Area Manager

Company Overview

At Southern Sands, we are redefining the short-term rental industry by combining exceptional hospitality with innovative technology. As we embark on an exciting journey of national expansion, Southern Sands is poised to become a leading name in vacation rentals across the United States. Our mission is to create unforgettable guest experiences while fostering a culture of inclusion, unity, and excellence.

With a growing portfolio of properties in key markets nationwide, Southern Sands is committed to delivering the highest standards of service and hospitality. We believe that every stay should feel like home, and every guest interaction should leave a lasting impression.

Position Summary

Your market. Your team. The standard our guests and homeowners count on.

Our Guest Experience and Homeowner Support teams work remotely and handle every call and message. When something needs to happen on the ground, it comes to the local team. As Area Manager, you run that team and own the results of the market: the condition of every home, the experience of every guest, and the trust of every homeowner

Galveston is our home market, and it needs one person who owns it. You’ll know every home, every vendor, and every team member, and you’ll be the reason the operation runs the same way on a quiet weekday in February as it does on a sold-out Fourth of July weekend.

This is a hands-on leadership role. Expect to spend much of your week in the market, in homes and with your team, and the rest in our systems, reviewing performance, closing the loop with homeowners, and working with leadership on how we do things better.

The Short Version

A full-time, salaried role at $45,000 to $60,000 with benefits. You lead our Galveston Island operation: you build and coach the local field team, hold every home to our standard, manage the vendors who work on them, and serve as the local point of contact for our homeowners. You’ll answer for how the market performs, and you’ll help shape how we grow.

Key Responsibilities

Lead the Local Team

• Hire, train, and coach the local field team, including Field Operations Managers, housekeeping, and maintenance coordinators

• Set schedules and coverage so every arrival, inspection, and urgent issue has an owner

• Hold the team to our standards with clear expectations, regular check-ins, and honest feedback

• Step in yourself when it counts, from a missed clean to a guest who needs a manager on site

Own the Standard in Every Home

• Audit homes regularly for cleanliness, readiness, safety, and adherence to Southern Sands standards

• Make sure inspections, door code changes, restocking, and turnovers are completed and documented with photos

• Spot quality problems early, decide on the fix, and follow through until it's done

• Keep each home ready for coastal conditions: salt-air corrosion, water intrusion, storm damage, and hurricane-season preparation

Be the Local Face for Homeowners

• Serve as the primary local contact for homeowners in the market and build relationships based on trust

• Give homeowners regular, clear updates on the condition and performance of their homes

• Walk homes with homeowners when they visit, and recommend improvements that protect their investment and the guest experience

• Lead the onboarding of new homes in the market: onboarding inspection, setup, supply levels, and launch readiness

Manage Vendors and Spending

• Build and manage a dependable local network of cleaners, contractors, and service providers

• Collect quotes, follow our spending approval thresholds, and flag when a repair needs homeowner approval

• Make sure every job is tracked in our systems, with notes, photos, who did the work, and what it cost

Run the Market Like a Business

• Track occupancy, revenue, expenses, and quality metrics for the market, and act on what they show

• Review guest and homeowner feedback for patterns, and fix the causes, not just the symptoms

• Report on performance, KPIs, and guest satisfaction to leadership on a regular schedule

• Work with leadership to improve our processes and bring what works in your market to the rest of the company

How Success Is Measured

You'll finalize targets with leadership, but expect your success to be measured by:

• Guest review scores and complaints tied to cleanliness, maintenance, or access

• Inspections and turnovers completed on time and documented

• Time from issue reported to issue resolved

• Homeowner satisfaction and retention across the market

• Market occupancy, revenue, and expenses against goal

• Team retention and performance

We share the numbers openly. You'll always know where you stand.

Required Qualifications

• Experienced in hospitality. You have 3+ years in short-term or vacation rental property management, or in hospitality operations

• A proven leader. You've managed, motivated, and developed a team, and you hold people accountable without losing them

• Organized under pressure. You can prioritize across many homes and many moving parts in a fast-paced, seasonal market

• A problem-solver. You make sound calls on your own and find creative fixes when the obvious one won't work

• A strong communicator. You build rapport with guests, homeowners, vendors, and your team, in writing and in person

• Comfortable with technology. You're at ease with property management software, CRM tools, and VoIP phone systems, and you learn new apps quickly

• Driven by results. You read the numbers, know what moves them, and act

• Local and available. You live in Galveston County, have a valid driver's license, reliable transportation, and auto insurance, and can work nights, weekends, and holidays as the season demands

• Trustworthy. You'll hold access to our homeowners' homes and must pass a background check

Preferred Qualifications

• Vacation rental or hospitality maintenance experience.

• EPA 608 certification or HVAC training.

• Pool and hot tub maintenance experience.

• Familiarity with smart locks, thermostats, or Zoho.

• Spanish fluency.

Pay & Benefits

We take care of the people who take care of our homeowners.

Annual Salary: $45,000 – $60,000, based on experience

Benefits

• Health, dental, and vision insurance

• Paid time off and paid company holidays

• Travel perks and discounts at Southern Sands properties

• Room to grow as part of our national expansion