Leasing & Marketing Manager

Modern Living San Diego

Property Management | San Diego, CA

Leasing & Marketing Manager

Location: San Diego, CA — roving across a compact 6-building portfolio (soon to be 7), all within ~3 miles; home base at our property management office in Hillcrest

Reports to: Portfolio Property Manager / COO

Schedule: Full-time; some evenings and weekends for showings

License: California real estate license — not required to apply

Compensation: $80,000 / year (DOE), plus performance bonus and benefits

About the Role

Modern Living San Diego is a boutique San Diego property management company. Our portfolio is six buildings (soon to be seven) within about three miles of one another — character-rich homes that are genuinely works of art, where no two units are exactly alike and a generic listing simply won't do them justice. We're hiring a dedicated Leasing & Marketing Manager to own how these homes are presented to the world and how prospects become residents.

This is a marketing-forward leasing role, and it's a builder's seat — you'll stand up the marketing engine, not just keep one running. There's real work waiting: content to rewrite across the portfolio, fresh photography and staging to capture, and listings to get syndicating cleanly across every platform. From there you'll run the full leasing funnel — fast lead response, standout showings, and accurate, compliant lease preparation — and keep our buildings full.

The role is based at our property management office and roves between buildings day to day.

What You'll Own

Marketing & Listings (the heart of this role)

• Drive leasing-marketing for the portfolio — making each distinctive unit shine in its listing rather than settling for templated copy. (Overall brand direction is set by our brand lead; you bring it to life across listings and channels.)
• Manage every online listing and its syndication (AppFolio to Zillow, Apartments.com, and other ILS sites); verify each listing populates accurately and consistently everywhere, and audit syndication daily.
• Rewrite and continually refresh portfolio content — unit and property descriptions, amenities, and neighborhood copy — for accuracy, appeal, and Fair Housing-compliant language.
• Use modern marketing tools — including AI staging and photo/video editing tools — to create compelling marketing materials and syndications.
• Plan and produce photography, video, and virtual tours; build and maintain an organized, current media library.
• Run property social media — content calendar, posting, and engagement — to build awareness and lead flow, in line with our brand lead's guidelines.
• Manage online reputation and reviews; respond promptly and professionally.
• Track marketing performance (lead source, cost per lead, conversion) and report what's working.

Leasing & Conversion

• Respond to new leads quickly and follow up consistently after every tour.
• Schedule and conduct showings — including some evenings and weekends — that present each unit at its best.
• Guide prospects through Fair Housing-compliant applications and screening against established criteria; handle approvals and adverse-action notices professionally.
• Prepare and quality-check leases for accuracy and timeliness, ready for ownership's execution; conduct welcoming move-ins and orientation.
• Own occupancy: minimize vacancy and days-on-market across the portfolio.

Portfolio Knowledge & Site Presence

• Become deeply familiar with the portfolio and its nuances — these buildings are works of art, and no two units are exactly the same — so you can market and show each one on its own merits.
• Perform regular site walks with a sharp eye for detail; submit work orders for anything you spot, and recommend improvements that enhance each property's marketability and curb presence.

Market Research, Pricing & Reporting

• Perform ongoing market research and dial in on every competitor — pricing, concessions, amenities, and positioning.
• Recommend rental pricing (final pricing approved by ownership) and report findings to ownership to drive leasing and pricing strategy.
• Keep leasing and availability data clean in AppFolio and deliver weekly reporting to leadership.

What Success Looks Like

• First 90 days: deep familiarity with every building and unit; every listing audited and syndicating correctly; priority content rewritten and new photos/staging live on the highest-vacancy units; an active social presence underway.
• Ongoing: fast lead response, healthy funnel conversion, and occupancy and days-on-market trending the right way — backed by clear competitor intelligence and weekly reporting to ownership.

Who You Are

• High-energy and highly motivated — you bring momentum to every tour, listing, and follow-up.
• Self-sufficient — you run your own day and priorities without close supervision.
• Detail-obsessed — you notice what others miss, on a listing and on a property walk.
• A natural brand ambassador — you represent our identity well, in person and online, consistent with our brand lead's direction.

What You Bring

Must-haves

• 3+ years in residential leasing and/or property marketing, ideally including a varied or boutique portfolio where no two units are alike (multifamily experience preferred).
• Heavy, hands-on AppFolio experience — this is a must — plus major listing platforms (Zillow, Apartments.com).
• Comfort with modern marketing tools, including AI staging and photo/video editing tools, to produce compelling marketing materials and syndications.
• Strong digital-marketing ability: social media, listing syndication, and persuasive copywriting.
• Working knowledge of Fair Housing law and California rental regulations.
• A sharp visual eye and the maturity to manage your own priorities across marketing projects and time-sensitive leads.
• Valid California driver's license and reliable transportation to rove between our nearby properties.

Nice-to-haves

• Photography, videography, or graphic-design skill.
• Experience standing up a marketing function from scratch.
• Bilingual English/Spanish.
• California real estate license already in hand.

Compensation & Benefits

$80,000 per year, depending on experience, plus a performance bonus tied to occupancy and leasing targets, and benefits. If you're not yet licensed, we'll sponsor and pay for your California real estate licensing coursework, up to $1,500.

Modern Living San Diego is an equal opportunity employer. We comply with all Fair Housing and California fair employment laws and do not discriminate on the basis of any protected characteristic. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees.

Pay: $80,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance

Work Location: In person