General Manager

Description

Up Campus Management is hiring a General Manager to lead the lease-up and launch of Blume on 16th, a brand-new, purpose-built student housing community opening in August 2026 in Columbus, Ohio. This is a ground-up leadership opportunity for an experienced student housing PM who excels in lease-ups, understands campus-driven marketing, and can build a high-performing onsite team while establishing a strong brand presence from day one.

As General Manager, you will be instrumental in:

• Bringing the brand to life locally
• Establishing Blume on 16th’s reputation within the university and surrounding community
• Driving pre-leasing momentum ahead of the August opening
• Setting the operational and cultural tone for the property long-term

This role is ideal for someone who enjoys building something from scratch, rather than stepping into an already stabilized environment.

The General Manager is fully a marketing strategy, oversee daily operations, and serve as the primary ambassador for the property on campus and in the community. This position reports to the Regional Manager and works closely with corporate leasing, marketing, and ownership. The role is accountable for occupancy performance, revenue outcomes, brand execution, and onsite team leadership, and leads the leasing, lease-up, and stabilization process.

Lease-Up, Sales & Revenue Performance:

• Own and execute the lease-up strategy to meet occupancy and economic goals
• Personally conduct tours and close qualified prospects using phone, text, email, and in-person follow-up
• Train and coach the leasing team on Up Campus sales standards, touring practices, and fair housing compliance
• Lead daily, weekly, and monthly leasing strategy sessions based on real-time data and market conditions
• Monitor competitors and pricing through regular market surveys
• Manage pre-leasing, unit assignments, concessions, and leasing goals
• Maintain a clean, accurate Entrata dashboard for leads, applications, and pending leases

Marketing, Brand & Community Presence:

• Lead go-to-market and ongoing lease-up campaigns aligned with brand standards
• Develop and manage the annual marketing plan and budget
• Represent the property at campus and community marketing events
• Build partnerships with student organizations, Greek life, academic groups, and local businesses
• Establish strong relationships within the university community to drive word-of-mouth and social engagement

Team Leadership & Operations:

• Recruit, train, and manage onsite staff to ensure consistency, accountability, and high performance
• Coach team members toward professional growth while maintaining strong operational standards
• Conduct performance reviews and address performance issues when needed
• Ensure operational and leasing processes are followed accurately and consistently

Reporting & Administration:

• Maintain accurate records through regular audits and system checks
• Manage operating and marketing budgets in coordination with corporate leadership
• Deliver weekly, monthly, and quarterly reporting with insights and recommendations to ownership

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent student housing experience
• 3+ years of new development lease-up experience, or 1+ year managing a 600+ bed lease-up property
• Strong connections within the Columbus student market competitors, student/academic/Greek life organizations, and local businesses
• Experience operating stabilized and lease-up student housing communities
• Strong working knowledge of Entrata or similar property management systems
• Proven ability to lead teams, drive leasing performance, and execute brand strategy

• Highly organized, data-driven, and results-oriented
• Confident communicator with strong written and verbal skills
• Comfortable being hands-on in leasing, marketing, and team leadership
• Experienced working evenings and occasional weekends during peak leasing cycles
• Thrives in fast-paced, high-growth environments

• Full-time, exempt role
• Working hours between 8am and 6pm
• Evenings and occasional weekends during peak leasing cycles
• Occasional travel may be required

This role offers the chance to launch a flagship student housing community, build your own team, and shape the long-term success and reputation of a high-profile property in a major university market.