Apartment Maintenance Manager

Skills That Run This Role

This position draws on a specific combination of hands-on trade knowledge and people management. You're coordinating maintenance staff, setting the tone for how work gets done, and stepping in personally when a task demands it. Organizational thinking matters here as much as technical ability. A maintenance team that's poorly scheduled or poorly supervised creates friction for residents and for the property management team above you. Strong candidates tend to be people who've worked their way up through maintenance roles and understand both sides of that equation: what it's like to be on the tools, and what it takes to manage others who are.

Safety awareness runs through everything in this job. Fairstead has specific safety policies and standards, and the expectation is that you'll model and enforce those consistently, not just reference them when something goes wrong. If you have OSHA familiarity or have managed safety compliance in a previous maintenance role, that translates well here.

What the Day-to-Day Involves

You'll oversee the repair and maintenance of residential buildings, inspect and address electrical and mechanical systems, and keep facilities clean and functional in line with company standards. That includes leading special projects and stepping into a supervisory role on any work that requires coordination across your team. For more routine tasks, you'll often work independently. For complex projects, there's support available, but the expectation is that you're managing the workflow and the people, not waiting to be directed.

• Supervise and coordinate maintenance staff on daily tasks and special projects
• Perform skilled maintenance and repair work across mechanical, electrical, and general building systems
• Ensure all facilities meet Fairstead's cleanliness and safety standards
• Apply and improve internal maintenance policies and procedures
• Use Yardi or RealPage for work order tracking (familiarity preferred)
• Be available occasionally for overtime tied to emergencies or project demands

Three years of property maintenance experience is the baseline. Beyond that, Fairstead is looking for someone who's proficient in at least one specific trade and can hold their own across general maintenance disciplines. Microsoft Office proficiency is expected for reporting and communication purposes.

Working Within Fairstead's Structure

Fairstead manages over 30,000 units across 28 states with an integrated platform that connects ownership, construction, and property management. That integration matters for this role because decisions don't happen in isolation. A maintenance issue that looks like a simple repair might connect to a capital improvement project already in the pipeline. Understanding how to communicate upward, flag concerns clearly, and coordinate with a broader team is part of what makes someone effective here, not just technically capable.

Affordable housing maintenance comes with its own realities. Residents often depend heavily on working systems in ways that market-rate tenants may not, and response time carries more weight. The strongest candidates for this role aren't just skilled with tools. They understand that the work connects directly to people's daily lives, and they manage their team with that in mind.

Fairstead's benefits package includes employer-contributed medical insurance, employer-paid vision and life insurance, a 401(k) with company match (100% of the first 3%, 50% of the next 2%), 15 PTO days, 7 sick days, 12 or more paid holidays, and an FSA option among others.