Assistant Operations Manager - Student Accommodation (Fixed Term Contract)

Student Roost; Belfast City District; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 35,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life assurance

Pension scheme

Cycle to work

34 days annual leave

Props store discount scheme

Employee assistance programme

Job summary

Student Roost in Belfast invites applications for an Assistant Operations Manager at John Bell House. The role supports the day-to-day experience of residents, leads front-line staff, and ensures safe, well-run accommodation with a personal touch.

The Fixed Term Contract runs until July 2027, offering 37.5 hours per week, a salary of £30,000 per year, and benefits including life assurance, pension, cycle to work and substantial annual leave.

Qualifications

• Leadership experience in a customer-focused environment
• Staff supervision and coaching
• Strong communication and collaboration skills
• Commercial awareness with ability to drive service excellence
• Commitment to safety and building compliance

Responsibilities

• Lead the management of onsite departments and foster a collaborative team culture.
• Demonstrate high levels of service in all interactions and drive a personal, professional approach.
• Support the Operations Manager with financial performance of the property.
• Build relationships with team members, contractors and universities.
• Promote safety-first operations and compliance with statutory obligations.

Job description

Assistant Operations Manager - Student Accommodation (Fixed Term Contract)

We are looking for someone to join our Roost on a full time permanent basis, with the successful candidate working full time, 5 days out of 7 between 8am & 8pm. Our new Assistant Operations Manager will become a key part of our existing, friendly and experienced property team at our John Bell House property in Belfast.

Job Title - Assistant Operations Manager

Salary - £30,000 per annum

Hours- 37.5 per week

Employment - Fixed Term Contract until July 2027

Benefits - Life assurance, Pension scheme, cycle to work, 34 days annual leave, Props store discount scheme, employee assistance programme & more

At Student Roost, we believe in creating an inclusive, diverse, and supportive workplace where everyone has equal opportunities to succeed. As a Disability Confident employer, we are committed to accessibility, fairness, and ensuring that all our team members can thrive in their roles.

We operate purpose-built student accommodation across the UK, with over 22,000 beds and ambitious plans for growth. Our students' welfare, safety, and experience are at the heart of everything we do, and our people are our greatest asset. We always strive to do the right thing in the right way!

About the Role

As Assistant Operations Manager, you'll play a pivotal role in shaping the day-to-day experience of our residents—from the moment they arrive to the day they check out. Working closely with the wider team, you'll help ensure our accommodation runs smoothly, safely, and with a personal touch. You'll lead and support a team of front-line staff, setting the tone for service excellence and fostering a culture of accountability, care, and collaboration. Whether it's overseeing maintenance requests, managing contractors, resolving issues, or coaching team members, you'll be a visible and trusted presence. You'll support students through the highs and lows of university life, helping to create a welcoming, well-run environment they're proud to call home. Every detail matters—and so do you.

Key Responsibilities

OWN

• Lead the management of certain onsite departments and be the magic ingredient that brings the team together.
• A champion always leads by example. Demonstrate a personal desire for high levels of service in all your interactions.
• Be commercial savvy, helping to drive sales and marketing to achieve great results.
• Every student is different and so are the teams that work in our properties. Don't leave your personality at the door and please bring your whole self to work – it's this 'you' we want to see every day.

DO

• Always strive for the best, supporting the Operations Manager with the financial performance of the property.
• Build relationships with team members, third party contractors and universities to understand how our buildings provide more than a room.
• Adopt an unapologetic safety first approach to operating safe and secure properties in line with all statutory, legal, and moral obligations.

TEACH

• You'll thrive on delivering a great customer experience and work closely with team members to always be welcoming and provide a safe backdrop to our residents' time at university, giving them one less thing to worry about.
• You will work with team members to ensure that the physical appearance of properties is of the highest standard.
• Develop and guide the team along your journey of ensuring we fill our properties all year round, with residents who want to stay year after year.

LEARN

• Commit to the growth of your personal development and the team members around you.
• You'll be the subject expert in all things related to the day to day running of our buildings, ensuring that all team members are able to deliver the best experience for residents.
• Understand your team, what motivates and drives them to ensure we sell out our buildings, and that they are safe and compliant.
• Work with our centre of excellence to know and understand how to deal with queries from Finance, People, Health and Safety, Marketing and Procurement.

COLLABORATE

• Work closely with the wider team: our people are great and you can be part of that! You will work particularly closely with various business units and operational teams to help assist with the running of the building, ensuring that we deliver the best customer experience.
• Our value Be Bold, Be Heard instils an open culture where we want to hear new ideas and how we can implement solutions to improve.

Physical & Workplace Adjustments

• The role is based between the front desk and the accommodation itself so there are times where you will be desk-bound and equally times where you will be carrying out inspections or conducting site viewings. There are also times where you will be required to move quickly at short notice such as fire alarm activations and residents getting locked out of rooms. If these are areas where you may need adjustments or if you require adjustments for an on site interview, please let us know.
• We are committed to making reasonable adjustments for employees with disabilities or long-term conditions to support them in performing their role effectively.
• This role involves managing multiple priorities, and there may be periods of increased workload due to seasonal business needs.
• We recognise the importance of wellbeing and encourage open conversations about workload management and support mechanisms for all employees.
• Every day in this role is different, so adaptability and a solutions-focused mindset are key.

Why Join Us?

• A supportive and inclusive workplace that values diversity.
• Opportunities for professional development and career growth.
• A commitment to employee wellbeing, with reasonable adjustments available to support all colleagues.
• The chance to be part of a team making a real difference in the student experience.

Psst... there are some challenges too.

• You're the bridge between the team who keep the property running and the Operations Manager, so there might be times when you don't have full sight of the information your manager may be privy to. You'll need to have the skills to make judgement calls when necessary, and to work with the information available to you.
• You'll often be part of the Customer Service Advisor rotation, covering shifts when there is absence amongst the team. You'll need to be able to keep all of the important plates spinning, while maintaining the exceptional level of customer service that our residents deserve.

We encourage applicants from all backgrounds, including those with disabilities, and are happy to discuss any reasonable adjustments needed to support your application or role.

If you are passionate about resident experience, highly organised, and committed to working in an inclusive and forward-thinking environment, we'd love to hear from you!

Please note that as part of our safety first culture - this role is subject to requiring a Basic DBS check as part of our pre-employment checks.

Assistant Operations Manager - Student Accommodation (Fixed Term Contract)