Corporate Leasing Manager

Fairlawn Management • Chicago, IL

1d

About The Position

Fairlawn is a vertically integrated real estate investment, management, and development firm based in Chicago and Champaign, Illinois. The company manages a portfolio of 6,000 units valued at $900 million and operates across Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky. Its portfolio includes conventional multifamily and student housing communities.

The Corporate Leasing Manager is a newly created role serving as Fairlawn's strategic leader and subject matter expert for leasing execution across the portfolio. Reporting to the Senior Vice President of Property Management, this person will establish leasing standards, analyze performance, develop best practices, coach onsite teams, address operational challenges, and collaborate with leaders across the organization. The role does not directly supervise onsite leasing professionals; it leads through influence, expertise, accountability, and collaboration.

The successful candidate will help improve leasing results and the prospect experience through data-driven decisions, training, process improvement, technology optimization, and cross-functional partnership. The role supports conventional multifamily and student housing communities, as well as acquisitions, developments, lease-ups, renovations, and other strategic initiatives. The position requires regular travel throughout Fairlawn's portfolio and longer hours during peak leasing season, turnover, and major operational initiatives.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in Property Management, Business, Marketing, Hospitality, or a related field.
• At least 5 years of successful multifamily leasing, property management, or related sales leadership experience.
• Demonstrated success improving leasing performance through coaching, process improvement, and operational leadership.
• Experience developing and delivering training programs or coaching sales professionals.
• Exceptional analytical skills and ability to use data to identify trends and inform business decisions.
• Strong sales, relationship-building, communication, and presentation skills.
• Ability to influence and coach others without direct supervisory authority.
• Experience with AppFolio or similar property management software.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel and reporting tools.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment while balancing strategic initiatives with day-to-day operational support.
• Alignment with Fairlawn's core values: Be Kind, Be Flexible, Own It, and Always Improve.
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation.
• Ability to travel regularly throughout Fairlawn's portfolio, including occasional overnight travel.
• Availability to work longer hours during peak leasing season, turnover (dates vary from year to year), and major operational initiatives.
• Ability to walk properties, conduct onsite observations, participate in leasing activities, and work at a computer for extended periods.

Responsibilities

• Exemplify Fairlawn's core values: Be Kind, Be Flexible, Own It, and Always Improve.
• Establish leasing standards, measure results, coach teams, and drive continuous improvement across the portfolio.
• Analyze leasing performance, including lead response time, conversion metrics, leasing velocity, occupancy trends, closing ratios, and other key performance indicators.
• Prepare and present regular portfolio leasing performance reports to senior leadership, including actionable insights and recommendations.
• Partner with Property Management leadership to identify performance gaps, diagnose root causes, and develop action plans for underperforming communities.
• Develop, implement, and refine leasing operating standards, sales processes, and the prospect experience.
• Serve as the subject matter expert for leasing strategy, sales execution, prospect management, and leasing best practices.
• Partner with the Training Specialist to develop onboarding, ongoing training, and targeted coaching initiatives.
• Coach and support Property Managers, Regional Operations Managers, and onsite leasing teams through feedback, performance coaching, and professional development.
• Audit leasing execution in AppFolio and other operational systems for timely follow-up, accurate documentation, process consistency, and prospect experience.
• Configure, utilize, optimize, and monitor the performance of Fairlawn's AI Leasing Assistant and other leasing technologies.
• Collaborate with Marketing to improve the transition from lead generation to lead conversion by evaluating lead quality, engagement, funnel performance, and marketing-to-leasing effectiveness.
• Partner with Property Management and Asset Management leadership on pricing, concessions, lease expiration management, occupancy planning, and other revenue optimization initiatives.
• Evaluate leasing strategy, emerging technologies, industry trends, and competitive practices; recommend and implement improvements.
• Provide leasing leadership and operational support for acquisitions, new developments, lease-ups, major renovation projects, and other strategic initiatives.
• Build cross-functional relationships and foster collaboration, accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Provide operational support where needed, including pitching in on day-to-day work.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance.
• Employer-sponsored short-term disability, life insurance, critical illness, and accident benefits.
• Flexible Spending Accounts and Health Savings Accounts.
• 401(k) retirement plan with match.
• Paid vacation, sick leave, and holiday pay.
• Company events.
• Wellness days.
• Quarterly off-site meetings with the manager.
• Competitive pay and incentives.
• Opportunity to work for a growing organization and have a direct impact.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager