Assistant Property Manager

Fairlawn; Savoy (IL); On-site; USD 52,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

401(k) Match

Paid Vacation

Sick Leave

Holiday Pay

Company events

Wellness Days

Job summary

Fairlawn is seeking a proactive Assistant Property Manager to join our Chicago/Champaign, IL team. You will support resident services, renewals, and accounts receivable while assisting the Property Manager with daily operations and leasing goals.

The role requires attention to detail, a customer-focused mindset, and the ability to handle a wide range of property management activities. Join a growing real estate firm with a strong Midwest presence.

Qualifications

• At least 3 years of customer service experience.
• At least 1 year in property management or real estate preferred.
• High School Diploma or GED.
• Proficiency with technology (MS Office, AppFolio, Outlook).
• Demonstrate superior attention to detail and strong communication skills.
• Be kind, own it, be flexible, always improve.

Responsibilities

• Answer calls and schedule appointments; greet visitors and show residences to prospective residents.
• Assist the Property Manager in setting market rents and renewal goals.
• Supervise turnover, obtain bids, and coordinate small renovations.
• Handle resident accounting tasks including rent collection, postings, and deposits.
• Apply sales/marketing strategies to increase traffic and occupancy.
• Ensure compliance with Fair Housing Laws and on-site policies.

Skills

Customer service

Property management

Real estate

Microsoft Office

AppFolio

Outlook

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Education

High School Diploma

Tools

AppFolio

Microsoft Office

Outlook

Job description

We are seeking a highly motivated Assistant Property Manager to join our awesome team here at Fairlawn! The ideal candidate will embody Fairlawn’s core values: Be Kind, Own It, Be Flexible, and Always Improve.

The Assistant Property Manager role is specifically accountable for resident services (including the renewals and move out processes) and accounts receivable, while assisting the Property Manager in other areas as needed. The ideal candidate will have superior attention to detail, be ambitious and self‑motivated to directly handle a wide range of property management activities.

Fairlawn is a vertically integrated firm specializing in real estate investment, management, and development. Based in Chicago and Champaign, Illinois, we have a more than 10‑year track record in value‑add projects, development, student housing, and build‑to‑rent communities. With a portfolio of approximately 5,750 units and $900 million in assets under management, Fairlawn has established a strong presence across Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky. We are actively expanding into additional Midwest markets.

What will you do?

• Exemplify the core values of Be Kind, Be Flexible, Own It and Always Improve
• Handle daily operations including answering calls, scheduling appointments, greeting visitors, showing residences to prospective residents and any necessary paperwork, filing, etc.
• Assist the Property Manager in setting market rents, conducting market research, defining leasing goals and running the renewal process
• Supervise turnover including obtaining bids from subcontractors, supervising turnover process, assist in hiring staff for turnover, and managing small renovation projects
• Handle resident accounting tasks such as rent collection, posting rent and preparing deposits
• Apply established sales and marketing strategies to increase property traffic, maintain closing ratios and meet or exceed budgeted occupancy
• Process maintenance requests and follow up with residents to confirm completion
• Have a thorough knowledge of lease terms, specifications and policies
• Learn, audit, and ensure team’s compliance with all Fair Housing Laws including local, state and federal housing regulations
• Assist in the oversight of any on‑site staff and the relevant departments (leasing and maintenance)
• Pivot, roll up your sleeves and jump in where needed!

Why should you work here?

• Competitive Pay. We are ready to invest in you!
• Additional monthly or quarterly incentive pay for meeting goals and supporting property performance
• Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance to access care for positive health outcomes and your overall wellbeing
• Employee sponsored benefits including Short Term Disability, Life Insurance, Critical Illness, Accident, Flexible Spending, and H.S.A. Accounts to avoid costly medical expenses due to gaps and ensure that all your medical needs are met
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with Match to invest in your future wealth and retirement
• Paid Vacation, Sick Leave, and Holiday Pay to help you reset and come back rejuvenated and refreshed
• Company events to promote team cohesion
• Wellness Days to focus on being your best self. We want you to have time to disconnect and recharge in a way that works for you
• The opportunity to work for a growing organization where you are valued and can have a direct impact
• Quarterly off‑site meetings with your manager to celebrate wins, issue solve and ensure you are set up for success. Plus, the process is rewarding, and the results are great for your career

Requirements

Who you are – We’d love to hear from you if you:

• Have at least 3 years of customer service experience
• Have at least 1 year in property management or real estate, preferred
• Have a High School Diploma or GED (Undergraduate Degree preferred)
• Are proficient with relevant technology (e.g. Microsoft Office, AppFolio, Outlook) and can easily adapt to changing technology
• Demonstrate superior attention to detail, high energy and positive attitude
• Have excellent interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills
• Have an ability to give and receive real‑time feedback with a positive mindset
• Embody our core values: Be Kind, Own It, Be Flexible, and Always Improve

Some additional things you will need

• Valid driver’s license and dependable transportation. Limited in‑town usage of personal vehicle for errands and property visits required with any out‑of‑county personal mileage reimbursed at the Federal rate
• Availability to work longer hours and weekends during prime leasing season and turnover (specific dates vary from year to year)
• Serve as one of the emergency contacts for the community
• Ability to perform the physical functions of the position, not limited to ability to walk properties, complete physical inspections, deliver resident communications and show properties

We are seeking candidates who demonstrate a strong alignment with the requirements listed above. While meeting all qualifications is preferred, we understand that exceptional candidates may bring comparable experience and skills to the table including prior experience at Fairlawn. We value diversity of thought and experience, and we are committed to considering all applicants, internal and external, and to identifying and selecting the most qualified applicant for the role.

Depending on the role requirements, offers of employment may be contingent upon one or more of the following: employment history verification, criminal background check, motor vehicle record check, education verification, or credit check.

Our company uses the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) to run and help grow our business – the tools from EOS contribute to finding the right people and putting them in the right roles, effectively solving issues as they arise, and building a culture of accountability. In short, it gets everyone on the same page and working toward the same goals. If you have an ownership mindset and take pride in all the details, joining our team may be perfect for you!

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, age, physical or mental disability, veteran or military status, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by law.