Community Manager

Essex-Property-Trust; Santa Cruz (CA); On-site; USD 48,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

Paid parental leave

401k match

Wellness programs

Housing discount

Job summary

Essex Property Trust in Santa Cruz seeks a Community Manager to lead an on-site team, manage the property budget, and ensure quality living environments for residents.

You will oversee daily operations, supervise staff, and pursue revenue opportunities while maintaining compliance with housing laws and safety standards. A strong customer-service focus and budgeting skills are essential.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent; college degree preferred.
• 3+ years of property management or related experience.
• Proven ability to supervise staff of two or more associates.
• Knowledge of budgets and financial statements; ability to work within budgeted guidelines.
• Strong organizational and time management skills; ability to read/write English.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day financial, sales, marketing, maintenance, and administrative operations of a standalone community.
• Manage personnel, including hiring, training, and performance development.
• Monitor expenses and pursue savings within budget; communicate overages in advance.
• Maintain high level of customer service for residents, prospects, vendors, and Essex departments.
• Manage rent collection and delinquency targets; support pricing input for move-ins.
• Lead by example; coach staff and ensure data integrity and reporting accuracy.
• Ensure compliance with policies, Fair Housing, Landlord-Tenant laws, OSHA and related regs.

Skills

Supervise staff

Budgeting

Sales & marketing

Customer service

Communication

Time management

MS Office

Property management software

English proficiency

Education

High school diploma

College degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Property management software

Job description

CitySanta CruzStateCaliforniaJob LocationSFO 012 Chestnut Street AptsPosition TypeRegularJOB SUMMARY:The Community Manager is responsible for all aspects of the community, including providing a quality living environment for residents, maintaining the asset, and managing the property budget. The Community Manager leads an on-site team and reports to the Director of Community Management.WHAT YOU WILL DO:Oversee day-to-day financial, sales, marketing, maintenance, and administrative operations of a standalone community.Manages personnel throughout their employment lifecycle. This includes candidate selection, career planning and development, accountability and performance management, and recognition.Manage expenses closely and within budget, communicate any overages in advance and actively pursuing expense savings.Maintain the highest level of customer service for prospects, residents, vendors, and all Essex departments.Manages financial performance and remains current on market conditions.Pursue new revenue opportunities through other income audits.Proactively share opportunities or concerns related to pricing for new move-ins to help maximize rental income for the property.Oversee and support the collection process, ensuring delinquency is maintained within company targets.Lead by example, monitor tasks performed by staff, delegate work and provide performance coaching.Ensure systems are kept up to date and accurate for data integrity and reporting purposes.Effectively manage relationships with internal and external stakeholders.Ensure team compliance with company policies and procedures, Fair Housing laws, Landlord-Tenant regulations, and OSHA standards.WHAT YOU WILL NEED:High school diploma or equivalent required. College degree preferred.3+ years of property management experience or related management experience.Proven ability to supervise staff of two or more associates.Prior sales, marketing and customer service experience.Knowledge of budgets and financial statements and ability to work within budgeted guidelines.Proven organizational and time management skills.Ability to read and write English and understand spoken English.Ability to utilize a personal smart device for apps related to property operations and communication.Proficient understanding of the Microsoft suite, property management software preferred.WHAT THE JOB REQUIRES:Maintain alignment with Essex policies and procedures while effectively managing relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including Accounting, Legal, and other departments within Essex.Maintain compliance with all applicable laws, e.g., Fair Housing, Landlord Tenant, Local Building Codes, OSHA, and EEOC.Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Ability to create, compose, and edit written materials.Regular, consistent, and timely attendance required.Work is primarily conducted in an office setting. Requires sitting at a desk or workstation for extended periods, with regular need to deliver resident notices. This may involve walking and use of stairs for prolonged periods of time. Involves the use of standard office equipment such as computers, phones, and printers.Availability to work a flexible schedule, including weekends.Travel required for occasional meetings, training, community visits, court appearances.WHAT YOU WILL BRING TO THE TABLE:Provides formal supervision to associates within a single functional or operational area. Recommends staff recruitment, selection, promotion, advancement, corrective action, and termination. Plans and monitors appropriate staffing levels and utilization of labor, including overtime. Prepares and delivers performance appraisals for staff.Mentors and coaches team members to further develop competencies. Leads by example and models behaviors that are consistent with Essex's values.Ability to respond effectively to sensitive issues. Ability to write reports. Ability to make effective and persuasive presentations to employees and clients.Ability to comprehend, analyze, and interpret documents. Ability to solve problems involving several options in situations. Requires intermediate analytical and quantitative skills.Decisions made with thorough understanding of procedures, company policies, and business practices to achieve results and deadlines. Responsible for setting work unit and/or project deadlines.Ability to exercise initiative.Ability to meet all job requirements and assignments.All full-time regular associates are offered competitive salaries, experience career growth, and are eligible for benefit packages that include medical, dental, vision, paid parental leave, 401k employer match, excellence rewards, wellness programs, and much more. With our 12 paid holidays and 15 PTO days, work/life balance is a priority! Additionally, most positions are eligible for a housing discount of 20%.Essex provides great communities in which to live, work and invest. We are a purpose-driven company, and we pride ourselves on promoting an internal culture of growth and opportunity by engaging, enabling, and empowering our teams. Working at Essex is not a destination. It is a journey where you can confidently build your career.New hires generally start between $34.62 - $40.87 per hour. The final salary offer will be determined after reviewing relevant factors, including but not limited to skill sets; relevant experience; internal equity; and other business and organizational needs.This role is also eligible to participate in Essex’s discretionary Annual Bonus program that is commensurate with the level of the position.Commission eligible position with earning potential averaging $100 per new move-in lease, determined by monthly performance metrics.