Leasing Consultant

Hawthorne Residential Partners runs one of the more intentional cultures in Southeast multifamily, and the Leasing Consultant role at their 1287 Shoals community in Athens reflects that. This isn't a post-and-pray leasing job where you sit behind a desk waiting for walk-ins. The expectation is that you're the first and most lasting impression a prospect has of the property, and you carry that responsibility through every tour, every follow-up call, and every renewal conversation.

Athens is a college town with a rental market that moves in cycles tied closely to the academic calendar. That means traffic can spike hard at certain points in the year, and the ability to work a lead list with genuine follow-through, not just reactive inbox management, separates consultants who hit their occupancy targets from those who don't. Strong leasing consultants here understand that a prospect who toured on a Saturday and went quiet isn't a dead lead. They know how to re-engage without being pushy.

Day to day, you'll handle inbound inquiries across phone, email, and web, conduct personalized tours, process applications and move-in paperwork, and contribute to resident events and community programming. You'll also spend time on market surveys and social media outreach to keep the property visible and competitive. The schedule runs Monday through Friday, 9 to 6, and Saturdays from 10 to 4, with one weekday off each week to keep the hours at 40. Some evening availability may come up for resident events.

What Hawthorne Is Looking For

• High school diploma or GED
• At least one year of customer service, sales, or leasing experience (preferred, not required)
• Valid driver's license
• CALP certification is a plus
• Genuine comfort communicating in person, by phone, and in writing
• Ability to handle objections and guide prospects toward a decision without pressure tactics

On the compensation side, the hourly rate is supplemented by monthly leasing and renewal commissions, which means your effort has a direct line to your paycheck. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision coverage, a 401k match, paid time off (including your birthday), pet insurance, and paid parental and adoption leave options.

Hawthorne also runs a formal career path program, and this role has a clear next step: Assistant Community Manager. If you want to move toward property operations and eventually run a community, this is a reasonable place to start building that foundation. The leasing role gives you early exposure to occupancy metrics, resident retention, and the administrative side of property management, all of which matter when you step into a management track.