Community Manager

Rutherford Management Company; Santa Cruz, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 77,000 - 94,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) matching

Vision insurance

Dental insurance

Medical insurance

Paid time off

Career development support

Bonus: KPI bonus and leasing bonus

Job summary

Rutherford Management Company is seeking an experienced Community Manager for a 100-unit Santa Cruz, CA property. The role leads leasing, resident relations, and maintenance teams to deliver a full-service property experience.

You'll oversee financial performance, occupancy, and marketing support, while staying hands-on on-site from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with after-hours emergencies. Eligible for KPI and leasing bonuses, 401(k) matching, and comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• 2 years of property management experience at an assistant manager level or higher.
• Valid driver's license

Responsibilities

• Leasing and occupancy: Tour apartments, follow up with leads, close leases, keep occupancy high.
• Resident experience: Build genuine relationships and handle conversations professionally.
• Team leadership: Lead and develop maintenance staff on-site.
• Financial performance: Review property performance, manage delinquency, and deliver business plan.
• The physical property: Inspect units, monitor curb appeal, and coordinate turns.

Skills

Property management

Team leadership

Resident relations

Job description

Pay Type: per year Benefits: 401(k) matching, Vision insurance, Dental insurance, Medical insurance, Paid time off, Career Development Support

Salary: $85,000 annually
Schedule: Full-Time | Exempt | Monday-Friday | 9:00 AM-6:00 PM

Run your own community. See your impact every day.

If you're an experienced Apartment Community Manager, Property Manager, or Assistant Community Managerlooking for a leadership opportunitywhere your work is visible and your impact is yours. We'd love to meet you.

We're looking for a CommunityManager who loves being close to the action.

Someone who notices the details, knows their residents by name, enjoys leasing, builds a strong relationship with their maintenance team, understands the business behind the property, and gets real satisfaction from watching their community succeed.

This is a full-scope leadership opportunity at a 100-unit Santa Cruz community - big enough to be a real business, small enough that you can stay close to all of it. You'll be backed by an experienced Regional Manager and a growing RMC team.

What you'll own

• Leasing and occupancy: Touring apartments, following up with leads, closing, and keeping the community full
• Resident experience: Building genuine relationships and handling the hard conversations with professionalism
• Team leadership: Leading and developing your maintenance team side by side, not from behind a desk
• Financial performance: Reviewing property performance, managing delinquency and collections, delivering the business plan
• The physical property: Walking the community, checking curb appeal, inspecting units, tightening up turns, and jumping in on maintenance issues
• Marketing support: Spotting opportunities and partnering with our Marketing team on what the property needs

Who thrives here

The right person:

• Takes genuine pride in their property and their work
• They're curious, proactive, and organized, and they follow through
• Is hospitality-minded and truly cares about residents, their team, and doing excellent work
• Is collaborative and understands they're executing an established business plan as part of a larger RMC team

Requirements:

• Valid driver's license
• Availability for after-hours emergencies
• Willingness to be hands-on and visible on the property
• 2 years of property management experience at an assistant manager level or higher

Why You'll Love Working Here

This is more than a Community Manager position-it's an opportunity to broaden your leadership experience and make a meaningful impact across an entire region.

At Rutherford, you'll enjoy:

• Opportunities for career growth and advancement
• Supportive and collaborative leadership
• The ability to mentor and develop teams
• A culture that values innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement
• Bonus: Eligible for annual KPI bonus and leasing bonus
• Schedule: Monday-Friday, 9:00 am-6:00 pm, plus availability for after-hours emergencies
• Location: Santa Cruz, CA (on-site)