Area Manager, Sonoma

As an Area Manager at AvantStay, you'll play a vital role in overseeing day-to-day operations across multiple short-term rental properties in the Sonoma area. Your responsibilities will include supervising market staff, establishing relationships with property owners, addressing guest concerns, ensuring adherence to AvantStay standards, conducting property inspections, and managing inventory levels. Additionally, administrative duties to support daily operations and being part of after-hours market support will also be key components of your role.

The Area Manager role at AvantStay requires at least 2 years of property management experience, preferably with multi-site locations. Candidates should have over a year of experience in people management and familiarity with the hospitality or real estate industries. While not mandatory, an Accredited Residential Manager (ARM) designation and experience with homeowner relations will be considered a plus. Strong self-management skills and the ability to work a flexible schedule are important assets for this position.

The salary range for the Area Manager position at AvantStay is between $70,000 to $80,000 annually, plus performance bonuses and equity options. This competitive compensation package reflects our commitment to attracting top talent in the fast-growing short-term rental industry, ensuring you feel valued for your contributions to our team.

Absolutely! AvantStay provides a generous benefits package for our Area Managers, which includes unlimited paid time off, paid volunteer days, and quarterly mental health days. Company-sponsored insurance covering medical, dental, and vision, along with perks like complimentary stays at AvantStay properties, a fitness stipend, and mileage reimbursement are all part of what makes working with us truly rewarding.

The Area Manager position at AvantStay offers a flexible work schedule as you’ll need to be available on weekends and holidays to meet business needs. Due to the nature of the role, which involves frequent travel to various properties, effective time management and prioritization are essential to ensure smooth operations while also providing top-notch customer service.

When asked about managing multi-site operations, emphasize your experience in delegating tasks effectively, utilizing technology for communication, and maintaining a keen eye on performance metrics. Show how you adapt management styles for different locations and ensure each site adheres to company standards while meeting guest and owner expectations.

Discuss your approach to guest complaints by demonstrating your commitment to responsiveness and resolution. Explain how you prioritize understanding the issue, followed by swift action to ensure satisfaction, including following up to confirm the guest’s happiness with the solution offered.

Share specific examples of how you’ve successfully trained and mentored team members in previous roles. Highlight your approach to setting performance expectations and providing constructive feedback while fostering a supportive team environment that encourages growth.

Illustrate your ability to manage relationships by sharing a situation where you navigated a challenging interaction with a property owner. Emphasize your communication skills, empathy, and techniques for conflict resolution that helped turn the situation around positively.

Discuss how you assess the urgency and importance of tasks, perhaps utilizing tools such as checklists or scheduling software. Mention your adaptability and problem-solving skills when unexpected issues arise, ensuring that customer satisfaction remains a top priority across properties.

Mention important metrics such as guest satisfaction scores, owner retention rates, and property maintenance turnaround times. Explain how tracking these metrics can help ensure that operational goals are met and provide insights for continual improvement.

Prepare a specific example showcasing your analytical skills. Discuss the original process, what you identified as a problem, the solution you implemented, and the positive outcome resulting from your actions, stressing how it benefited both the team and the guests.

Outline your approach to compliance, which could include regular inspections, staff training sessions, and staying updated on industry regulations. Stress the importance of quality control and consistency in maintaining strong guest experiences.

Discuss your philosophy on leadership, focusing on collaboration and support. Share specific strategies, such as team-building activities or open forums for feedback that you have used effectively in previous roles to create a positive and productive workplace culture.

Express your enthusiasm for making a tangible impact in guest experiences and showcasing the properties under your care. Highlight the satisfaction that comes from leading a successful team and turning guest feedback into actionable insights for continuous improvement.