Overview
The Student Housing Coordinator, based in Abu Dhabi, will serve as the central point of contact for all student accommodation matters related to scholarship students currently studying in the USA, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. This role ensures that students are placed in safe, culturally appropriate housing, and that any housing-related issues are resolved efficiently across multiple time zones. The ideal candidate will be a highly organized and culturally sensitive professional, fluent in Arabic and English, with excellent communication and problem-solving skills.
Key Responsibilities
1. Remote Provider Liaison & Compliance
- Serve as the primary liaison between Abu Dhabi and international homestay/accommodation providers in the USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
- Ensure all providers meet agreed safety, cultural, and infrastructure standards.
- Monitor service quality and escalate service gaps or compliance issues to internal teams as needed.
2. Student Placement & Welfare Oversight
- Coordinate international housing placements remotely, matching students to providers based on individual profiles and preferences.
- Maintain a complete and accurate database of all student addresses, host family details, housing arrangements, and required consent documentation.
- Provide 24/7 support (via phone, email, or messaging) for urgent student accommodation concerns, coordinating across time zones.
3. Incident Management & Emergency Response
- Triage and manage incidents reported by students, including housing disputes, safety issues, emotional distress, or accommodation failures.
- Arrange short-term alternative housing solutions where needed (e.g., emergency stays or provider changes).
- Document all incidents, actions taken, and follow-ups in the centralized system.
4. Travel & Visa Coordination
- Track key travel and visa information for all students in the assigned countries.
- Alert students and internal teams of upcoming visa expirations 60 days in advance and support coordination of necessary renewals.
- Verify and document travel plans, including airport pickup confirmations and accommodation readiness upon arrival or transfer.
5. Documentation & Reporting
- Maintain an up-to-date accommodation tracker reflecting current placements, incidents, resolutions, and visa status.
- Generate monthly reports on student satisfaction, incident resolution efficiency, and provider compliance.
- Prepare documentation for audits or internal stakeholder reviews.
Core Competencies & Soft Skills
- Communication & Relationship Building Clear, empathetic communicator who builds trust across cultures and time zones.
- Problem-Solving & Resilience Effective under pressure, with the ability to handle urgent housing issues remotely and creatively.
- Cultural Sensitivity Strong awareness of diverse student backgrounds and host country cultural expectations.
- Stakeholder Management Skilled in building productive relationships with students, providers, and institutional partners.
- Attention to Detail High level of accuracy in maintaining records and documenting processes for accountability.
Qualifications & Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in education, Social Work, International Relations, Hospitality, or related field.
- Minimum 3 years of experience in student services, housing coordination, or international education.
- Proficiency in both Arabic and English (written and spoken) is essential.
- Experience working across international time zones and managing remote communications.
- Strong understanding of student support services, particularly in international education contexts.
- Ability to be on call during off-hours to manage urgent accommodation concerns.