Manager, Organizational Design

At Equity Residential, we're dedicated to creating thriving communities, and we invite you to be part of our team. Embracing values like Diversity, Sustainability, and Total Wellbeing, we foster a workplace culture of authenticity and collaboration.

How We Deliver a Winning Performance:

• Question Authority
• Walk the Talk
• Share Knowledge
• Listen, not just Hear
• See the Glass Half Full
• Take Educated Risks
• Enjoy the Ride
• Share the Spotlight
• Do the Right Thing
• Test Your Limits

We Care About Your Total Wellbeing:

• Physical Wellbeing: Medical, dental, and vision care
• Social Wellbeing: 9 paid holidays, annual vacation time, paid sick leave, new parent benefits
• Financial Wellbeing: 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan, Rent Discounts, Competitive Compensation
• Community Wellbeing: Paid Community Service Hours
• Career Wellbeing: Leadership Development
• Learn more about our Total Wellbeing program here.

What You’ll Be Doing:

The Organizational Development (OD) Manager will play a critical role in shaping EQR’s organizational effectiveness by leading initiatives in organizational design, performance management, and career pathing. This role is both strategic and hands-on — responsible for creating scalable frameworks, partnering with leaders across the enterprise, and ensuring that EQR’s organizational structure, talent practices, and career architecture enable current and future business success.

Reporting to the Vice President of HR Transformation, the OD Manager will act as a trusted advisor to senior leaders and HR colleagues, ensuring EQR’s people practices evolve in step with business priorities.

Essential Functions/Responsibilities

• Partner with business leaders and HR Business Partners to assess organizational needs and design structures that align with business strategy and operating models.
• Lead organizational assessments, workforce sizing, role clarity initiatives, and reporting line analysis.
• Provide frameworks and tools for leaders to evaluate and evolve team effectiveness.
• Support change management planning for reorganizations, including communication strategies and manager enablement.
• Manage and continuously evolve EQR’s enterprise-wide performance management process , ensuring it supports a culture of accountability, recognition, and development.
• Partner with HR and business leaders to refine goal setting, feedback, and performance calibration practices.
• Design and deliver training and tools for managers to improve the quality and impact of performance conversations.
• Monitor performance data and trends, providing insights and recommendations to senior leadership.
• Build and manage EQR’s career pathing framework , enabling employees to understand and pursue opportunities for growth across functions and career stages.
• Collaborate with HR colleagues to align career architecture with job design, compensation, and learning programs.
• Create transparent tools and resources that support employee mobility, internal development, and succession planning.
• Partner with leaders to identify critical skills and roles, and ensure pathways exist to build talent pipelines internally.
• Work closely with Compensation, Talent Acquisition, Learning & Development, and HR Business Partners to ensure seamless integration of OD practices into the broader People strategy.
• Lead project teams on OD initiatives, ensuring stakeholder alignment and delivery of measurable outcomes.
• Represents the Company in a professional manner at all times. Consistently maintains a professional, courteous attitude when dealing with residents, coworkers and the general public.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

The Company may revise this job description from time to time as business needs require. It is not intended to be an exhaustive listing of all the functions of the job, nor limit the Company’s right to assign other functions to an employee in this position. This job description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, Industrial/Organizational Psychology, or related field; Master’s preferred.

Experience

• 7+ years of progressive HR/OD experience with direct expertise in org design, performance management, and career frameworks .
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to translate data into actionable insights.
• Demonstrated experience leading organizational assessments, redesign initiatives, and performance management programs.
• Excellent facilitation, consulting, and communication skills; proven ability to influence across levels and functions.
• Experience in multifamily housing, real estate, or related service industries a plus

Salary: $113,446 - $150,000 / year; in addition to base salary, a discretionary annual bonus is provided.

The successful candidate's starting pay will be determined based on job-related skills, experience, and qualifications.

Working Condition:

Physical and Visual Activities: Ability to hear and speak well enough to converse verbally over the phone and in-person (expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken or written word). Ability to interpret, evaluate and communicate detailed written or verbal instructions to others accurately and easily. Able to see well enough to use the computer effectively and read written communications. Ability to lift, push, pull or carry up to 15 pounds for the dissemination of documents, supplies, materials, etc. to various locations throughout the work environment. Ability to sit for prolonged periods. The above describes the physical and visual activities that are commonly associated with the performance of the essential functions of this job. ”Commonly associated” is not intended to mean always or only. Reasonable accommodation will be provided as required by law to enable otherwise qualified employees with a known disability to perform the essential functions of the job.

Work Environment : This position is a hybrid working environment, in-office and remote, in alignment with the company’s corporate attendance policy.

Additional Information: Machines, Tools and Equipment, Software: Computer w/Internet and e-mail capabilities, Telephone, and Photocopier. Software to include Microsoft Office Suite and Google Suite (Gmail, Calendar, Docs/Sheets/Drive, etc.).

Please note that this job description is not intended to provide an exhaustive listing of tasks, activities, or responsibilities required of the employee in this role. Tasks, responsibilities, and duties may change without notice.

When you join Equity Residential, you won’t be treated as simply another employee — you will be considered a partner in our shared success. As such, we are committed to investing in your personal success through a benefits program that supports your Total Wellbeing.

We recognize that everyone has different needs outside of work. That’s why, in addition to a competitive benefits package (medical, dental, vision and paid time off), we offer many unique benefits options to employees, like a comprehensive wellness program, pet insurance, new parent benefits, and paid time off for community service projects. In addition to your next job, you can also find your next home with us! Rent discounts on Equity Residential apartment homes are available to our benefits-eligible employees. The amount of the discount offered is determined based on the market, ranging upwards from 20%.

At Equity Residential, like our residents, our employees come from everywhere. A richly diverse work environment captures top talent, cultivates the best ideas, and creates the widest possible platform for success. By focusing on inclusion, these differences are harnessed to create value — in ideas, business practices, relationships, and employee engagement. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we are committed to maintaining a diverse, inclusive and equitable work environment where our employees can thrive.

All aspects of the employment process are merit-based. Every Equity employee is expected to maintain a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment. Equity Residential does not discriminate against any employee or job applicant because of race, religion, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender, sexual/gender identity/expression, age, pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation or related medical conditions), physical or mental disability, national origin, citizenship status, military (including uniformed service member or protected veteran) status, marital status, genetic characteristic or information, ancestry or any other characteristic protected by law. Equity Residential also prohibits retaliation against individuals who report harassment or discrimination, or participate in investigations into such conduct.