Associate Manager, Regional Operations - Student Housing

Core Spaces (Core) is more than a real estate company; it’s a people company. Where building relationships is just as important as building properties. From researchers and architects to designers and operators, Core is made up of risk takers and dreamers who are on a mission to invent the future of living. Our six cultural values guide us every day and we strive to live them in everything we do:  PUSH (Invent Better Places to Live), GRIT (We Got This), LIFT (Help Each Other Win), SHINE (Bring Your Full Self), UPHOLD (Never Break Trust), GROW (Always Get Better). Everything Core does stem from this culture of collaboration and innovation, and the drive to constantly improve the resident experience. This unique approach has led to creating spaces and services that are redefining the way people live. 

Founded in 2010, Core is a vertically integrated real estate investment manager focused on acquiring, developing and managing across the student housing and build-to-rent (“BTR”) sectors. Its residential communities feature world-class amenities, progressive design, and hospitality-driven service. Core’s student housing portfolio includes over 74,440 beds currently owned or managed, with a pipeline of over 53,860 beds in various stages of development. Core’s BTR division has over 3,000 homes under development, now leasing or in its pipeline in high-growth metros nationwide. For more information, visit www.corespaces.com.   

*Portfolio and pipeline numbers as of Q2 2026 

• A culture that provides you with a sense of belonging 

• Competitive pay that values your contributions 

• Incentives designed to reward your achievements 

• Paid flexible PTO to disconnect or celebrate life milestones 

• Paid 14+ holidays, including your birthday, to disconnect and celebrate 

• Paid Parental Leave that begins after 90 days 

• Paid volunteer time off to give back to your community 

• Monthly workshop weeks; fewer meetings & more collaboration 

• Robust health plan options that begin within at least 30 days of your employment 

• Monthly phone reimbursement 

• Wellness allowance and perks, including a yearly subscription to a meditation app 

• An environment that provides you a voice to share your perspectives 

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for access to confidential support services        

• Company retirement options including 401(k) + matching & Roth account option 

The Associate Manager, Regional Operations is responsible for the operational, financial, and talent performance of a portfolio of student housing communities within an assigned region. This role provides leadership, coaching, and accountability to Community Managers and/or Area Managers while driving occupancy, revenue growth, resident satisfaction, expense management, and overall asset performance. Through regular analysis of property performance, market conditions, and operational trends, the Associate Manager develops and implements strategies that support portfolio goals and long-term success. 

As a key regional leader and developmental successor to the Regional Manager role, the Associate Manager exercises independent judgment to identify opportunities, mitigate risks, and solve complex operational challenges across the portfolio. This role partners closely with cross-functional teams to ensure operational excellence, financial performance, talent development, and successful execution of company initiatives while fostering a culture aligned with Core Spaces' values of Push, Grit, Shine, Lift, Grow, and Uphold. 

Portfolio Leadership & Asset Performance 

• Oversee the operational performance of an assigned portfolio of approximately 3-5 student housing communities. 

• Support execution of property and regional business plans to achieve occupancy, revenue, resident satisfaction, retention, and operational performance goals. 

• Analyze key performance indicators, identify trends, and develop action plans to improve portfolio performance. 

• Partner with Community Managers and Area Managers to drive accountability, operational consistency, and execution of business objectives. 

• Monitor leasing performance, occupancy trends, customer demand, competitive activity, and market conditions to identify opportunities and mitigate risks. 

• Collaborate with Marketing, Leasing, Revenue Management, and Operations teams to implement strategies that optimize leasing performance and revenue generation. 

• Build and maintain relationships with university partners, community stakeholders, vendors, and industry professionals to support market presence and business objectives. 

• Support new development openings, acquisitions, dispositions, property transitions, and stabilization initiatives as assigned. 

• Conduct regular site visits to evaluate operational performance, resident experience, service standards, physical asset conditions, and brand consistency. 

Financial Management & Business Strategy 

• Partner with Regional Managers and onsite leadership teams to develop, execute, and achieve annual business plans and operating budgets. 

• Review and analyze financial statements, operational reports, forecasts, and budget variances to identify opportunities for improved performance. 

• Support revenue growth initiatives while maintaining fiscal responsibility and expense management across the portfolio. 

• Evaluate financial and operational impacts of business decisions and provide recommendations that support portfolio objectives. 

• Monitor capital projects, operational expenditures, and vendor performance to ensure resources are effectively utilized. 

• Identify operational risks, business challenges, and market opportunities and develop strategic action plans to address them. 

