Community Manager - Student Housing

Student housing community management sits in its own category within multifamily. The operational rhythm follows an academic calendar, not a standard lease cycle, and that changes almost everything: budgeting, staffing, turn planning, and resident experience all build toward one concentrated window each summer. At Central House Columbia, a Scion Group property near the University of Missouri campus, the General Manager role sits at the center of that cycle.

What the Role Actually Requires

This position carries full P&L accountability for the community. You'll build and manage the annual operating budget, track NOI, handle variance reporting, and work with regional leadership on capex approvals and project bids. On the leasing side, you're responsible for hitting revenue targets, managing concessions, and monitoring leasing velocity through the lease-up cycle. Delinquency and collection policies fall under your oversight as well.

Facilities ownership is real here, not ceremonial. Monthly property walks, permit audits, preventive maintenance oversight, and curb appeal standards are part of your recurring accountability. When capex projects come up, you're sourcing vendor bids, coordinating with the Facilities and Capital department, and managing execution.

Staff leadership is a core function, not a secondary one. You'll partner with HR and Talent Acquisition on hiring, manage scheduling including after-hours on-call coverage, and work alongside Learning and Development to build your team's skills and career paths within Scion. The expectation is that your team members are growing, not just performing.

The annual turn process deserves its own mention. Student housing turn is high-stakes and compressed. You'll plan the full make-ready cycle alongside your Assistant General Manager and Facilities Supervisor, manage turn financials against budget, conduct move-out inspections and vendor walks, and get hands-on during peak execution. That last part is literal: moving furniture, helping facilities with punch list items, and managing the volume of move-out trash are all part of what Scion expects from a GM during turn season.

What You Bring vs. What You'll Build

Scion requires at least three years managing a residential community with a team of three or more people. Proficiency in a property management system (Entrata preferred) matters from day one, along with strong written and verbal communication and genuine conflict resolution ability. You're also expected to bring vendor management experience and a clear customer experience mindset before you walk in the door.

What this role develops: the platform stack here is substantial. Vena for budgeting, Greenhouse for recruiting, Lattice for performance management, Turnable for turn coordination, Qualtrics for resident and employee experience data, ClickUp for project management, and ADP for payroll and scheduling. Managers who work across this kind of integrated tech environment develop operational fluency that transfers directly to larger or more complex properties.

The strongest candidates in this type of role tend to be people who stay organized when the workload compresses in late spring, who communicate clearly with residents who are away from home for the first time, and who understand that a great turn sets the tone for the entire academic year. Those aren't generic leadership traits. They reflect the specific pressures of the student housing model.

Role Details

• Location: Central House Columbia, Columbia, MO (on-site position)
• FLSA Status: Exempt with discretionary annual bonus eligibility
• Benefits: Health, dental, and vision insurance; 401(k) matching; paid time off; paid parental and maternal leave; learning reimbursement
• Schedule: Standard business hours with required non-traditional hours during peak periods, emergencies, and weather events
• Visa sponsorship is not available for this position