Homestay Coordinator

Education First; Bournemouth; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 27,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee Assistance Program

EF Hello language learning

Job summary

EF Bournemouth International Language Campus is seeking a student-focused Homestay Coordinator to support our international students through their homestay experience. The role centers on customer service, welfare, communication and quality assurance.

You will recruit host families, manage student and host expectations, resolve accommodation issues, monitor welfare for under-18s, and coordinate moves with the Homestay Manager to ensure a high-quality, safe homestay environment.

Qualifications

• Strong customer service background, ideally in a student-facing or accommodation-based role.
• Confident communicator, comfortable speaking with students and host families in-person, by phone and/or email.
• Calm, empathetic, and solution-focused, particularly when managing complaints or sensitive situations.
• Highly organised with strong attention to detail.
• Culturally sensitive and understanding of the needs of international students.
• Flexible and hands-on approach, including occasional out-of-hours support due to welfare needs.
• Competent with Microsoft Office and CRM/database systems (desirable).
• All offers subject to an enhanced DBS check and two references.
• Must have the legal right to work in the UK at the commencement of employment.

Responsibilities

• Build and manage EF Bournemouth’s homestay community from host recruitment to student support.
• Recruit and develop host families and maintain strong relationships.
• Resolve accommodation concerns and coordinate moves.
• Conduct home visits, revisits and welfare checks for under-18 students.
• Maintain accommodation records in EF’s systems.
• Work with the Homestay Manager to ensure peak period capacity and arrivals/departures.

Skills

Customer service

Communication

Empathy

Organised

Cultural sensitivity

Tools

CRM systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

Bournemouth, Dorset, United Kingdom (On-site)

• Full time
• EF Language Abroad
• Entry-Level
• Operations

EF (Education First) Bournemouth International Language Campus is seeking a student-focused Homestay Coordinatorto support our international students throughout their homestay experience. This role sits at the heart of the student journey and is heavily focused on customer service, welfare, communication and quality assurance.

• Full time, fixed-term contract
• 40 hours per week
• Schedule; Monday to Friday

Careers at EF | Open the world with us

At EF Education First, we believe the world is better when people strive to understand one another. With 600+ schools and offices in 50 countries, we offer immersive programs in language, travel, cultural exchange, and academics, turning dreams into global opportunities. Join us in our shared mission of opening the world through education.

You will play a key role in building and managing EF Bournemouth’s homestay community, from recruiting and developing new host families through to supporting students throughout their accommodation experience. You will build strong relationships with hosts, manage student and host expectations, resolve accommodation concerns and coordinate moves where necessary, while ensuring a consistently high-quality homestay experience.

The role also includes quality monitoring through home visits, revisits and welfare checks for under-18 students, alongside ownership of host recruitment targets and KPIs.

Key Responsibilities

Student-Facing Support & Customer Service

• Manage the Homestay customer service desk & act as a primary point of contact for students regarding homestay accommodation queries, concerns, and expectations
• Support students through homestay challenges, including expectation management, conflict resolution, and accommodation moves
• Coordinate student relocations when required, ensuring minimal disruption and clear communication

Host Family Recruitment

• Proactively contact prospective homestay providers by phone or at recruitment events to introduce EF, build relationships, and encourage them to join our homestay community
• Attend local recruitment events or organize info sessions at community centres to present the benefits of hosting international students
• Own and manage sales pipeline, from generating leads to following up and converting, hitting key KPIs

Host Family Communication & Support

• Handle inbound and outbound phone calls with host families, providing guidance, reassurance, and issue resolution
• Conduct regular check-in calls with host families to maintain strong relationships and address concerns early
• Support host families in understanding student needs, EF standards, and cultural expectations

Quality Assurance & Welfare

• Carry out new and revisits and quality checks to ensure ongoing compliance with EF requirements
• Conduct under-18 welfare checks in line with safeguarding standards

Administration & Coordination

• Process and maintain accurate accommodation records using EF’s internal systems
• Work closely with the Homestay Manager to ensure sufficient capacity and smooth arrivals and departures, particularly during peak periods
• Respond quickly to urgent or emergency accommodation situations

Requirements

• Strong customer service background, ideally in a student-facing or accommodation-based role
• Confident communicator, comfortable speaking with students and host families in-person, by phone and/or email
• Calm, empathetic, and solution-focused, particularly when managing complaints or sensitive situations
• Highly organised with strong attention to detail
• Culturally sensitive and understanding of the needs of international students living away from home
• Flexible and hands-on approach, including occasional out-of-hours support due to welfare needs
• Competent with Microsoft Office and CRM/database systems (desirable)
• All offers subject to an enhanced DBS check and two references
• Must have the legal right to work in the UK at the commencement of employment

Why you will love working with EF

• Work in a truly international environment
• Ambition is nurtured and fast-tracked career enhancement opportunities are provided
• Staff are encouraged to innovate, take ownership of their ideas and bring them to fruition
• Employee Assistance Program
• Access to EF Hello language learning

EF is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. References will be followed up and will ask specifically whether there is any reason that the applicant should not be engaged in situations where they have responsibility for, or substantial access to, persons under 18. Upon interview all gaps in CVs must be explained satisfactorily and proof of identity and, where applicable, qualifications will be required. Appropriate suitability checks will be required prior to confirmation of appointment.

EF is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and we are committed to inclusion and belonging across race, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, identity, parental status, experience, and everything else that makes you unique. #LI-PB1

About Us

Some companies are in the business of banking. Others are in the business of shoes. Or sports. Or soft drinks. At EF, we're in a different kind of business. One that's a little less tangible, and a lot more important. Because our business, what we make, makes everything else possible. We're in the business of understanding. Between people. Between cultures.

For over half a century we’ve been the leader in international educational programs and experiences designed to foster such understanding. Through language, cultural exchange, academic studies, and educational travel, we create the kinds of immersive experiences that challenge biases, open minds, and pave the way for a more understanding world.

You’ll find our offices and schools located in some of the world’s greatest cities, and filled with smart, driven people (over 50,000 of us) who push each other to be better every day. But it’s what we do together - building greater understanding, breaking down barriers, and creating a better world - that makes all the difference.

Founded in 1965 in Sweden, EF (Education First) is a global association of education companies that share a common mission of opening the world through education. EF has been recognized on Forbes 2025 and 2024 World’s Best Employers and 2024 Top Companies for Women lists, Fast Company’s 2025 Next Big Things In Tech, and was a 2024 App Store Award winner in Cultural Impact.

About the Team

At EF Language Abroad, we believe that the world is better when people try to understand one another. Since 1965, we've helped millions of students discover new places, embrace diverse cultures, and gain fresh perspectives. We're dedicated to our mission of opening the world through education, harnessing the power of language learning to deepen the connection between people across the globe.

We offer immersive short-term and long-term language courses and programs across different languages in the countries where they’re spoken. Through blending classroom-based lessons with interactive exercises and real-world practice, our courses bring you to the heart of the language. Together, our global staff help students from around the world develop the language skills they need to achieve their dreams.

EF is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All positions are subject to a criminal background and/or reference checks, as applicable.