Maintenance Supervisor

Maintenance supervision in multifamily housing sits at the intersection of physical asset management and team leadership. The person in this role carries responsibility for both the condition of the property and the performance of the people maintaining it. At Hawthorne Residential Partners, that dual accountability shows up every day at Avenues of West Ashley, a residential community in Charleston's West Ashley corridor.

What the Role Demands

Hawthorne requires at least three years of hands-on apartment maintenance experience or equivalent trade background in HVAC, plumbing, or electrical. Prior lead or supervisory experience is strongly preferred, and you'll need a valid driver's license and EPA certification coming in. CPO certification is highly preferred and may be required depending on state regulations. A high school diploma or GED rounds out the baseline.

Day to day, you'll lead and schedule your maintenance team, assign and track work orders, supervise vendor partners, and manage the budget and inventory for your department. Unit turns fall under your direct oversight: you'll coordinate make-ready schedules and personally inspect vacants before move-in to confirm cleanliness, function, and presentation. On the preventative side, you'll execute quarterly PM programs covering HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and general building systems. Capital improvement projects also land on your plate, from pulling bids to overseeing execution. On-call emergency rotation is part of the schedule, as is occasional support for resident events.

What the Role Builds

Supervisors who come from a strong trade background often develop their management craft in roles like this one. Running a team, managing vendor relationships, controlling departmental spend, and keeping occupancy-ready unit counts on track are skills that translate directly to Regional Maintenance Director paths and eventually Director of Facilities roles at the portfolio level. Hawthorne supports that trajectory through a formal Career Path Program, a dedicated Learning and Development team, and an education reimbursement program specifically aimed at maintenance skill growth.

Strong candidates in this role bring more than technical competence. The supervisors who perform best here are the ones who can hold their team accountable without micromanaging, read a punch list as both a quality control tool and a training opportunity, and communicate clearly with the property management team about timelines and budget. Technical problem-solving gets you in the door. Consistent follow-through and organized documentation keep the asset performing.

• Minimum 3 years apartment maintenance or skilled trade experience
• EPA certification required; CPO certification highly preferred
• Valid driver's license required
• Prior supervisory or lead technician experience strongly preferred
• High School diploma or GED equivalent

Compensation includes hourly pay plus a monthly renewal bonus, quarterly performance bonuses, and quarterly resident satisfaction bonuses. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision coverage, 401(k) with company match, paid time off (including your birthday), paid parental and adoption leave, pet insurance, company-paid life insurance, and 24/7 telehealth access.