Assistant Community Manager

The Assistant Community Manager role at a stabilized garden-style or mid-rise property sits right at the intersection of leasing performance and financial controls. At Hawthorne Residential Partners, one of the top 50 multifamily management companies in the country and a Southeast-rooted operator, this position carries real operational weight. You're not just supporting the Community Manager. You're running the daily show when they're out, and your fingerprints are on occupancy, delinquency, and resident retention every single week.

What the Work Actually Looks Like

On the leasing side, you're conducting tours, converting traffic, and making sure applications and renewals move through the pipeline cleanly. Occupancy goals don't meet themselves, and renewal conversions are part of how you're measured. You'll also manage the community's social media presence, which at the property level means translating resident events and community culture into content that actually drives engagement and brand awareness.

The financial side of this role is where a lot of ACMs either grow fast or stall out. You'll own rent collection, payment posting, and check scanning. Weekly delinquency follow-up calls are part of the rhythm, and when accounts reach the threshold, you'll coordinate eviction procedures. Regular ledger reviews keep billing and payment applications accurate, and you'll contribute to financial reporting that goes up to the Community Manager and regional leadership. If you can read a T-12 and understand what's pulling NOI down, you'll move through this role quickly.

When the Community Manager is off-site, you step into that leadership seat fully. That means keeping the team focused, maintaining momentum on daily priorities, and handling resident concerns before they escalate.

What Separates Strong Candidates Here

Two years of property management experience is preferred, along with at least six months in an assistant-level role. A CALP designation is a plus. But the candidates who perform best aren't just process-followers. They're the ones who can read a delinquency report on Monday morning and already know which calls to make first. They de-escalate a difficult resident situation by 10 AM and close a lease before lunch. That combination of financial literacy and people instincts is what Hawthorne describes as their "SOAR" profile, and it's accurate to the demands of the role.

Schedule, Compensation, and Growth

The leasing office runs Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM, and Saturdays, 10 AM to 4 PM. One weekday off per week keeps the schedule at 40 hours. Evening and weekend availability may come up for resident events. ACMs here earn hourly pay plus monthly leasing and renewal commissions and quarterly performance bonuses, which means your income moves with your performance.

Hawthorne's Career Path Program is a genuine mechanism for advancement, not just a line in a job posting. The ACM to Community Manager track is well-worn at this company, and the Learning and Development investment is designed to accelerate it. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision coverage, 401(k) with match, paid time off including your birthday, paid parental and adoption leave, pet insurance, telehealth access, and company-paid life insurance.

• High school diploma or GED required
• Two years of property management experience preferred
• Six months of assistant community manager experience preferred
• Valid driver's license required
• CALP certification is a plus

This role is based at Mountain View Apartments in Asheville, NC. Asheville's rental market has seen sustained demand pressure in recent years, which makes occupancy and retention work here genuinely consequential. Strong performance in a market like this translates directly to skills that carry weight across any Hawthorne community or future employer.