JOB SUMMARY:
The Area Manager is responsible for the full operational, financial, and leasing performance of a portfolio of approximately four multifamily communities in the Sioux Falls market. This role provides direct leadership to on-site Property Managers and ensures each asset consistently meets or exceeds occupancy, revenue, and resident satisfaction targets.
This is a hands-on leadership role requiring both strategic oversight and active involvement in day-to day operations. The Area Manager must be comfortable stepping on-site to stabilize performance, support leasing efforts, and lead teams through execution of company standards.
DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Drive performance across all assigned assets with a focus on occupancy, NOI growth, and expense control
- Monitor and manage key leasing and operational KPIs, including:
o Current and future occupancy o Prospect-to-tour conversion
o Tour-to-application conversion
o Application-to-move-in ratios
o Lead source effectiveness and cost per lease
- Identify underperformance quickly and implement clear, measurable action plans
- Ensure each property is competitive within its Sioux Falls submarket (Class A/B positioning, pricing, concessions, and product differentiation)
- Maintain strong understanding of local market trends, supply pipeline, and competitor activity
- Directly supervise, coach, and develop Property Managers and site teams
- Set clear expectations and hold teams accountable to leasing, financial, and operational goals
- Conduct regular property walks, and audits
- Train teams on:
o Leasing fundamentals and closing techniques
o Lead management and follow-up discipline
o Customer experience and retention strategies
- Build a culture of accountability, urgency, and ownership across the portfolio
- Actively support leasing efforts to improve conversion and reduce vacancy loss
- Partner with Property Managers on:
o Pricing strategy (in alignment with executive leadership)
o Concessions and lease trade-out strategies (in alignment with executive leadership)
o Unit readiness and curb appeal standards
- Evaluate and optimize marketing channels including:
o Digital and social campaigns
- Ensure consistent and effective lead response and follow-up processes
- Assist in closing leases and training staff during periods of low performance
- Provide hands-on operational support during:
o Staffing gaps
o New lease-ups or transitions
o Performance challenges
- Step into on-site leadership when necessary to stabilize operations
- Ensure consistent execution of company policies, SOPs, and brand standards
- Partner with maintenance leadership to ensure timely turns, work orders, and asset upkeep
- Oversee property budgets, forecasts, and financial performance
- Review monthly financials and variance reports with Property Managers
- Drive accountability for:
o Payroll control
o Vendor expenses
o Turn costs and delinquency
- Partner with leadership on annual budgeting, capital planning, and asset strategy
- Ensure financial decisions align with ownership goals and market conditions
- Maintain strong curb appeal and overall asset condition across all communities
- Ensure properties meet or exceed market standards for cleanliness, safety, and presentation
- Drive resident retention through:
o Renewal strategy execution
o Resident engagement initiatives
o Service response standards
- Monitor online reputation and ensure timely, professional responses to reviews
- Portfolio occupancy consistently at or above target
- Improved leasing conversion metrics across all properties
- Strong, stable, and accountable on-site teams
- Controlled expenses with positive impact on NOI
- High resident satisfaction and retention rates
- Properties recognized as top-performing assets within the Sioux Falls market
- Demonstrated culture of urgency, accountability, and operational excellence
- Other duties and tasks as assigned.
Required Skills / Abilities:
Demonstrating initiative, strong supervisory and organizational skills, judgment, and discretion in making independent decisions.
- Using initiative and independent judgment within general policy guidelines and defining problem areas, analyzing data, preparing formal recommendations and carrying out solutions.
- Recognizing and reporting safety problems and make recommendations for solutions.
- Operating standard office equipment, including job-related computer hardware and software applications, including Microsoft Office Products.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
- 3–5+ years of multifamily property management experience (multi-site preferred)
- Proven track record of improving occupancy and financial performance
- Strong understanding of leasing, marketing, and property operations
- Experience managing teams and developing Property Managers
- Familiarity with property management software (e.g., Yardi, AppFolio)
- Ability to travel locally between properties in the Sioux Falls area
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
- Work is performed in a small office setting as well as various properties (indoor and outdoor areas) and construction sites.
TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:
- Within Sioux Falls and regional areas on a daily/weekly/monthly basis.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be regularly required to stand, sit, talk, hear, reach, stoop, kneel.