Senior Community Manager

Core Spaces; Madison (WI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Generous PTO

Paid holidays (14+)

Cell phone stipend

Parental Leave after 90 days

Volunteer time off

Robust health plan options

Meditation app subscription

401(k) with employer matching

Job summary

Core Spaces in Madison, WI is seeking a Senior Community Manager to lead and optimize the operation of a residential community. You will manage leasing, operations, and resident services, ensuring top-tier service and financial performance, while building a high-performing on-site team.

You will own budgeting, forecasting, and reporting, balancing occupancy, revenue growth, and resident retention. Collaboration with regional leaders and cross-functional teams will be essential to drive asset

Qualifications

• Proven ability to lead and develop on-site teams.
• Strong financial oversight including budgeting, forecasting, and reporting.
• Experience driving occupancy and resident satisfaction through operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a high-performing on-site team across leasing, operations, resident experience, and maintenance.
• Own property-level budget, forecasting, and financial performance.
• Drive occupancy, revenue growth, and resident retention through strategic initiatives.
• Partner with regional leadership on performance trends and staffing decisions.
• Oversee day-to-day property operations, vendor management, and compliance.

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Communication

Financial acumen

Operations management

Resident relations

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Tools

Entrata

Yardi

Job description

Who We Are

Core Spaces (Core) is more than a real estate company, it’s a people company. Where building relationships is just as important as building properties. From researchers and architects to designers and operators, Core is made up of risk takers and dreamers who are on a mission to invent the future of living. Our six cultural values guide us every day and we strive to live them in everything we do: PUSH (Invent Better Places to Live), GRIT (We Got This), LIFT (Help Each Other Win), SHINE (Bring Your Full Self), UPHOLD (Never Break Trust), GROW (Always Get Better). Everything Core does stems from this culture of collaboration and innovation, and the drive to constantly improve the resident experience. This unique approach has led to creating spaces and services that are redefining the way people live.

What We Do

Founded in 2010, Core is a vertically integrated real estate investment manager focused on acquiring, developing and managing across the student housing and build-to-rent (“BTR”) sectors. Its residential communities feature world-class amenities, progressive design, and hospitality-driven service. Core’s student housing portfolio includes over 74,440 beds currently owned or managed, with a pipeline of over 53,860 beds in various stages of development. Core’s BTR division has over 3,000 homes under development, now leasing or in its pipeline in high-growth metros nationwide. For more information, visit www.corespaces.com.

* Portfolio and pipeline numbers as of Q2 2026

Benefits That Matter

• A culture that provides you with a sense of belonging


• Competitive pay that values your contributions


• Generous PTO to disconnect or celebrate life milestones


• Paid 14+ holidays, including your birthday, to disconnect and celebrate


• Cell phone stipend included


• Paid Parental Leave that begins after 90 days


• Paid volunteer time off to give back to your community


• Robust health plan options that begin within at least 30 days of your employment


• Yearly subscription to a meditation app for personal wellness


• An environment that provides you a voice to share your perspectives


• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for access to confidential support services


• Company retirement options including 401(k) + matching & Roth account option

Position Overview

The Senior Community Manager serves as the senior operational leader for an assigned Core Spaces community and is responsible for driving asset performance through strong leadership, financial stewardship, operational excellence, team development, and execution of business objectives.

This role oversees all aspects of community operations and partners closely with Regional Leadership, Revenue Management, Marketing, Facilities, and other cross-functional teams to support property performance, resident satisfaction, team engagement, and long-term business success.

The Senior Community Manager exercises independent judgment in evaluating business performance, balancing competing priorities, managing operational challenges, developing team members, and implementing strategies that support occupancy, revenue growth, resident retention, and overall asset performance. Success in this role requires strong business acumen, leadership capability, financial accountability, and the ability to influence results through both people and operations.

What You Will Do

Leadership and Team Management:

• Build, lead, and develop a high-performing on-site team across leasing, operations, resident experience, and maintenance.


• Establish clear performance expectations and create accountability around operational, financial, leasing, and customer service objectives.


• Conduct regular coaching conversations, performance evaluations, development planning, and ongoing feedback discussions.


• Partner with Talent Acquisition and People Operations on hiring, onboarding, workforce planning, employee relations, and talent development initiatives.


• Identify and develop future leaders through coaching, mentorship, and performance management while supporting long-term succession planning efforts.


• Foster a culture of accountability, ownership, collaboration, operational excellence, and resident-focused service.


• Evaluate organizational effectiveness and make recommendations regarding staffing, structure, development opportunities, and resource allocation.


• Provide leadership and support during high-demand operational periods, including leasing season, move-in, move-out, turn, and major resident engagement initiatives.

Financial and Asset Performance:

• Own the property-level budget, forecasting, and overall financial performance of the asset.


• Monitor revenue, occupancy, delinquency, concessions, expenses, and variance reporting while implementing corrective actions as needed.


• Analyze financial trends, business performance metrics, and operational data to identify opportunities and risks impacting asset performance.


• Partner with Regional Leadership to evaluate performance trends, develop business strategies, and implement initiatives that improve occupancy, revenue growth, resident retention, and NOI.


• Partner with Revenue Management to align pricing strategies with market conditions, leasing velocity, renewal performance, and competitive positioning.


• Review and approve expenditures while maintaining strong financial controls and accountability.


