Assistant Accommodation Manager (Property)

Job Description

The Role
What you’ll do
Who you are – Qualifications, Experience, Knowledge and Skills required
How to apply
Benefits
Employment Visa

The Role

The Accommodation (Property) team are responsible for the operational management of the University’s residential estate, ensuring that all accommodation is safe, compliant, well-maintained, and delivers an excellent living environment for students and visitors. The team are central to ensuring the university meets statutory and regulatory obligations in line with the UUK Accommodation Code of Practice, and support the University’s objectives for student satisfaction, reputation, and income generation.

The Assistant Accommodation Manager (Property)will report to and support the  Senior Accommodation Manager (Property) in the oversight of a range of property related services provided by internal and external stakeholders.  This includes lifecycle planning, planned and reactive maintenance, statutory compliance, and refurbishment activity, working to ensure the residential portfolio remains fit for purpose, resilient, and sustainable.

The Assistant Accommodation Manager (Property) will work  closely with colleagues from Estates, Facilities Management, Student Services, Accommodation & Conference Offices, and other internal and external partners, ensuring that services provided to residents living within university owned and managed accommodation are delivered efficiently, consistently, and to a high professional standard in order to maximise the customer experience and meet a range of compliance obligations

This role of the Accommodation (Property) team is critical to maintaining and enhancing the University’s reputation for high-quality accommodation and plays a significant part in supporting student recruitment, retention, wellbeing, and the overall residential experience.

To make an informal enquiry, please contact Tom Bates at tgb@aber.ac.uk   

Appointments are normally made within 4 - 8 weeks of the closing date.

What you’ll do

This job description is subject to review and amendment in the light of the changing needs of the University, to provide appropriate development opportunities and/or the addition of any other reasonable duties.

Property Management

• Support the Senior Accommodation Manager (Property) to  ensure the residential estate is maintained to a consistently high standard, providing a safe, compliant, and welcoming environment for residents, in line with all relevant housing, building, and landlord legislation, including the UUK Accommodation Code of Practice.
• Play a pivotal role in the oversight of the condition and performance of the building fabric, fixtures, fittings, furnishings, and communal areas, working collaboratively with Estates, Facilities and approved third-party contractor colleagues.
• In conjunction with Estates and approved third-party contractor colleagues, support the monitoring of lifecycle replacement programmes, planned preventative maintenance (PPM), and statutory compliance schedules to ensure assets are maintained effectively and sustainably.
• Take an active role in the oversight of any refurbishment, enhancement, and minor capital works projects, particularly during vacation periods, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to agreed quality standards.
• Act as a point of contact for property-related matters, coordinating and communicating planned and reactive works with residents, University colleagues, and external stakeholders to minimise disruption and manage expectations.

• Identify risks, trends, and opportunities relating to property condition and performance, making recommendations for continuous improvement and future investment.
• Work closely with Accommodation & Conference Office Colleagues, along with internal service providers (namely Estates & Facilities) to support the operationalisation of the summer conferencing period

People Management

• Promote a positive, inclusive, and professional working culture that values teamwork, collaboration, wellbeing, and continuous improvement.
• From time to time, support the direction of service colleagues and 3^rd party contractors
• Act as a key day to day point of contact for internal and external service providers, effectively working to manage stakeholder relationship

Financial Management

• Contribute to the setting, management, and monitoring of the Accommodation budget  to ensure effective use of resources.
• Procure goods, services, and works in accordance with University Financial Regulations and Procurement policies, ensuring transparency and value for money.
• Support the monitoring  and review of contractor performance against agreed KPIs and service-level agreements

Health, Safety & Environmental Sustainability

• Support the Senior Accommodation Manager (Property) in ensuring compliance with health, safety, and fire safety legislation across the residential estate
• Support the Senior Accommodation Manager (Property) in overseeing the completion of risk assessments, fire risk assessments, audits, inspections, and statutory testing, ensuring actions are tracked and closed within agreed timescales.
• Maintain accurate and auditable records of compliance, incidents, and remedial actions.
• Promote a strong health and safety culture among staff, contractors, and residents.
• Support the achievement of University environmental sustainability objectives, including energy efficiency, waste reduction, and responsible resource management.

Information & Systems Management

• Ensure accurate, timely, and secure maintenance of electronic and paper-based records relating to property management, compliance, projects, and operational planning.
• Use  relevant IT systems (e.g. Kinetics, AStRA, ABW, APEX, StarRez, ISARR, Planet FM, QFM) to improve data quality, reporting, and service delivery.
• Support the Senior Accommodation Manager (Property) in the production and analysis of management information to support decision-making, performance monitoring, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure data protection and information governance requirements are adhered to at all times.

