diff --git a/taccsite_cms/__init__.py b/taccsite_cms/__init__.py
index 4027ed4d2..3d498b5fa 100755
--- a/taccsite_cms/__init__.py
+++ b/taccsite_cms/__init__.py
@@ -1,6 +1,3 @@
-# from django.conf import settings
-#
-# if settings.CONSOLE_LOG_ENABLED:
-#     print("--> Parsing  FILE: cms-template-setup01/taccsite_cms/__init__.py")
+from .apps import TaccsiteCmsConfig
 
-# print("--> Parsing  FILE: cms-template-setup01/taccsite_cms/__init__.py")
+default_app_config = f'{TaccsiteCmsConfig.name}.apps.TaccsiteCmsConfig'
diff --git a/taccsite_cms/apps.py b/taccsite_cms/apps.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f3bdc022a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/taccsite_cms/apps.py
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+import logging
+from django.apps import AppConfig
+from django.db.models.signals import post_migrate
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(f"portal.{__name__}")
+
+class TaccsiteCmsConfig(AppConfig):
+    name = 'taccsite_cms'
+    verbose_name = 'TACC CMS'
+
+    def ready(self):
+        post_migrate.connect(self.create_groups, sender=self)
+
+    def create_groups(self, sender, **kwargs):
+        from django.contrib.auth.models import Group
+
+        from .management.commands.group_perms.text_editor_basic import \
+            set_group_perms as add_text_editor_basic, GROUP_NAME
+        from .management.commands.group_perms.text_editor_advanced import \
+            set_group_perms as add_text_editor_advanced
+        from .management.commands.group_perms.media_editor_basic import \
+            set_group_perms as add_media_editor_basic
+        from .management.commands.group_perms.media_editor_advanced import \
+            set_group_perms as add_media_editor_advanced
+        from .management.commands.group_perms.grid_editor_basic import \
+            set_group_perms as add_grid_editor_basic
+        from .management.commands.group_perms.grid_editor_advanced import \
+            set_group_perms as add_grid_editor_advanced
+
+        groups_exist = Group.objects.filter(name=GROUP_NAME).exists()
+        action = 'Updating' if groups_exist else 'Creating'
+
+        logger.info(f'{action} CMS groups via post_migrate signal')
+        try:
+            add_text_editor_basic()
+            add_text_editor_advanced()
+            add_media_editor_basic()
+            add_media_editor_advanced()
+            add_grid_editor_basic()
+            add_grid_editor_advanced()
+            logger.info(f'Finished {action.lower()} CMS groups')
+        except Exception as e:
+            logger.error(f'Error creating CMS groups: {e}', exc_info=True)
diff --git a/taccsite_cms/migrations/0001_add_groups.py b/taccsite_cms/migrations/0001_add_groups.py
index 94ef39471..84159279b 100644
--- a/taccsite_cms/migrations/0001_add_groups.py
+++ b/taccsite_cms/migrations/0001_add_groups.py
@@ -1,42 +1,13 @@
 from django.db import migrations
 
-def add_groups(apps, schema_editor):
-    from taccsite_cms.management.commands.group_perms.text_editor_basic import set_group_perms as add_text_editor_basic
-    from taccsite_cms.management.commands.group_perms.text_editor_advanced import set_group_perms as add_text_editor_advanced
-    from taccsite_cms.management.commands.group_perms.media_editor_basic import set_group_perms as add_media_editor_basic
-    from taccsite_cms.management.commands.group_perms.media_editor_advanced import set_group_perms as add_media_editor_advanced
-    from taccsite_cms.management.commands.group_perms.grid_editor_basic import set_group_perms as add_grid_editor_basic
-    from taccsite_cms.management.commands.group_perms.grid_editor_advanced import set_group_perms as add_grid_editor_advanced
+# No-op since group creation became handled by post_migrate signal (see apps.py)
 
-    add_text_editor_basic()
-    add_text_editor_advanced()
-    add_media_editor_basic()
-    add_media_editor_advanced()
-    add_grid_editor_basic()
-    add_grid_editor_advanced()
+# Retained for backwards-compatibility / migration history integrity
 
-def remove_groups(apps, schema_editor):
-    from taccsite_cms.management.commands.group_perms.text_editor_basic import GROUP_NAME as text_editor_basic_name
-    from taccsite_cms.management.commands.group_perms.text_editor_advanced import GROUP_NAME as text_editor_advanced_name
-    from taccsite_cms.management.commands.group_perms.media_editor_basic import GROUP_NAME as media_editor_basic_name
-    from taccsite_cms.management.commands.group_perms.media_editor_advanced import GROUP_NAME as media_editor_advanced_name
-    from taccsite_cms.management.commands.group_perms.grid_editor_basic import GROUP_NAME as grid_editor_basic_name
-    from taccsite_cms.management.commands.group_perms.grid_editor_advanced import GROUP_NAME as grid_editor_advanced_name
-
-    Group = apps.get_model('auth', 'Group')
-
-    group_names = [
-        text_editor_basic_name,
-        text_editor_advanced_name,
-        media_editor_basic_name,
-        media_editor_advanced_name,
-        grid_editor_basic_name,
-        grid_editor_advanced_name,
-    ]
-
-    Group.objects.filter(name__in=group_names).delete()
+def noop(apps, schema_editor):
+    pass
 
 class Migration(migrations.Migration):
     operations = [
-        migrations.RunPython(add_groups, reverse_code=remove_groups),
+        migrations.RunPython(noop),
     ]
diff --git a/taccsite_cms/models.py b/taccsite_cms/models.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a4ab5bd27
--- /dev/null
+++ b/taccsite_cms/models.py
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+from django.db import models
+
+class DummyModel(models.Model):
+    """
+    Exists solely to trigger Django to send post_migrate signal (see apps.py)
+    """
+    class Meta:
+        app_label = 'taccsite_cms'