CRE firms are investing in tenant engagement and digital building tools, increasing the expectations placed on property teams. Executive property managers now need to be operational leaders, compliance experts, and tech-savvy strategists.

Mis-hires cost time and money. According to SHRM, replacing a salaried employee can cost 6 to 9 months' worth of salary. For a $120,000/year manager, that’s a $60,000–$90,000 mistake. In high-cost metros like New York, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C., those stakes are even higher.

Why In-House Recruiting Falls Short

Internal HR departments—even at large CRE firms—often lack the time, networks, or industry specialization to fill leadership roles in property management quickly and accurately.

In a 2022 BOMA survey, 37% of firms reported delays of 60 days or longer when trying to fill property management leadership roles. These delays create downstream problems: delayed projects, tenant frustration, and overworked teams.

Additionally, internal efforts rarely reach passive candidates. According to LinkedIn’s Global Talent Trends, 70% of the workforce is passive—meaning they’re not job hunting, but would consider the right offer. These are often the candidates with the deepest experience and best track record.

How Executive Property Staffing, LLC Supports Your Search

As a specialized commercial property management executive search firm, we bring real estate expertise, regional insight, and a hands-on recruiting process to every search. Here’s what makes us different:

1. Market-Focused Recruiting

We conduct searches in the nation’s most active CRE markets, including:

• New York City – With over 450 million sq. ft. of office inventory, leadership is key

• Los Angeles – Industrial and mixed-use assets driving hiring in SoCal

• Dallas–Fort Worth – 60 million sq. ft. under construction as of Q1 2024 (JLL)

• Phoenix, Atlanta, and Miami – Strong demand for experienced property leaders in fast-growth cities

We recruit locally when possible to reduce relocation risk and ensure candidates understand city-specific codes, vendors, and union agreements.

2. Access to Passive Talent

We’ve built strong relationships with property professionals across the country. Many are not actively applying to jobs, but they trust us to introduce serious, well-aligned leadership opportunities. Through targeted outreach and industry networking, we consistently engage top-tier candidates who would otherwise remain off the radar.

We’ve placed:

• Senior Property Managers for Class A portfolios

• Regional Managers overseeing multi-state assets

• Directors of Property Operations for REITs

• Vice Presidents for private equity-owned CRE platforms

Our focus is quality—not quantity—of talent.

3. Role-Specific Screening

We tailor every search to the role, not just the resume. We vet candidates for:

• Asset class experience (industrial, medical office, retail, mixed-use)

• OPEX and CapEx budget oversight

• Yardi, MRI, and Building Engines experience

• Tenant retention, NOI improvement, and investor reporting track records

This ensures alignment not just with job descriptions—but with your company culture, ownership structure, and performance expectations.

Current Trends We’re Addressing in Real-Time

Here are real hiring scenarios where we’re actively helping clients in 2024:

• Replacing retiring leadership in Northeast markets (Boston, Philadelphia)

• Filling bilingual roles in South Florida to better serve diverse tenants

• Staffing tenant experience experts in San Francisco and Seattle

• Finding compliance-savvy managers to meet New York’s LL97 carbon reduction rules

These aren’t hypotheticals—they’re current market demands based on changing regulations, demographics, and property technologies.

Conclusion: Talent Gaps Cost You—The Right Search Partner Solves That

If you manage commercial property portfolios, you already know: the strength of your team determines the strength of your asset performance. Every month a leadership role remains vacant puts you at risk of falling behind on tenant service, capex planning, or investor reporting.

A specialized commercial property management executive search firm gives you an advantage—faster time-to-hire, better cultural fit, and access to hidden talent. At Executive Property Staffing, LLC, we’re not just filling jobs. We’re helping you protect and grow your property’s value.

Let’s talk. If you’re planning for leadership succession or struggling to fill a key property role, contact us today for a confidential conversation.