Property Manager in Champaign, Illinois at Fairlawn

We are seeking a highly motivated Property Manager to join our team at Fairlawn. This is a unique opportunity to lead the launch of Mosaic, a brand-new Class A student housing community currently under construction and scheduled to begin leasing for Fall 2027 occupancy.

This role offers the rare chance to oversee a property from pre-opening through stabilization. The successful candidate will play a critical role in developing and executing a comprehensive leasing strategy, building a high-performing team, and establishing operational excellence from day one.

The Property Manager will be responsible for all aspects of property operations, with an immediate and primary focus on successfully leasing the community to full occupancy for its inaugural year. This individual must be a highly driven sales professional, an effective leader, and a strategic operator capable of balancing aggressive leasing goals with exceptional resident experience and financial performance.

The ideal candidate embodies Fairlawn's core values - Be Kind, Own It, Be Flexible, and Always Improve - and thrives in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment. Previous experience in student housing, new development lease-ups, or launching a new community is highly preferred and will be considered a significant advantage.

Fairlawn is a vertically integrated firm focusing on real estate investment, management, and development. Based in Chicago and Champaign, Illinois, and managing a portfolio of 5,750 units with an asset value of $900 million, Fairlawn has a 10-year record in value-add projects, student housing, and build-to-rent communities. Fairlawn's best-in-class student housing brand, Smile Student Living, manages 3,400 beds at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and is a key player in student housing in the region. Fairlawn has established a strong presence across Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky, and is actively expanding into additional Midwest markets.

What will you do?

• Exemplify the core values of Be Kind, Be Flexible, Own It, and Always Improve
• Lead and execute all pre-leasing and lease-up initiatives to achieve occupancy goals for the community's opening year
• Develop and implement innovative marketing, outreach, and sales strategies targeting University of Illinois students and their families
• Build relationships with university organizations, student groups, and local stakeholders to maximize leasing opportunities
• Monitor leasing traffic, conversion ratios, and market trends while adjusting strategies to optimize results
• Manage all aspects of the leasing process, including prospect management, tours, follow-up, application approvals, and resident retention efforts
• Recruit, train, and motivate a high-performing leasing team focused on delivering exceptional results
• Oversee all day-to-day property operations, ensuring an exceptional resident experience
• Lead, develop, and mentor on-site team members while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement
• Ensure compliance with company policies, Fair Housing regulations, and all applicable local, state, and federal requirements
• Manage operating budgets, expenses, revenue goals, and financial reporting
• Partner with ownership, development, and construction teams during the transition from construction to operations
• Coordinate community opening activities, resident move-ins, and operational readiness plans
• Maintain the highest standards of customer service, property appearance, and resident satisfaction
• Pivot, roll up your sleeves, and jump in where needed!

Why should you work here?

• Competitive Pay. We are ready to invest in you!
• Additional monthly or quarterly incentive pay for meeting goals and supporting property performance
• Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance to access care for positive health outcomes and your overall wellbeing
• Employee sponsored benefits including Short Term Disability, Life Insurance, Critical Illness, Accident, Flexible Spending, and H.S.A. Accounts to avoid costly medical expenses due to gaps and ensure that all your medical needs are met
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with Match to invest in your future wealth and retirement
• Paid Vacation, Sick Leave, and Holiday Pay to help you reset and come back rejuvenated and refreshed
• Company events to promote team cohesion
• Wellness Days to focus on being your best self. We want you to have time to disconnect and recharge in a way that works for you
• The opportunity to work for a growing organization where you are valued and can have a direct impact
• Quarterly off-site meetings with your manager to celebrate wins, issue solve and ensure you are set up for success. Plus, the process is rewarding, and the results are great for your career

Who you are -- We’d love to hear from you if you:

• Have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in Property Management, Business, Marketing, Hospitality, or a related field
• Have 3+ years of property management experience, preferably in student housing, multifamily housing, or a related residential environment
• Have proven success leading leasing teams and achieving aggressive occupancy goals
• Have previous lease-up experience for a new development, student housing community, or major repositioning project is strongly preferred
• Have experience managing a property during construction completion and operational startup is a significant plus
• Have strong sales, marketing, leadership, and relationship-building skills
• Have exceptional communication, organizational, and problem-solving abilities
• Are proficient with property management and leasing software platforms
• Embody our core values: Be Kind, Be Flexible, Own It, and Always Improve

Some additional things you will need:

• A valid driver’s license and reliable transportation
• Serve as an emergency contact for the property
• Availability to work longer hours and weekends during prime leasing season and turnover (specific dates vary from year to year)
• Must be able to perform the physical functions of the position resident communications, not limited to the ability to walk properties, complete physical inspections, deliver communications, and show properties

We are seeking candidates who demonstrate a strong alignment with the requirements listed above. While meeting all qualifications is preferred, we understand that exceptional candidates may bring comparable experience and skills to the table including prior experience at Fairlawn. We value diversity of thought and experience, and we are committed to considering all applicants [internal and external] and to identifying and selecting the most qualified applicant for the role.

Depending on the role requirements, offers of employment may be contingent upon one or more of the following: employment history verification, criminal background check, motor vehicle record check, education verification, or credit check.

Our company uses the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) to run and help grow our business – the tools from EOS contribute to finding the right people and putting them in the right roles, effectively solving issues as they arise, and building a culture of accountability. In short, it gets everyone on the same page and working toward the same goals. If you have an ownership mindset and take pride in all the details, joining our team may be perfect for you!

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, age, physical or mental disability, veteran or military status, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Salary Range: $60,000 - $70,000 + Incentives