Portfolio Area Manager - Goleta, CA

Job Overview/Purpose

The Portfolio Area Manager supports operational continuity, performance, and support across multiple residential properties within the portfolio. This role requires strong leadership, operational expertise, and the ability to adapt quickly to the unique needs of diverse communities.

Job Requirements / Essential Duties

• Promote Towbes' mission of Creating Communities Where People Thrive by providing on-site support, ensuring adherence to property standards and operational policies, mentoring site team members, and coverage when needed.
• Serve as Acting Community Manager, assuming full Community Manager responsibilities, coordinating with the Regional Manager and Human Resources on coaching, performance feedback, and corrective action.
• Deliver consistent feedback to site teams regarding performance and best practices.
• Review and countersign all resident leases when serving as Acting Community Manager, ensuring accuracy.
• Support NOI, occupancy, retention, and financial performance targets across assigned properties; when acting as Community Manager, hold direct accountability for meeting or exceeding those targets.
• Partner with vendors to ensure cost-effective services and high-quality standards across the portfolio, including coordination during coverage assignments.
• Coordinate with Associate Counsel and Regional Managers on lease enforcement, eviction proceedings, and Fair Housing matters when acting on-site.
• Assist the Director of Residential Properties and Regional Managers with portfolio-wide operational projects and initiatives.
• Assist with property dispositions, including operational transition support, due diligence coordination, document gathering, vendor coordination, and support of ownership and buyer transition needs.
• Maintain working knowledge of subsidized and program-specific compliance requirements, including LIHTC/CTAC, HUD financing and REAC inspections, and HOME Program/City of Goleta affordable housing, and apply program-specific rules when assigned to those properties.
• Identify operational inefficiencies and recommend improvements to RPMD leadership.
• Leverage company-approved AI tools to support operational analysis, surface portfolio-wide efficiencies, draft communications and reports, and enable data-informed decision-making, while maintaining data privacy and company standards.
• Monitor vacant and market-ready units, ensuring high standards of cleanliness and presentation.
• Support community leasing teams to ensure occupancy goals are achieved.
• Participate in competitive market research, gathering data on local rent trends and competitors.
• Aid in resident retention strategies and community engagement efforts.
• Process rent payments, invoices, and deposits, ensuring accurate recordkeeping.
• Monitor delinquent accounts and initiate collections or legal action as necessary.
• Assist in budget preparation and provide financial support to site teams.
• Maintain advanced working knowledge of Yardi and CRM IQ systems, including leasing, accounting, and reporting functions, and leverage system tools and data to support operational performance, financial accuracy, and portfolio decision-making.
• Serve as a resource for resident concerns and escalations, ensuring timely resolutions.
• Collaborate with on-site teams to maintain a positive community atmosphere.
• Support resident work order processing and ensure maintenance requests are completed efficiently.
• Ensure team members adhere to company policies, safety guidelines, and emergency protocols when serving on-site.
• Assist with community activities, resident events, and operational projects.
• Conduct property walks and inspections to assess curb appeal and property conditions.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities / Prerequisites

• High School or General Education Development (GED) equivalent.
• Minimum of two (2) years in a community manager role or higher.
• Valid CA Real Estate License.
• Industry certification such as ARM (offered by IREM), CAM (offered by NAA), or CCRM (offered by CAA).
• Comprehend, apply, and comply with all state and fair housing laws, company policies, and business procedures.
• Working knowledge of city-specific landlord-tenant ordinances across the portfolio’s operating jurisdictions (Goleta, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Santa Maria, Lompoc).
• Effective and professional communication in English with staff, supervisors, and residents through verbal, written, and Microsoft Office Suite communication.
• Proficiency in Yardi and CRM IQ property management software.
• Ability to perform the physical functions of the position, which may include, but are not limited to sitting, standing, bending, walking the property, including a minimum of two flights of stairs, to complete inspections, and deliver resident communications.
• Carry the company-assigned cell phone at all times.
• Clean DMV report and background check.
• Ability to evaluate opportunities to streamline workflows using AI, including identifying repetitive tasks suitable for automation.
• Ability to use AI to draft announcements, communication templates, tenant notices, and report summaries while maintaining accuracy and professional tone.
• Ability to critically review and verify AI-generated content for accuracy, confidentiality, compliance, and alignment with The Towbes Group standard.
• Capable of easily shifting between tasks with flexibility and adaptability.
• Meet or exceed operational goals on annual performance evaluations and resident surveys.
• Ability to work independently and prioritize effectively in a challenging environment.
• Ability to work in a manner consistent with having a high level of integrity, honesty, courage, and loyalty.
• Strong problem-solving skills.
• Provide high-quality customer service whether to the internal or external customer.
• Ability to put people first in all aspects of your position.
• Ability to effectively comprehend and interpret policies and procedures in the work environment.
• Ability to collaborate effectively as a team member.
• Ability to exercise good judgment in making decisions.
• Ability to work under pressure and complete tasks within prescribed time frames.
• Ability to manage and develop personnel resources.
• Ability to disseminate information and guidelines clearly to others and check for understanding.
• Excellent interpersonal skills to communicate effectively with a wide range of employees and residents.