Project Manager & Executive Partner

Operations Manager \& Executive Partner

Location: Van Nuys, CA (In-Office / Hybrid)

Compensation: $80,000 Base Salary + Bonus Opportunity + Full Benefits

About the Role

Our client, a busy mortgage branch located in Van Nuys, CA, is seeking a sharp, decisive, and proactive Operations Manager \& Executive Partner to own office logistics, streamline daily workflows, and drive project execution.

This is not a passive administrative position. The ideal candidate will serve as the central nervous system of the office and a strategic operational partner to the Branch Manager. In this role, they will be expected to exercise independent judgment, triage competing priorities, delegate tasks to administrative and support personnel, and hold leadership and team members accountable to key deadlines.

If you are a professional who excels at anticipating friction points before they occur, designing efficient systems, managing up, and keeping projects moving across the finish line without supervision, this position offers significant ownership and impact.

Key Responsibilities

1. Operational Leadership \& Critical Thinking

• Triage \& Decision-Making: Evaluate incoming operational requests, urgent client matters, and team bottlenecks; independently make decisions on what requires immediate escalation vs. direct resolution.

• Process Improvement: Analyze daily branch workflows, identify inefficiencies, and design/implement practical systems and SOPs to keep the branch operating smoothly.

• Problem Solving: Act as the primary operational problem-solver—diagnosing breakdowns in communication, tech, or scheduling and executing solutions autonomously.

2. Task Delegation \& Team Coordination

• Workflow Delegation: Assign, monitor, and follow up on administrative, compliance, and onboarding tasks across internal team members, junior support staff, and corporate resources.

• Accountability \& Tracking: Establish clear follow-up tracking systems for open projects, ensure action items from leadership meetings are completed on time, and hold staff accountable for deliverables.

3. Executive Partnership \& “Managing Up”

• Calendar \& Priority Shielding: Protect the Branch Manager’s high-value time by proactively auditing calendars, resolving scheduling clashes, and organizing daily priority huddles.

• Executive Accountability: Track the Branch Manager’s internal commitments, pre-draft necessary approvals/communications, and ensure operational decisions do not stall.

4. Onboarding \& Office Management

• Onboarding Execution: Own end-to-end operational onboarding for new hires—coordinating IT setups, training schedules, equipment, and welcome logistics to ensure seamless Day 1 integration.

• Office \& Logistics Management: Oversee day-to-day office environment, vendor relationships, supply procurement, and cross-office logistics for smooth daily operations.

What the Company is Looking For

• Proactive Judgment: Demonstrated ability to think critically, anticipate needs, and make sound operational decisions independently.

• Delegation \& Accountability: Experience assigning responsibilities, establishing clear expectations, and managing team tasks through to completion.

• High Emotional Intelligence \& Communication: Clear, assertive, and professional verbal/written communication skills; comfortable interacting with leadership, producing agents, and external partners.

• Organizational Mastery: Exceptional project management and triage skills; able to keep track of multi-threaded projects without dropping details.

• Software Competency: Highly adaptable with modern business platforms (Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, CRM tools, and scheduling software).

• Background: 3+ years in Office Management, Operations, Executive Assistance, Project Coordination, Real Estate, Financial/Professional Services, or fast-paced team environments. (Mortgage industry experience is helpful, but not required).

Compensation \& Benefits

• Competitive Compensation: $80,000 annual base salary

• Incentives: Performance bonus structure

• Benefits: Full health, dental, and retirement benefits package

• Work Environment: Professional in-office / hybrid setting with genuine authority to shape branch operations.