Community Manager
Lawrence, KS
$85,000–$95,000 / year
OVERVIEW
A well-established property management company is looking for an experienced Community Manager to lead a 372-unit off-campus student housing community serving University of Kansas students. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who knows how to run a student property — from pre-leasing surges tied to the academic calendar to keeping residents, parents, and the ownership group all happy at once.
You'll own the day-to-day performance of the property: budgets, staffing, leasing numbers, and resident experience, with real support to do it right.
WHAT YOU'LL DO
- Manage all aspects of daily operations for a 372-unit student housing community
- Own the leasing calendar and drive pre-leasing to hit renewal and occupancy targets ahead of each academic year
- Supervise and develop the on-site team, including an Assistant Community Manager and maintenance staff
- Prepare and manage the property's annual budget, tracking income and expenses against plan
- Review and approve invoices, purchase orders, and vendor contracts
- Handle resident relations, including lease renewals, service requests, and conflict resolution
- Conduct regular property inspections and coordinate unit turns and preventive maintenance
- Ensure compliance with fair housing laws and company policy across all leasing and resident interactions
- Report property performance, occupancy, and financial results to ownership on a regular cadence
WHY YOU MATTER
Student housing runs on a different clock than a typical apartment community — leasing happens in a tight window, turnover is heavier, and the stakes for hitting occupancy are real. You're the person keeping the property running smoothly through all of it, for residents and ownership both.
WHAT IT TAKES
- 3-5+ years of property management experience, with direct experience in student or off-campus housing
- Proven ability to manage pre-leasing cycles and hit occupancy goals tied to an academic calendar
- Strong budgeting and financial reporting skills
- Experience supervising and developing an on-site team
- Comfortable with property management software (Yardi, Entrata, or similar)
- Strong communication skills — you'll work closely with residents, parents, vendors, and ownership
- Solid working knowledge of fair housing laws and leasing compliance
- A hands-on, get-it-done approach to problem solving
THE PERKS!
- $85,000–$95,000/year base, plus a $1,250 quarterly performance bonus
- BCBS medical, dental, and vision coverage
- 401(k)
- 10 paid holidays plus 1 floating holiday, plus PTO
- $2,500 in education assistance