Residential Life Manager

UniLodge Living Group; Douglas Shire; On-site; AUD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Career progression opportunities

Employee wellbeing focus

Paid parental leave

Uniform provided

Diversity and inclusion culture

Staff discounts

Job summary

UniLodge Living Group is seeking a Residential Life Manager to coordinate the residence community and prioritise resident wellbeing under the guidance of the General Manager.

You will lead pastoral care programs, academic support and events, while ensuring compliance with SAOR standards and contributing to strategic planning and budgeting.

Qualifications

• Experience in student accommodation, university services or pastoral care.
• Strong customer focus and interest in student welfare and enhancing the university experience.
• Understanding of complexities to university life and operational aspects of residential living.
• Leadership skills to support team growth and development.
• Desire to work in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.
• Ability to prioritise tasks and manage time effectively.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Commitment to delivering a high quality and enriched educational, cultural, and social experience for residents.
• Unrestricted work rights in Australia
• National Police Check (within last 3 months) at your own cost
• Working with Children’s Check (QLD) – No Card No Start Legislation applies
• Availability to commit to 38 hours across a Monday to Friday roster

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and support in the management and development of pastoral care programs and academic support within the JCU Halls of Residence.
• Manage and develop events and activities per the Residential Life and Wellbeing Program.
• Ensure the Residential Life Program calendar meets university SAOR standards monthly.
• Assist the GM in monthly and annual reports and the annual Res Life Strategic Plan with budget.
• Build a team through recruitment, coaching and developing a high-performance culture.
• Establish productive relationships with key stakeholders.
• Attend emergencies such as fire alarms and assist residents and colleagues.

Skills

Pastoral care

Student welfare

Leadership

Time management

Communication

Stakeholder engagement

Work rights Australia

Criminal checks readiness

Job description

At UniLodge you will have the opportunity to build a rewarding career, by growing your skills and capability with Australia and New Zealand’s leading provider in student accommodation. Our operation is on an exciting growth trajectory, with a portfolio of close to 140 properties and hotels. As we grow, we are always on the lookout for people who will enrich our culture and bring their unique perspectives and experiences to help UniLodge Group become even better. Join us and embark on an exciting journey to be the operator of choice.

What role will you play

The life of a student has its ups and its downs; and our Res Life team play a key role in enhancing the student engagement of the residential community with a particular emphasis on pastoral care and academic matters.

As the Residential Life Manager (RLM), you will be responsible for facilitating the coordination of the residence as a community under the guidance of the General Manager, with a particular emphasis on resident wellbeing and ensuring the delivery of the Residential Life and Wellbeing Program. More specifically you will:

• Provide leadership and support in the management and development of the pastoral care programs and academic support within the JCU Halls of Residence
• Management, development, and implement events and activities as per the elements of the Residential Life and Wellbeing Program ensuring a balanced variety of events
• Ensuring the Residential Life Program calendar meets the minimum standards of the university’s Student Accommodation Operating Requirements (SAOR) each month.
• Assist the General Manager in the preparation of the monthly & annual reports as well as the submission of the annual Res Life Strategic Plan which incorporates the Annual Budget
• Building a team through recruitment activities, coaching, and developing a high-performance culture
• Establish and maintain a constructive and productive working relationship with all key stakeholders.
• Attendance to emergency situations such as fire alarms and request for assistance from residents and colleagues

What we’re looking for

• Experience in student accommodation, university services or pastoral care
• Strong customer focus and interest in student welfare and enhancing the university experience.
• Demonstrated understanding of the many complexities to university life and operational aspects of residential living.
• Leadership skills to support the growth and ongoing development of your team
• Desire to work in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment
• Ability to prioritise tasks and manager time effectively
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal
• Someone who is a natural at building connections and committed to delivering a high quality and enriched educational, cultural, and social experience for residents.
• Resolve questions, queries and issues raised by team members, residents and prospective residents/visitors
• Unrestricted work rights in Australia
• National Police Check (completed within last 3 months), at your own cost
• Working with Children’s Check (QLD) – No Card No Start Legislation applies
• Availability to commit to 38 hours across a Monday to Friday roster

What we can offer you

• Amplify your potential, we offer a variety of opportunities for career progression
• Personal and professional development, through online and face to face training and courses
• Focus on employee wellbeing to support mental, emotional, financial and physical health & wellbeing, including access to Employee Assistance Programs
• Full uniform provided
• Inclusive culture in a diverse, collaborative and fun team environment
• Various leave options including two weeks paid parental leave, study leave & much more
• Strong focus on employee engagement – annual feedback surveys, and access to our community platform (Viva Engage)
• Performance recognition programs and rewards: ‘On-The-Spot’ Awards, Quarterly Awards, Annual Awards Night, Employee Milestone Rewards
• Flu Vaccinations – Company Funded
• Generous referral bonus (up to $1,000 AUD/NZD)
• Access to Insider Rates at Essence Hotels and Apartments

UniLodge Living Group is committed to providing a safe, respectful, and inclusive workplace. As part of our recruitment process, candidates are required to declare any history of involvement in gender‑based violence, in line with our commitment to integrity, accountability, and the National Higher Education Code.

UniLodge Australia is part of the UniLodge Living Group. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from diverse backgrounds.

We are a 2026 Circle Back Initiative Employer – we commit to respond to every applicant.