Finding a NEW HOA Manager

KathleenN (Colorado)
Posts: 4

Posted:

Hello all - any recommendations on great job boards or recruiting organizations for finding a new HOA manager. Our HOA is very large with single family, multi family and commercial buildings. We need a positive energetic and knowledgable professional and looking for any ideas on the best way to find that person.
Thanks!

MaxB4
Posts: 3,513

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By KathleenN on 12/18/2021 2:16 PM
Hello all - any recommendations on great job boards or recruiting organizations for finding a new HOA manager. Our HOA is very large with single family, multi family and commercial buildings. We need a positive energetic and knowledgable professional and looking for any ideas on the best way to find that person.
Thanks!

How large is your association.

ThadC2 (Florida)
Posts: 820

Posted:

CALL existing management companies in your local area and ask what their salary is. If you can pay more, they might jump ship to work for you.

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836

Posted:

First you seem to be looking for "personality" versus the "requirements". Anyone can be "happy and energetic" doing a bad job. What you need to be focusing on is what your HOA needs and wants in a HOA manager. Leave the personablity out of it.

What do you want them to do? Do you want them to write violation letters? Do you want to write the checks? Do you want them to hire contractors? Do you want them to be responsible to be a "general contractor"? Is it accounting?

Time to look at the work of the HOA. Your deciding to pay a contractor to do the work the board doesn't want to do, doesn't know how to do, or too lazy to do. That is what your hiring a PM for.

Former HOA President

KathleenN (Colorado)
Posts: 4

Posted:

Thanks folks for the feedback, much appreciated. The POA is actually quite large with over 900 property owners. Just to clarify, of course we have a full job description that outlines our requirements and desired requirements and a list of job responsibilities. I did not post that here as I am looking for any unique ideas on where to post the position or ideas on how any of you have found a great manager. I will use the "mega" sites like Indeed and possibly LinkedIn but I am thinking association or professional organization job boards may be more effective. We are a mountain resort community so we really want to hire locally but that can be challenging. Thanks again for the comments and thanks in advance for any additional ideas.

KathleenN (Colorado)
Posts: 4

Posted:

Thanks folks for the feedback, much appreciated. The POA is actually quite large with over 900 property owners. Just to clarify, of course we have a full job description that outlines our requirements and desired requirements and a list of job responsibilities. I did not post that here as I am looking for any unique ideas on where to post the position or ideas on how any of you have found a great manager. I will use the "mega" sites like Indeed and possibly LinkedIn but I am thinking association or professional organization job boards may be more effective. We are a mountain resort community so we really want to hire locally but that can be challenging. Thanks again for the comments and thanks in advance for any additional ideas.

MaxB4
Posts: 3,513

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By KathleenN on 12/19/2021 8:39 AM
Thanks folks for the feedback, much appreciated. The POA is actually quite large with over 900 property owners. Just to clarify, of course we have a full job description that outlines our requirements and desired requirements and a list of job responsibilities. I did not post that here as I am looking for any unique ideas on where to post the position or ideas on how any of you have found a great manager. I will use the "mega" sites like Indeed and possibly LinkedIn but I am thinking association or professional organization job boards may be more effective. We are a mountain resort community so we really want to hire locally but that can be challenging. Thanks again for the comments and thanks in advance for any additional ideas.

If you email me at [email protected], I can give you contact info on a HOA headhunter who specializes in recruiting managers for associations like yours.

LisaB21 (Texas)
Posts: 97

Posted:

Is this 'HOA Manager" directly employed by your Homeowners Association rather than by a community/property management firm that has a contract to manage your community?

KathleenN (Colorado)
Posts: 4

Posted:

@LisaB21 - the manager is an employee of the POA.

LisaB21 (Texas)
Posts: 97

Posted:

Who directs/manages the "HOA Manager"? I think a better title would be Community Manager since this position should be managed by the HOA Board of Directors, not a manager of the HOA. Just a thought to be clear about what this persons responsibilities are. They work at the direction of the Board of Directors, correct?

MaxB4
Posts: 3,513

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By LisaB21 on 12/19/2021 6:55 PM
Who directs/manages the "HOA Manager"? I think a better title would be Community Manager since this position should be managed by the HOA Board of Directors, not a manager of the HOA. Just a thought to be clear about what this persons responsibilities are. They work at the direction of the Board of Directors, correct?