• Contribute to annual budgeting, forecasting, and long-term planning processes for assigned communities. 

Talent Leadership & Organizational Development 

• Provide direct leadership, coaching, mentorship, and performance management for Community Managers and/or Area Managers. 

• Foster a culture of accountability, engagement, collaboration, and continuous improvement throughout the portfolio. 

• Conduct performance evaluations, development planning, talent assessments, and ongoing leadership coaching. 

• Partner with Talent Acquisition and People Operations to recruit, hire, onboard, and retain high-performing team members. 

• Support succession planning efforts and create development opportunities that strengthen future leadership pipelines. 

• Address employee relations matters, performance concerns, and corrective action processes in partnership with company policies and People Operations guidance. 

• Promote Core Spaces' culture, values, and leadership principles while serving as a role model for operational excellence and team development. 

Operational Excellence, Compliance & Risk Management 

• Ensure communities operate in compliance with company policies, operational standards, fair housing requirements, safety regulations, and applicable federal, state, and local laws. 

• Conduct operational reviews, inspections, audits, and assessments to evaluate compliance and identify improvement opportunities. 

• Establish and monitor corrective action plans to address operational deficiencies and mitigate business risks. 

• Assess vendor performance and contract compliance to ensure service quality and operational effectiveness. 

• Support incident response, crisis management, emergency preparedness, and business continuity efforts as required. 

• Maintain accountability for community appearance, resident experience, operational consistency, and protection of company assets. 

• Ensure implementation and adoption of company programs, procedures, technology platforms, and operational initiatives. 

Cross-Functional Leadership & Special Projects 

• Serve as a liaison between onsite operations teams and corporate departments to facilitate communication, alignment, and execution of strategic initiatives. 

• Collaborate with stakeholders across Operations, Marketing, Revenue Management, Facilities, Accounting, Asset Management, People Operations, and Talent Acquisition to achieve organizational goals. 

• Lead and support special projects focused on operational efficiency, business process improvement, technology implementation, change management, and organizational growth. 

• Participate in due diligence, transition planning, acquisition support, and new community opening initiatives as assigned. 

• Assist Regional Managers with regional initiatives and strategic priorities while building the capabilities needed for future advancement into regional leadership roles. 

• Represent the organization professionally in internal meetings, industry events, community engagements, and business partnerships. 

• Perform all other duties and tasks as assigned by management 

• High school diploma or equivalent required; minimum of 5 years of progressive property management experience with increasing leadership responsibility. 

• Experience overseeing multiple assets and leading onsite management teams, including Community Managers, Area Managers, or equivalent leadership roles. 

• Demonstrated success driving operational, financial, leasing, and resident satisfaction performance across multiple communities. 

• Strong business and financial acumen with the ability to analyze budgets, forecasts, operational metrics, and market trends to drive decision-making. 

• Proven ability to exercise sound judgment, manage competing priorities, and make independent business decisions. 

• Experience recruiting, developing, coaching, and retaining high-performing teams. 

• Ability to effectively influence stakeholders and collaborate across multiple departments and levels of the organization. 

• Ability to travel approximately 50% of the time within assigned markets 

You'll crush it if you have  
 

• Student housing experience preferred. 

• Multi-site property management experience preferred, including oversight of multiple communities, teams, and operational performance metrics. 

• Experience utilizing property management platforms such as Entrata, Yardi, or similar systems to manage operations, financial reporting, leasing performance, and portfolio analytics. 

• Experience supporting acquisitions, community transitions, lease-ups, new developments, property repositioning, or stabilization efforts in a fast-paced operational environment 

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• Organizational Structure 

  Reports to:  Regional Vice President – Property Management, Student Housing  

  Direct Reports: Community Managers/Area Managers

Please note that job responsibilities, reporting lines, and duties outlined in this job description are subject to change to meet the evolving needs of the organization. 

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Core Spaces celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an equitable and inclusive environment, which creates a sense of belonging for all employees. We do not discriminate and believe every individual should be proud of who they are and the community they represent.  

The compensation range listed reflects the base salary or hourly rate that we reasonably and in good faith expect to offer for this role at the time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as education, experience, skills, certifications, seniority, geographic location, and business needs.

This role may be eligible for additional forms of compensation, including bonuses, commissions, stipends, or non-cash incentives, depending on position and performance.

Benefits may include health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, and other role-based offerings, subject to eligibility requirements.

All compensation components are subject to change based on business needs or market conditions.