Portfolio Area Manager - Goleta, CA

towbes; Goleta (CA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 153,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid vacation and sick time

Housing partnership benefits

Job summary

The Towbes Group seeks a versatile Portfolio Area Manager to lead across its Central Coast portfolio. You will act as Community Manager where needed, drive NOI and occupancy, and guide program rollouts while mentoring site teams.

Join a team that values problem-solving, cross-site collaboration, and smart use of AI tools to surface efficiencies and improve operations across the portfolio.

Qualifications

• CA Real Estate License is required.
• 5–7 years of on-site property management experience, including at least 4 years as a Community Manager or higher.
• Certification in ARM/CAM/CCRM (or working toward one) preferred.

Responsibilities

• Step in as Acting Community Manager wherever coverage is needed and own performance, leases, budgets, and team leadership.
• Own NOI, occupancy, and retention targets across the portfolio.
• Ensure compliance with Fair Housing, DRE, LIHTC, HUD/REAC, and HOME requirements across communities.

Skills

Leadership

Property management

Budgeting

Communication

Education

ARM/CAM/CCRM certification (or in progress)

Tools

Yardi

CRM IQ

Job description

The Role Every Great Portfolio Needs

At The Towbes Group, we've spent over 60 years creating communities where people thrive on the Central Coast and we need a versatile, experienced leader who can step into any property, any challenge, and make it better.

As our Portfolio Area Manager, you're not tied to one community, you're the go-to leader across the entire portfolio. One week you might be running a property as Acting Community Manager, the next you're rolling out a new company-wide program or coaching a site team through a rough patch. If you thrive on variety, love solving problems on the fly, and want a role where your fingerprints are on results across multiple communities this is your next move.

What You'll Do

• Lead when it counts: Step in as Acting Community Manager wherever coverage is needed, taking full ownership of performance, leases, budgets, and team leadership.
• Drive results across the portfolio: Own NOI, occupancy, and retention targets when covering a property, and help every site team hit their numbers.
• Be the compliance expert: Navigate Fair Housing, DRE, LIHTC, HUD/REAC, and HOME Program requirements across a diverse set of communities including specialized affordable housing properties.
• Champion training and rollouts: Partner with the Training & Development Manager to coordinate training, reinforce standards in the field, and guide new programs and initiatives to successful adoption across the portfolio.
• Mentor and elevate: Coach site teams, deliver feedback, and raise the bar on service and operations everywhere you go.
• Solve the big stuff: Support property dispositions, portfolio-wide projects, and operational initiatives alongside the Director of Residential Properties and Regional Managers.
• Work smart with AI: Use company-approved AI tools to surface efficiencies, draft reports and communications, and make faster, better-informed decisions.
• Keep the wheels turning: Manage rent payments, vendor relationships, preventive maintenance coordination, and resident escalations wherever you're needed most.

What You Bring

• Valid CA Real Estate License
• 5–7 years of on-site property management experience, including at least 4 years as a Community Manager or higher
• ARM, CAM, or CCRM certification (or active progress toward one)
• Deep knowledge of Fair Housing, DRE regulations, and local landlord-tenant ordinances (Goleta, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Santa Maria, Lompoc)
• Familiarity with subsidized housing compliance (LIHTC, HUD/REAC, HOME Program)
• Proficiency in Yardi and CRM IQ
• A clean DMV record and background check
• Flexibility to travel across the portfolio and adapt to shifting priorities — including occasional weekends

Why You'll Love Working Here

• Competitive salary, full-time, exempt — $95,300.00 - $152,500.00
• Full health coverage — medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability
• 401(k) with a generous company match
• Paid vacation and sick time
• Local Coastal Housing Partnership benefits
• A high-performance culture built on Community, Integrity, and Quality

The Towbes Group is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Reasonable accommodations are available for individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.