diff --git a/internal/controller/postgresqldatabase_controller.go b/internal/controller/postgresqldatabase_controller.go
index 785bcf2..e3e5577 100644
--- a/internal/controller/postgresqldatabase_controller.go
+++ b/internal/controller/postgresqldatabase_controller.go
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ func (r *PostgreSQLDatabaseReconciler) reconcile(ctx context.Context, reqLogger
 	status.host = host
 	reqLogger = reqLogger.WithValues("host", host)
 
-	if err := r.runPreflight(reqLogger, host, *adminCredentials); err != nil {
+	if err := r.prepareHost(reqLogger, host, *adminCredentials); err != nil {
 		return status, err
 	}
 
@@ -290,11 +290,10 @@ func (r *PostgreSQLDatabaseReconciler) EnsurePostgreSQLDatabase(ctx context.Cont
 	return nil
 }
 
-// runPreflight opens an admin connection to the host and verifies controller
-// invariants (superuser role membership) before any reconcile work. The
-// connection is closed before returning - the downstream postgres.Database
-// call opens its own.
-func (r *PostgreSQLDatabaseReconciler) runPreflight(log logr.Logger, host string, admin postgres.Credentials) error {
+// prepareHost opens an admin connection to the host, runs preflight checks,
+// and ensures the management role exists. The connection is closed before
+// returning - the downstream postgres.Database call opens its own.
+func (r *PostgreSQLDatabaseReconciler) prepareHost(log logr.Logger, host string, admin postgres.Credentials) error {
 	db, err := postgres.Connect(postgres.ConnectionString{
 		Host:     host,
 		Database: "postgres",
@@ -303,10 +302,17 @@ func (r *PostgreSQLDatabaseReconciler) runPreflight(log logr.Logger, host string
 		Params:   admin.Params,
 	})
 	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("preflight: connect to host %s: %w", host, err)
+		return fmt.Errorf("prepare host %s: connect: %w", host, err)
 	}
 	defer db.Close()
-	return postgres.Preflight(log, db, r.SuperuserRoleName)
+
+	if err := postgres.Preflight(log, db, r.SuperuserRoleName); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if err := postgres.EnsureManagerRole(log, db, r.ManagerRoleName); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("prepare host %s: ensure management role: %w", host, err)
+	}
+	return nil
 }
 
 type adminCredentialsParams struct {
diff --git a/pkg/postgres/manager_role.go b/pkg/postgres/manager_role.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6955738
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/postgres/manager_role.go
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+package postgres
+
+import (
+	"database/sql"
+	"fmt"
+
+	"github.com/go-logr/logr"
+	"github.com/lib/pq"
+)
+
+// EnsureManagerRole creates the management role on db if it does not
+// already exist. The connecting user must have privileges to create roles.
+// Idempotent: a duplicate_object error is treated as a no-op.
+func EnsureManagerRole(log logr.Logger, db *sql.DB, role string) error {
+	if role == "" {
+		return fmt.Errorf("ensure manager role: role name is empty")
+	}
+	return tryExec(log, db, tryExecReq{
+		objectType: "management role",
+		errorCode:  "duplicate_object",
+		query:      fmt.Sprintf("CREATE ROLE %s", pq.QuoteIdentifier(role)),
+	})
+}
diff --git a/pkg/postgres/manager_role_test.go b/pkg/postgres/manager_role_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d20a187
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/postgres/manager_role_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+package postgres_test
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+	"go.lunarway.com/postgresql-controller/pkg/postgres"
+	"go.lunarway.com/postgresql-controller/test"
+)
+
+func TestEnsureManagerRole_createsAndIsIdempotent(t *testing.T) {
+	host := test.Integration(t)
+	log := test.SetLogger(t)
+
+	db := preflightAdminConn(t, host)
+	defer db.Close()
+
+	role := fmt.Sprintf("ensure_manager_%d", time.Now().UnixNano())
+	defer func() {
+		_, _ = db.Exec(fmt.Sprintf("DROP ROLE %s", role))
+	}()
+
+	require.NoError(t, postgres.EnsureManagerRole(log, db, role), "first call should create the role")
+
+	var exists bool
+	require.NoError(t, db.QueryRow(`SELECT EXISTS(SELECT 1 FROM pg_roles WHERE rolname = $1)`, role).Scan(&exists))
+	assert.True(t, exists, "role should exist after EnsureManagerRole")
+
+	assert.NoError(t, postgres.EnsureManagerRole(log, db, role), "second call should be a no-op")
+}
+
+func TestEnsureManagerRole_emptyName(t *testing.T) {
+	log := test.SetLogger(t)
+	err := postgres.EnsureManagerRole(log, nil, "")
+	require.Error(t, err)
+	assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), "role name is empty")
+}