Planning, Organising & Operational Readiness

• Support both short-term and long-term operational planning for the residential estate, aligning property activities with the academic calendar and business priorities.
• Support and lead on various aspects of property readiness for major events such as Welcome Weekend, Open Days, and Graduation, as well as transitions between term-time and vacation business.
• Contribute to emergency response, business continuity, and resilience planning, ensuring effective preparedness and coordination in the event of incidents or disruptions.
• Work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders to ensure seamless delivery of services and a positive resident experience.

Other Duties

Undertake other duties as assigned by your line manager, commensurate with the role's grade. 

Proactively support the Residential Life programme to build inclusive communities and foster student well-being, working closely with Student Services and the Students’ Union.

Pro-actively engage with sector associations and colleagues (e.g ASRA, CUBO and the UUK network) to ensure access to best practice and a wider network to support learning opportunities

Engage in other university projects and initiatives as directed, and undertake any additional duties commensurate with the role, as assigned by the line manager. 

Demonstrate flexibility by supporting colleagues during periods of high demand, including attendance at key university events such as open days and graduation ceremonies which may include weekend work. 

Promote equality of opportunity, and support and uphold the University's commitment to diversity and inclusion in all aspects of your work. 

To support the university strategy and underlining plans. Engage in continuous personal and professional development, including relevant training and development activities to develop yourself and support the progress of others.

Fulfil health and safety responsibilities appropriate to the role, while actively promoting the personal health, safety, and wellbeing of staff and students as a member of the Aberystwyth community. Additionally, support the University’s commitment to environmental sustainability through responsible practices and engagement.  

Develop long and short term work schedules to meet the business needs.

Participate in, and help organise an out of hours on call standby rota, in conjunction with the University Standby Policy (www.aber.ac.uk/en/hr/policy-and-procedure/standby).

The above does not represent an exhaustive list of duties associated with this role. 

Who you are – Qualifications, Experience, Knowledge and Skills required

Essential

1. Degree level education, or equivalent knowledge and experience in managing property, accommodation or similar customer focussed related services.
2. Knowledge and/or ability to manage compliance with housing legislation, the Universities UK Accommodation Code of Practice and University regulations.
3. Excellent understanding of health and safety, safeguarding, and customer care in residential or similar settings.
4. Ability to work flexibly and effectively during peak periods, with the ability to manage and deal with challenging situations.
5. Strong communication, interpersonal and negotiation skills with the ability to influence others.
6. IT proficiency, including an ability to work with booking, CRM, or facilities management systems.
7. A proactive, organised, and solution-focused approach to operational challenges.
8. A customer and people centric ethic, with demonstrable skills in customer service and visitor experience.
9. Oral (spoken) and Written Welsh Level B2.

Desirable

1. A full valid driving licence, or the equivalent right to drive in the UK
2. Experience in Higher Education accommodation management.
3. Knowledge of the UUK Code of Practice or similar accommodation standards.
4. Knowledge of accommodation software systems (e.g., StarRez).
5. Oral (spoken) and Written Welsh Level C1.

*More information on Welsh Language Levels can be found at:

https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/hr/policy-and-procedure/welsh-standards/

How to apply

To promote a flexible workforce, the University will consider applications from individuals seeking full time, part time, job share, or term time only working arrangements.

Applications for this role must be made through jobs.aber.ac.uk. You are welcome to apply for any vacancy in Welsh or English and any application submitted will be treated equally.

Benefits

• Flexible working policy
• Hybrid Working 
• 36.5 – hour week for full-time roles
• Generous leave entitlements – 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays and university closed days
• Commitment to Professional Development
• Enhanced contribution to our workplace pension schemes
• Staff recognition and reward schemes
• Opportunity to learn the Welsh language for free
• Staff relocation bursary
• Maternity, Paternity, Parental and Adoption Leave
• Staff discount for gym facilities, hospitality, and retail on campus. 

Please keep reading

Aberystwyth University generally supports hybrid working, allowing a mix of office-based and remote working for suitable roles to enhance flexibility and productivity. Job descriptions typically detail a primary work location alongside opportunities for flexible, remote, or home-based work, subject to service needs and manager approval.

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and communities and, those that are currently underrepresented in our workforce. This includes but is not limited to Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates, candidates with disabilities, and female candidates.

We are a Bilingual Institution which complies with the Welsh Language Standards and is committed to Equal Opportunities. You are welcome to apply for any vacancy in Welsh or English and any application submitted will be treated equally.

Employment Visa

Under the UK Government’s points-based system scheme, this role does not meet the criteria to be sponsored by Aberystwyth University (AU) for a Skilled Worker Route (SWR) application