Principal, Strategic Operations & Growth

Who we are

At Apartment List, we’re transforming how people rent—making it smarter, easier, and a lot less frustrating. Our platform has already matched over 1.4 million renters with their next home, while helping properties fill units with the right residents. Backed by strong growth and a big vision, we’re building the future of renting—and inviting bold thinkers to help us shape it!

About the role

At this stage, the growth and operations doesn't fail for lack of good ideas — it fails when good ideas don't connect, and when the ideas that matter most never get picked up because no single function owns them. A partnership deal doesn't make it into the brand team's channel plan in time. A SEO opportunity gets overlooked across our multi-brand marketplaces because no one's connecting the portfolio strategies. An attribution opportunity that could reshape revenue generation isn’t connected to the channels that drive it. And when the COO is heads-down on one priority, other important threads across the org stall for lack of a clear owner.

This role is built to close these gaps. You'll own the operating backbone that keeps a wide, evolving set of functions under the COO running in rhythm, and you'll be the person the COO relies on to take ambiguous, high-stakes, or 0-to-1 problems to, trusting you to drive them forward with real autonomy, including when the COO isn't in the room. Because there's no CMO sitting above our marketing functions, you'll also be the connective layer bringing shared direction to a growth leader, a brand leader, a technical SEO leader, and - by extension - the leader of our lister marketing business in our B2B organization, none of whom report to you. This is a senior, high-trust seat for an experienced operator who can build repeatable systems, earn cohesion across independent functional leaders through credibility rather than authority, and make sound judgment calls on strategic initiatives with minimal oversight.

Here's what you'll do as part of the team

• Partner directly with the COO on the highest-leverage strategic initiatives — owning full execution on priorities where the COO sets direction and needs a trusted operator to run point
• Identify and drive 0-to-1 initiatives across the business — spotting ideas that don't have a natural home, pressure-testing them quickly, building MVPs, and standing up the processes that let them scale once proven
• Lead cross-functional initiatives end to end — partnering across brand, growth, research, AEO/SEO, partnerships and new ventures to ensure there's clarity and alignment on what's needed to drive success
• Own the operating rhythm across the COO's full remit — setting the cadence of goal-setting, team objectives, and accountability check-ins, defining owners, deadlines, and definitions of "done," and holding the function to it without reminders from above
• Drive a cohesive strategy across the marketing functional leaders in the org — brand, growth, technical SEO — bringing alignment and direction, earned through credibility and process rather than a formal reporting line
• Lead the forecasting and MBR cycle for the COO's functions — partnering with Finance and the Chief of Staff to align the calendar, collect and pressure-test inputs, and build the narrative leadership presents upward
• Serve as a trusted information conduit — surfacing what the COO needs to know and pushing decisions and context out to the broader team

Here are the skills and experience you'll need to be successful

Must-haves

• 6-8+ years in a growth leadership, strategy & operations, or business-operations role, with experience owning cross-functional and 0-to-1 initiatives with minimal oversight
• Background in management consulting, investment banking, or a general management rotational program, with a transition into an operating role
• Demonstrated ability to operate with delegated authority — making sound calls on someone else's behalf and exercising judgment on what to escalate versus resolve independently
• Direct experience in at least one of: brand, growth/performance marketing, technical SEO, or business development/partnerships — enough depth to set direction and partner credibly with functional specialists across disciplines
• Demonstrated ability to bring cohesion across functions, driving accountability without formal authority
• Experience building and pressure-testing forecasts, tracking KPIs, and preparing materials for MBRs or similar business reviews with minimal guidance
• Experience in executive leadership positions, with strong communication, comfort with ambiguity and a bias to action working highly cross-functionally

Nice-to-haves

• Experience working across a broad functional portfolio spanning brand, performance marketing, SEO, partnerships, or new ventures, rather than a single specialist track
• Experience in a two-sided or consumer marketplace, or a company with distinct B2C and B2B go-to-markets
• Prior experience in a chief-of-staff, deputy, or similar role supporting a senior executive

Here's the Pay Range

At Apartment List, we carefully consider a variety of factors to determine compensation for each position, including the role, level, and work. The US base salary range for this position is:

• Zone 1: $183,000 - $222,000 TTC (including $161,000 - $195,000 base salary) + equity
• Zone 2: $170,000 - $205,000 TTC (including $149,000 - $181,000 base salary) + equity
• Zone 3: $156,000 - $189,000 TTC (including $137,000 - $166,000 base salary) + equity

This reflects the compensation target for new hire salaries for the position across all US locations. Please note, the compensation details provided do not include benefits and perks that we offer.

We also rely on market indicators along with considering your work location, job related skills, experience and relevant education and training, to determine compensation that is fair and competitive for you. Apartment List will consider paying compensation near the higher of the range in exceptional circumstances, where candidates have the experience, credentials or expertise that would warrant such consideration. It is always our goal to hire exceptional talent and we would be happy to share more about compensation during the hiring process.

Here's what's in it for you (full-time US based employees only; does not apply to contract roles):

• Competitive Compensation: Including annual salary, pre-IPO stock options, and other financial compensation (if applicable)
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage: 100% of premiums covered for you AND all of your dependents
• Unlimited Flexible Time Off: Unlimited FTO in addition to 12 company holidays per year, quarterly “recharge” days, and a week-long holiday break
• Home Office Reimbursement: To cover home office furniture and supplies, monthly home internet, and monthly cell phone (if applicable)
• Health & Wellness Reimbursement: To cover monthly gym membership or other qualifying expenses
• Parental Support: Generous parental and family leave, fertility benefits, and employer-sponsored stipends towards family forming services
• 401k Plan: To support you in your individual retirement goals
• Homeownership & Mortgage Savings : Access exclusive mortgage rates up to 1% below retail lenders and free 1:1 expert guidance.
• Team Events: Frequent team-building events, fun team off-sites, and bi-annual company meetups
• Commitment to DEI: To prioritize Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion within our workplace and to stay true to our values and mission
• Mentorship and Training: To get you onboard quickly, learn new professional skills, and invest in your career development
• Impact and Visibility: To expose you to and provide the opportunity to work on highly strategic initiatives that will transform the business
• Encouragement and Empowerment: To explore and adopt new technologies and drive meaningful decisions and outcomes
• At Apartment List we believe that everyone deserves a home they love AND a career they love. We strive to build a diverse team that is a reflection of the people we serve; this is made possible through our commitment to fostering a culture of diversity, inclusion, equity, and connectedness.

As a proud equal opportunity employer, we celebrate the collection of individual differences, life experiences, ideas, perspectives, knowledge, and talent. We hire candidates of any race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital or family status, disability, Veteran status, and any other status. #LIRemote