Community Association Manager

Career Guide

A Community Association Manager oversees the day to day operations of residential communities such as condominiums, homeowners associations, and cooperatives. The role balances customer service, vendor management, budgeting, and rule enforcement while supporting the board of directors and keeping the community running smoothly.

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Key Responsibilities

Serve as the primary point of contact for residents and board members
Coordinate board meetings and prepare agendas and meeting notes
Support compliance with community rules and governing documents
Manage vendor selection, contracts, and service quality
Oversee maintenance requests, repairs, and preventative upkeep plans
Build and track annual budgets and monitor spending
Review invoices and support accounts payable processes
Support collection efforts for assessments and fees in line with policy
Handle resident communications such as newsletters, notices, and updates
Support insurance renewals, claims coordination, and risk reduction steps
Maintain accurate records for contracts, projects, and community decisions
Support emergency response coordination and incident follow up

Top Skills for Success

Customer Service

Conflict Resolution

Written Communication

Vendor Management

Budgeting

Contract Review

Project Coordination

Recordkeeping

Policy Enforcement

Meeting Facilitation

Risk Awareness

Property Operations Knowledge

Career Progression

Can Lead To

Senior Community Association Manager

Portfolio Community Manager

Community Association Director

Regional Property Manager Operations Manager

Transition Opportunities

Property Manager Facilities Manager Client Success Manager Compliance Manager Real Estate Operations Manager

Common Skill Gaps

Often Missing Skills

Budget ForecastingReserve PlanningContract NegotiationDe escalationIncident DocumentationService Level ManagementLocal Housing Regulations KnowledgeInsurance Claims Coordination

Development SuggestionsAsk to shadow an experienced manager during budget season, vendor bidding, and board meetings. Build a reusable checklist for maintenance projects and renewals. Practice writing clear resident notices and board summaries. Take a course or certification aligned to community association management and focus on budgeting, governing documents, and ethics.

Market Intelligence Report

Community Association Manager is part of the Business Operations category.Explore our market intelligence report to see how AI and hiring demand are shifting for these roles.

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Salary & Demand

Median Salary Range

Entry LevelUSD 45,000 to 60,000

Mid LevelUSD 60,000 to 85,000

Senior LevelUSD 85,000 to 120,000

Growth Trend

Steady demand driven by ongoing housing development, aging properties needing more coordination, and increasing expectations for responsive resident service.

Companies Hiring

Major Employers

FirstService ResidentialAssociaCommunity Association ManagementRealManageGuardian Community ManagementHawaiiana Management CompanyFSRAlliance Association Bank

Industry Sectors

Community association management firmsProperty management companiesReal estate developersSelf managed community associationsReal estate services companies

Recommended Next Steps

Create a portfolio of examples such as resident notices, vendor bid summaries, and meeting agendas

Strengthen budgeting skills by building a sample annual budget with expense tracking

Develop a vendor management template for bids, contracts, and performance reviews

Learn the community governing documents and practice applying them consistently

Pursue an industry recognized certification relevant to community associations

Prepare interview stories that show calm conflict handling, organized project follow through, and strong resident communication