Head of Student Accommodation Operations

LW Consulting Limited; Hong Kong Island; On-site; HKD 1,200,000 - 2,000,000; Full time

Job summary

LW Consulting Limited seeks a Head of Student Accommodation Operations in Hong Kong to lead the launch and ongoing management of a PBSA portfolio. You will establish the operations framework, governance, and service standards from the ground up to deliver a high-quality living environment for students.

You will design the org structure, set KPIs, recruit on-site teams, and implement a PMS and student portal, while managing P&L and vendor contracts to optimize efficiency.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in operational leadership in PBSA or campus housing.
• Experience launching and managing large housing portfolios.
• Deep knowledge of Hong Kong higher education and academic calendar cycles.
• Crisis management experience in medical, security, or welfare.
• Ability to balance student welfare with community rules and contractual obligations.
• Strong financial acumen and operating budgets.
• Fluent in English, Cantonese, and Mandarin.

Responsibilities

• Implement the end-to-end operational framework, including SOPs for allocations, move-in/out, maintenance, and security.
• Define the organizational structure, establish KPIs, and recruit the on-site operational and management teams.
• Select and deploy a tailored PMS and student portal.
• Direct daily portfolio operations, ensuring optimal efficiency and service delivery.
• Manage the operational P&L, strictly controlling OPEX and optimizing vendor contracts.
• Collaborate with the leasing team to minimize vacancy during peak periods.
• Oversee community engagement, orientation, and student welfare programs.
• Establish and enforce behavioral guidelines, grievance procedures, and disciplinary frameworks.
• Act as the primary escalation point for critical incidents, welfare concerns, and disputes.
• Manage Hard and Soft FM vendors, ensuring SLAs are met.

Skills

Operational leadership

PBSA experience

Crisis management

Budget management

Multilingual

Stakeholder collaboration

Vendor management

Tools

Property Management System (PMS)

Job description

Head of Student Accommodation Operations

A prominent Hong Kong real estate developer is seeking a Head of Student Accommodation Operations to lead the operational launch and management of a newly developed student housing portfolio. This is a foundational executive role responsible for establishing the operational infrastructure, governance, and service standards from the ground up, ensuring the asset operates efficiently while delivering a high-quality living environment for students.

Key responsibilities

Implement the end-to-end operational framework, including comprehensive Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all touchpoints (allocations, move-in/out, maintenance, and security)

Define the organizational structure, establish KPIs, and recruit the on-site operational and management teams

Select and deploy a tailored Property Management System (PMS) and student portal

Direct daily portfolio operations, ensuring optimal efficiency and service delivery

Manage the operational P&L, strictly controlling OPEX and optimizing vendor contracts

Collaborate with the leasing team to ensure seamless unit turnover and minimize vacancy during peak academic intake periods

Oversee the development of community engagement, orientation, and student welfare programs

Establish and enforce behavioral guidelines, grievance procedures, and disciplinary frameworks

Act as the primary escalation point for critical incidents, welfare concerns, and complex student disputes

Manage Hard and Soft Facility Management (FM) vendors, ensuring strict adherence to Service Level Agreements (SLAs)

About you

Minimum of 10 years in operational leadership, with a proven track record specifically in Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) or University Campus Housing

Demonstrated success in establishing operational structures for large-scale housing portfolios from the ground up

Deep understanding of the Hong Kong higher education landscape, student demographics, and the operational demands of academic calendar cycles

Strong crisis management capabilities with a proven ability to handle medical, security, and behavioral emergencies calmly and effectively

Ability to balance empathetic student welfare with the firm enforcement of community rules and contractual obligations

Strong financial acumen and experience managing large-scale operational budgets

Fluent in English, Cantonese, and Mandarin

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