Generally, a person managing a community of this size would be called a General Manager.

LisaB21 (Texas)
Posts: 97

Posted:

General Manager is good - just not HOA Manager which implies that this person manages the HOA.

MichaelS56 (Minnesota)
Posts: 859

Posted:

What other daily HOA staff do you employ such as landscaper, or maintenance staff?

BarbaraT1 (Texas)
Posts: 821

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By MelissaP1 on 12/19/2021 7:05 AM
First you seem to be looking for "personality" versus the "requirements". Anyone can be "happy and energetic" doing a bad job. What you need to be focusing on is what your HOA needs and wants in a HOA manager. Leave the personablity out of it.

What do you want them to do? Do you want them to write violation letters? Do you want to write the checks? Do you want them to hire contractors? Do you want them to be responsible to be a "general contractor"? Is it accounting?

Time to look at the work of the HOA. Your deciding to pay a contractor to do the work the board doesn't want to do, doesn't know how to do, or too lazy to do. That is what your hiring a PM for.

Personality is a HUGE factor.

This is a relationship industry. The success of a manager/board relationship is enormously dependent on how well the personalities mesh. And since board personalities are a mixed bag - and constantly changing - a good manager needs to be adaptable to whatever the makeup of the board is.

MaxB4
Posts: 3,513

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By MelissaP1 on 12/19/2021 7:05 AM
First you seem to be looking for "personality" versus the "requirements". Anyone can be "happy and energetic" doing a bad job. What you need to be focusing on is what your HOA needs and wants in a HOA manager. Leave the personablity out of it.

What do you want them to do? Do you want them to write violation letters? Do you want to write the checks? Do you want them to hire contractors? Do you want them to be responsible to be a "general contractor"? Is it accounting?

Time to look at the work of the HOA. Your deciding to pay a contractor to do the work the board doesn't want to do, doesn't know how to do, or too lazy to do. That is what your hiring a PM for.

WOW, the hits just keep on coming.

KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550

Posted:

Based on what you've written, Kathleen, I think you do want to conduct a national search. Max probably does have info to help. There may be very few who're qualified to manage an HOA of your size/complexity.

Are those who service your assn. in other ways also direct employees? Maintenance/engineer types? Security? etc.? Is your Assn. required to have a manager as a director employee? Or could s/he have a reputable firms as an employer to back up the manager with all kinds of services?

BarbaraT1 (Texas)
Posts: 821

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By KathleenN on 12/19/2021 8:39 AM
Thanks folks for the feedback, much appreciated. The POA is actually quite large with over 900 property owners. Just to clarify, of course we have a full job description that outlines our requirements and desired requirements and a list of job responsibilities. I did not post that here as I am looking for any unique ideas on where to post the position or ideas on how any of you have found a great manager. I will use the "mega" sites like Indeed and possibly LinkedIn but I am thinking association or professional organization job boards may be more effective. We are a mountain resort community so we really want to hire locally but that can be challenging. Thanks again for the comments and thanks in advance for any additional ideas.

Your local CAI chapter will have a job board. There is also at least one firm that recruits for property management jobs. We can't name business names here but hopefully astute Googling will enable to you to find it.

MaxB4
Posts: 3,513

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By BarbaraT1 on 12/20/2021 1:05 PM

Posted By KathleenN on 12/19/2021 8:39 AM
Thanks folks for the feedback, much appreciated. The POA is actually quite large with over 900 property owners. Just to clarify, of course we have a full job description that outlines our requirements and desired requirements and a list of job responsibilities. I did not post that here as I am looking for any unique ideas on where to post the position or ideas on how any of you have found a great manager. I will use the "mega" sites like Indeed and possibly LinkedIn but I am thinking association or professional organization job boards may be more effective. We are a mountain resort community so we really want to hire locally but that can be challenging. Thanks again for the comments and thanks in advance for any additional ideas.

Your local CAI chapter will have a job board. There is also at least one firm that recruits for property management jobs. We can't name business names here but hopefully astute Googling will enable to you to find it.

I emailed her already the name.