Commercial Property Manager - Retail

Property Manager — Retail Shopping Centers

Learn more about the general tasks related to this opportunity below, as well as required skills.
Location: Chicago, IL (Western Suburbs) — office-based with regular travel to properties across the Chicago area
Pay Rate: $75,000–$85,000 base salary (based on experience), plus a discretionary year-end bonus
OverviewOur client is a family-owned retail real estate company with decades of history and a multi-state portfolio of grocery-anchored and community shopping centers — the neighborhood centers people count on for groceries, everyday essentials, and local services. They run those centers with an unusual combination of hands-on care and a technology-forward mindset: a data-driven operation with prop-tech, data, and AI tools, paired with a genuine commitment to the communities their centers serve.Chicago is one of the company's fastest-growing markets. The local portfolio has expanded significantly over the past few years, more centers are on the way, and the team needs another Property Manager to keep pace. This seat sits on a small, close-knit Chicago team alongside the Regional Property Manager and an Operations Assistant — which means real visibility, real ownership, and a scope that grows right along with the portfolio.
Day-to-DayDay-to-day operations across a multi-center Chicago-area portfolio — walking sites regularly to make sure every center meets company standards for physical condition, performance, and tenant experienceBuilding and managing operating and capital budgets, and keeping expenses under controlRunning capital projects from planning through completionServing as the primary relationship for tenants, vendors, and community stakeholdersSourcing and managing vendors and third-party service contracts — there's no in-house maintenance team, so the Property Manager is the hub that keeps every site runningProviding leasing insight on tenant performance and center dynamics (leasing itself is handled by a dedicated leasing team)Partnering closely with accounting, marketing, and leasing — accounting owns CAM reconciliations and rent collection, so the Property Manager can stay focused on the propertiesKeeping properties compliant with legal, regulatory, and environmental requirements, and responding to after-hours emergencies when they ariseThe Property Manager will work day to day in Excel, Outlook, and a cloud-based AP/invoice approval platform.
Compensation & PerksBase salary: $75,000–$85,000, based on experienceDiscretionary year-end bonus, awarded at the company holiday partyMileage reimbursement for travel between propertiesSchedule: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–6:00 PM (40 hours/week), with occasional after-hours emergency responseMedical coverage with a fully company-paid HMO option, plus a PPO buy-upDental, vision, and FSACompany-provided life insurance and long-term disability coverageBenefits navigation and virtual care tools to help employees get the most out of their coverage401(k) with a 50% company match on the first 6% contributedA social, collaborative culture — team potlucks, birthday lunches, and company events, etcReal growth runway: as the Chicago portfolio grows, so does the role, with a path toward a Senior Property Manager title
RequirementsCommercial property management experience — retail or shopping center experience strongly preferred, though strong commercial backgrounds without retail will be considered.Experienced Assistant Commercial Property Managers who are ready to step into a full Property Manager seat are encouraged to applyHands-on experience with budgeting, vendor management, and capital projectsIllinois real estate licenseBased in Chicago's western suburbs and comfortable driving between multiple properties throughout the weekValid driver's license and reliable transportationResidential-only property management backgrounds will not be a fit for this role
Nice to have:Retail real estate or facilities experience from the tenant side — for example, with a national off-price or value-focused retail chainShopping center management experience in the Chicago marketComfort with prop-tech, data, and AI tools
Background check and credit check required.
This is not a remote position — this role is office-based with regular in-person travel to properties across the Chicago area. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. xzbcwsv Our client is an equal opportunity employer; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.