Homestay Manager - EF Language Schools

EF Language Schools; Carisbrooke; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Full training

Professional development

Year‑round management role

Job summary

EF Language Schools is seeking a hands‑on Homestay Manager to own and develop the year‑round homestay operation in our destination. You will recruit and support hosts, plan accommodation capacity, place students in safe and welcoming homes, and drive quality through safeguarding compliance.

You'll manage the summer peak, coordinate with Welfare and Operations teams, and deliver calm, effective decisions in complex situations.

Qualifications

• Experience managing an operational service with responsibility for quality and delivery.
• Strong customer-service skills with the ability to handle sensitive conversations professionally.
• Ability to recruit, comply, allocate and meet competing deadlines.
• Excellent attention to detail, especially safeguarding information and student needs.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of the destination's homestay operation and its performance throughout the year.
• Turn student forecasts and booking patterns into host recruitment, capacity and allocation plans.
• Develop and deliver a local host recruitment and retention plan through community outreach, referrals, events, partnerships and online channels.
• Build relationships with new and returning hosts, ensuring they feel informed, supported and valued.
• Oversee host applications, screening, visits, checks, approvals and record keeping.
• Match and allocate students to suitable hosts, considering welfare needs and other information.
• Maintain accurate student, host, placement and arrival data across internal systems.
• Work with Welfare, Transport, Student Services, Finance, international offices and Operations team.
• Work within budget and keep Operations Manager informed of progress and risks.
• Lead day-to-day homestay operation during summer and act as senior contact for hosts and students.
• Oversee late placements, accommodation changes and emergency moves; make calm decisions.
• Lead response to complaints and safeguarding concerns, escalating as needed.
• Monitor feedback and contribute to post-summer review and planning.

Skills

Operational management

Stakeholder relations

Customer service

Recruitment & compliance

Welfare safeguarding

Budgeting

Attention to detail

Calm under pressure

Job description

Take ownership of a year-round homestay operation, build a thriving local host community and play an important role in one of the most valuable parts of the international student experience.

Your Role

The Homestay Manager is a key year-round operational role with significant responsibility for operational delivery, safeguarding and the student experience. You'll take ownership of the destination's homestay operation, including recruiting and supporting hosts, planning accommodation capacity and placing students in safe, welcoming and suitable homes.

This is much more than an accommodation coordination role. You'll take ownership of local host recruitment, build strong relationships with the local community and work as part of the destination management team throughout the year. You'll make important operational decisions and ensure the destination has the right accommodation capacity in place. During the summer, you'll manage a busy customer-facing operation, overseeing placements, supporting students and hosts, and managing complex situations when they arise. The role offers broad operational experience and the opportunity to take on wider responsibility within EF.

What You'll Do

• Take ownership of the destination's homestay operation and its performance throughout the year.
• Turn student forecasts and booking patterns into clear host recruitment, capacity and allocation plans.
• Develop and deliver a local host recruitment and retention plan through community outreach, referrals, events, partnerships and online channels.
• Build strong relationships with new and returning hosts, ensuring they feel informed, supported and valued.
• Take ownership of the host recruitment process and ensure a strong pipeline of suitable hosts is in place to meet the destination's accommodation needs.
• Oversee host applications, screening, home visits, checks, approvals and record keeping.
• Ensure accommodation meets EF's quality and safeguarding requirements and address concerns promptly.
• Match and allocate students to suitable hosts, considering age, welfare needs, dietary requirements, allergies, transport and other relevant information.
• Maintain accurate student, host, placement and arrival information across internal systems.
• Work closely with Welfare, Transport, Student Services, Finance, international sales offices and the wider Operations team.
• Work within the budget and commercial parameters agreed by the Operations Manager, keeping them informed of progress, risks and capacity gaps.
• Lead the day-to-day homestay operation during the summer and act as a senior point of contact for hosts and students.
• Oversee late placements, accommodation changes and emergency moves, making calm and timely decisions.
• Lead the response to complaints, welfare concerns and recurring quality issues, escalating serious matters appropriately.
• Monitor feedback, drive improvements and contribute to the post-summer review and planning for the following year.

We're Looking For Someone Who...

• Has experience managing an operational service with responsibility for quality and delivery.
• Enjoys building strong relationships and creating a positive, reliable and high‑quality service.
• Is confident building relationships and engaging with members of the local community.
• Has strong customer‑service skills and can handle sensitive or challenging conversations professionally.
• Is highly organised and able to manage recruitment, compliance, allocations and competing deadlines.
• Has excellent attention to detail, particularly when working with safeguarding information and student needs.
• Makes sound decisions and remains calm, positive and credible under pressure.
• Is comfortable working hands‑on and taking responsibility for delivery when required.
• Works collaboratively, uses systems confidently and is passionate about creating a safe and welcoming student experience.

Why Join Us?

• Receive full training and ongoing support to help you succeed in the role. Previous experience in homestay or accommodation management is beneficial but not essential; we welcome candidates with transferable skills, the right mindset and experience from other sectors that could contribute to the role.
• Benefit from additional learning and personal development opportunities throughout the year, supporting your professional growth and long‑term career development within EF.
• Take on a genuine year-round management role with significant ownership and responsibility.
• Take ownership of the homestay operation while working closely with the destination's Operations Manager.
• Own an essential part of the student experience from long‑term planning through to summer delivery.
• Make important decisions, solve complex problems and see the direct impact of your work.
• Build broad experience across safeguarding, recruitment, customer service and operational delivery.
• Become a visible representative of EF within the local community.
• Develop the experience needed to progress into broader operational roles and build a long‑term career within EF.