Senior Community Manager - Alexandria, VA

At Cortland, we operate with a forward-thinking approach that challenges conventional norms and actively seeks insights beyond traditional industry boundaries. As a recognized leader in the multifamily sector, our focus on performance, innovation, and disciplined execution continues to drive strong growth and market leadership. We are committed to building a best-in-class organization by empowering top talent with the resources, autonomy, and support needed to deliver results and advance their careers in a high-performance environment.

Role Overview

As the Senior Community Manager, you are the strategic leader responsible for the overall success of multiple multimillion-dollar, multifamily apartment communities. This role requires exceptional leadership, operational expertise, and financial acumen to drive performance across multiple sites. You will oversee community operations, lead teams, and ensure alignment with company standards while delivering an exceptional living experience for residents.

Leadership & Team Development:

• Lead and develop high-performing teams across multiple communities with clarity, purpose, and strategic focus.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and excellence across all sites.
• Attract, coach, and retain top talent, energizing teams through influence and motivation to deliver strong, consistent results.
• Provide guidance and support for escalated resident concerns across communities, ensuring timely and professional resolution.

Sales & Revenue Growth:

• Drive leasing performance across multiple communities by setting goals, monitoring KPIs, and coaching teams to exceed occupancy and revenue targets.
• Implement portfolio-wide sales strategies that maximize conversion rates and optimize pricing.
• Partner with marketing teams to execute campaigns and maintain a strong social media presence that attracts prospects and builds brand awareness.

Community Advocacy & Resident Experience:

• Champion a resident-centric mindset across all communities, delivering exceptional service that strengthens satisfaction and retention.
• Ensure a concierge-level experience for residents and prospects, creating positive and memorable interactions.
• Act as a brand ambassador, showcasing not just homes but a lifestyle of comfort, convenience, and premium living.

Operational Excellence

• Oversee day-to-day operations across multiple sites with rigor and efficiency, ensuring adherence to standards, policies, and timelines. Ensure compliance with company policies, Fair Housing regulations, OSHA standards, and all applicable laws.
• Conduct regular property inspections to maintain curb appeal, safety, and brand standards.
• Manage vendor relationships and negotiate contracts to ensure quality and cost efficiency.

Financial Performance

• Own responsibility for achieving and exceeding Net Operating Income targets across multiple communities through effective revenue generation and expense management.
• Use financial insights to manage budgets, control expenses, and identify opportunities for long-term value.
• Analyze portfolio metrics and KPIs to identify opportunities for improvement and growth.

Change Leadership & Stakeholder Collaboration

• Embrace and drive change in a fast-paced environment, navigating ambiguity with confidence and agility.
• Build and maintain productive relationships with key stakeholders, including our centralized center of excellence, service teams, corporate partners, and senior leaders.
• Align stakeholders and navigate competing priorities with diplomacy and shared purpose.

Qualifications

Experience and Education:

• 3+ years of measurable sales leadership success in high-velocity, short-cycle sales environments such as multifamily, luxury retail, hospitality, timeshare, premium automotive, or premium lifestyle services
• High school diploma or equivalent required; bachelor’s degree or equivalent preferred

Performance Orientation:

• Demonstrated ability to achieve and exceed occupancy, revenue, and NOI targets across multiple sites.
• Proven track record in driving leasing performance, pipeline management, and disciplined follow-up
• Ability to deliver exceptional resident experiences and consistently exceed customer expectations
• Skilled in collaborating with onsite teams and corporate partners to achieve community goals.

Leadership & Development:

• Proven ability to lead, coach, and develop high-performing teams with clarity, purpose, and accountability
• Experience fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement
• Skilled in influencing and motivating teams to achieve strategic objectives and deliver consistent results
• Ability to navigate change with confidence and guide teams through transitions effectively

Skills & Competencies

• Strong financial acumen with experience in budgeting, forecasting, and expense control across multiple sites
• Excellent organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills
• Skilled in resolving complex resident concerns with empathy, urgency, and professionalism.

Technical / Process Skills:

• Proficient in property management software, CRM systems, and Microsoft Office Suite; comfortable using social media for marketing
• Advanced ability to leverage social media platforms for marketing, engagement, and brand storytelling
• Comfortable analyzing data and KPIs to drive decisions and continuous improvement

Cultural / Brand Fit:

• Embodies company values and premium brand standards
• Professional appearance and executive presence required

About Cortland

Founded in 2005, Cortland is an international, vertically integrated multifamily real estate investment, development, and management firm with a resident-centric approach to living experiences. Recognized as one of the top 10 multifamily owners and operators in the US, Cortland combines in-house design, construction, and operations to deliver value and innovation across its portfolio.

Join us as we reimagine apartment living and drive outsized returns through purpose, performance, and people.

Cortland is an equal opportunity employer, and we’re proud to support and celebrate diversity in the workplace. We are committed to equal consideration for all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. If you have a disability and need an accommodation or assistance with the application process and/or using our website, please email Careers@cortland.com

Cortland is a drug-free workplace.

Cortland participates in e-verify to verify the employment status of all persons hired to work in the United States.

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California residents may request access to or deletion of their personal information by contacting us at careers@cortland.com

GDPR Statement

When you apply to a job on this site, the personal data contained in your application will be collected by Cortland (“Controller”), which is located at 3424 Peachtree RD NE Suite 300 Atlanta, GA and can be contacted by emailing careers@cortland.com because Controller wishes to evaluate your candidacy for employment at Controller. Your personal data was either obtained from publicly available sources (e.g. LinkedIn) or provided to Controller by someone who referred you for potential employment. Controller’s data protection officer is Greg Shultz, who can be contacted at Greg.Shultz@cortland.com. Your personal data will be processed for the purposes of managing Controller’s recruitment related activities, which include setting up and conducting interviews and tests for applicants, evaluating and assessing the results thereto, and as is otherwise needed in the recruitment and hiring processes. Such processing is legally permissible under Art. 6(1)(f) of Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (General Data Protection Regulation) as necessary for the purposes of the legitimate interests pursued by the Controller, which are the solicitation, evaluation, and selection of applicants for employment.

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Your personal data will be retained by Controller as long as Controller determines it is necessary to evaluate your application for employment. Under the GDPR, you have the right to request access to your personal data, to request that your personal data be rectified or erased, and to request that processing of your personal data be restricted. You also have to right to data portability. In addition, you may lodge a complaint with an EU supervisory authority.