• Ensure accurate and timely financial reporting, forecasting, approvals, and operational documentation.

Property Operations:

• Provide leadership and oversight for all day-to-day property operations, ensuring consistent execution of company standards, policies, and operational expectations.


• Evaluate operational performance and identify opportunities to improve efficiency, communication, resident experience, and overall business results.


• Monitor operational reporting, property performance metrics, and business indicators to drive informed decision-making.


• Lead planning and execution of major operational initiatives including turn, move-in, move-out, capital projects, staffing transitions, and community-wide operational programs.


• Ensure administrative processes, reporting requirements, documentation standards, and operational workflows are completed accurately and on time.


• Manage vendor relationships, service agreements, and contract performance to ensure quality service delivery and operational consistency.


• Identify operational risks proactively and implement solutions that support business continuity and property performance.

Leasing and Marketing:

• Own and drive all aspects of leasing performance, including traffic generation, conversion, retention, and occupancy achievement.


• Monitor leasing funnel performance, conversion metrics, competitive positioning, traffic sources, and market trends.


• Analyze leasing and operational data to identify performance gaps and implement strategies that improve results.


• Partner with Marketing to execute campaigns that generate qualified traffic and support leasing and occupancy objectives.


• Lead renewal and retention strategies designed to maximize resident satisfaction, occupancy stability, and long-term asset performance.


• Partner with Revenue Management to evaluate pricing strategies, leasing velocity, and market positioning to maximize asset performance.


• Support strategic leasing initiatives and property-specific action plans that drive performance throughout the leasing cycle.

Resident and University Relations:

• Champion a high-quality, hospitality-driven resident experience throughout the community.


• Serve as the primary escalation point for complex resident, guarantor, parent, and stakeholder concerns requiring advanced judgment and resolution.


• Monitor resident satisfaction, feedback trends, online reviews, and reputation management metrics to identify opportunities for improvement.


• Develop and execute resident engagement and reputation management initiatives that strengthen community culture and resident satisfaction.


• Build and maintain strong relationships with residents, parents, guarantors, university representatives, and community stakeholders.


• Leverage university and community partnerships to support resident engagement, leasing performance, and overall property success.


• Represent the community professionally and serve as an ambassador for the Core Spaces brand.

Maintenance and Facilities:

• Partner closely with Maintenance leadership to ensure strong service delivery, operational readiness, and long-term asset preservation.


• Monitor work order completion, preventative maintenance execution, unit turns, and overall property condition standards.


• Identify property improvement opportunities and support capital planning and asset enhancement initiatives.


• Ensure common areas, amenities, units, and grounds are maintained in accordance with company standards and resident expectations.


• Maintain compliance with safety requirements, risk management protocols, and regulatory obligations.

Compliance, Risk Management & Business Operations:

• Ensure compliance with all company policies, operational procedures, legal requirements, fair housing regulations, and company standards.


• Maintain accurate payroll, reporting, resident records, documentation, and administrative processes.


• Support operational audits, compliance reviews, inspections, and reporting requirements while ensuring readiness and accuracy.


• Identify operational, financial, resident, staffing, and compliance risks and implement mitigation strategies proactively.


• Maintain brand standards throughout all aspects of the community and ensure consistent execution of company expectations.


• Partner with Regional Leadership on special projects, operational initiatives, and business priorities that support long-term property performance.

Other:

• Must be able to work a full shift / required work schedule on-site at the property.


• Must be available for additional hours including evenings, weekends, and overtime when necessary.


• Must be available to assist with move-outs, turn, and move-ins that extend beyond normal full-time hours.


• Perform all other duties and responsibilities as assigned.


• Must be able to complete all physical requirements of this role with or without reasonable accommodation.


• Occasional travel may be required as needed.

Ideally, You'll Have

• High school diploma or equivalent required; Bachelor's degree preferred


• 5+ years of progressive property management experience, preferably within student housing.


• Demonstrated success leading teams, driving property performance, and achieving leasing, financial, and resident satisfaction goals.


• Strong financial acumen including budgeting, forecasting, expense management, operational reporting, and business performance analysis.


• Experience evaluating performance trends, implementing corrective action plans, and driving measurable business results.


• Proven ability to develop team members, create accountability, and build high-performing teams.


• Strong leadership, communication, coaching, decision-making, and relationship-building skills.


• Ability to exercise independent judgment and effectively manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.


• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and property management software platforms.

You'll crush it if you have experience with

• Student housing operations, leasing performance, occupancy management, and large-scale turn execution.


• Entrata, Yardi, or other property management systems.


• Leading high-performing teams through demanding operational cycles including turn, move-in, move-out, and peak leasing periods.


• Developing future leaders and creating strong team cultures focused on accountability and performance.


• University partnerships, resident engagement strategies, and reputation management initiatives.


• Financial analysis, business planning, operational reporting, and performance improvement initiatives.

Organizational Structure

Reports to: Area or Regional Manager

Direct Reports: Direct Reports: Leasing, Maintenance, and Administration Team Members

Disclaimer

Please note that job responsibilities, reporting lines, and duties outlined in this job description are subject to change to meet the evolving needs of the organization.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Core Spaces celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an equitable and inclusive environment, which creates a sense of belonging for all employees. We do not discriminate and believe every individual should be proud of who they are and the community they represent.