Cluster Manager - Operations

Zolo; Pune District; On-site; INR 720,000 - 880,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

High visibility impact on business performance

Growth into City / Regional Operations roles

Job summary

Zolo is looking for a Cluster Manager for Operations in Pune to oversee the performance of multiple properties. You will ensure operational discipline across sites while maintaining occupancy stability and controlling costs. This role calls for strong leadership in managing Resident Managers and enforcing systems that drive predictable outcomes.

The ideal candidate will have 3-6 years of experience in operations, especially in team management. Zolo offers a full-time position with a salary up to 8 LPA.

Qualifications

• 3–6 years in operations or field roles.
• Experience managing teams or multi-unit environments.
• Strong comfort with data tracking.

Responsibilities

• Drive operational system discipline across properties.
• Monitor occupancy stability and renewal performance.
• Track monthly cost vs budget.

Skills

Operational System Discipline

Team Management

Data Analysis

Conflict Resolution

Job description

Cluster Manager – Operations | Student Living | Zolo

Own property performance. Build systems. Deliver predictable operations at scale.

Company Name:

ZoloStays

Business Unit:

Student Housing

Designation:

Cluster Manager - Operations

Location:

Pune

Salary Range:

up to 8 LPA

Employment Type:

Full-time

Experience Required:

3 - 6 years

Why this role exists

Student Living at scale is an operations problem, not a hospitality problem.

• Properties increase
• Students increase
• Complexity multiplies

Failure points are predictable:

• Inconsistent SOP execution
• Weak RM capability
• Poor occupancy planning
• Cost leakages

Warmth cannot fix this. Firefighting cannot scale this.

This role exists to ensure:

• Properties run on systems, not individuals
• Occupancy remains stable across cycles
• Costs are controlled with discipline
• Escalations reduce structurally, not temporarily
• Resident Managers operate with ownership

If this role is strong → operations become predictable, scalable, margin-positive

Your mandate is clear

• Enforce operational system discipline across properties
• Maintain occupancy stability and renewal performance
• Control costs without degrading experience
• Reduce repeat escalations through root‑cause fixes
• Build strong, accountable Resident Managers

This is not a coordination role.

This is a multi‑property ownership role.

About Zolo – Student Living

Zolo is building a connected living ecosystem.

Student Living focuses on:

• Safety
• Structure

The business works only when:

• Occupancy is stable
• Experience is consistent
• Costs are controlled
• Teams are disciplined

Operations is the backbone of this model.

What you will be responsible for

1. Drive Operational System Discipline

• Conduct structured audits across properties
• Enforce SOP adherence (HK, safety, maintenance, onboarding)
• Identify repeat breakdown patterns
• Implement permanent fixes (not temporary patches)
• Ensure documentation across all processes

2. Protect Student Experience & Retention

• Track complaint categories across properties
• Monitor renewal % and churn reasons
• Review Google ratings and feedback trends
• Coach RMs on student/parent communication
• Identify dissatisfaction early and intervene

3. Govern Occupancy & Intake Planning

• Track daily occupancy and vacancy pipeline
• Align closely with sales for demand matching
• Flag inventory risks in advance
• Reduce empty bed days
• Ensure smooth semester transitions
• Track monthly cost vs budget (property level)
• Monitor vendor performance and SLAs
• Push preventive maintenance vs reactive repairs
• Identify cost leakages early
• Maintain margin discipline without CX drop

5. Build People Leadership & Accountability

• Run structured RM review cadence (weekly)
• Identify and act on underperformance early
• Build second‑line capability
• Enforce behavioural and reporting discipline
• Ensure professional culture across properties

6. Stabilize Escalations & Manage Risk

• Maintain clear communication with HO
• Track closure of corrective actions
• Prevent recurrence of major issues
• Protect brand trust during breakdowns

What success looks like after 12 months

• Properties run predictably with minimal firefighting
• Occupancy stable across cycles (low volatility)
• Renewal % improves consistently
• Complaint repeat rate drops significantly
• Cost variance within defined thresholds
• RMs operate independently with ownership
• Escalations reduce in frequency and severity

Performance becomes: Structured + Predictable + Scalable

Who this role is for

You will likely thrive if:

• You think in systems, not quick fixes
• You balance empathy with discipline
• You are comfortable with tough conversations
• You stay composed during escalations

Experience we value

• 3–4 years in operations / field roles
• Experience managing teams or multi‑unit environments
• Exposure to housing, hospitality, retail, or service ops
• Strong comfort with data (occupancy, cost tracking)

Industry is secondary.

Operational maturity is primary.

The impact you will have

• Direct impact on occupancy stability and renewals
• Build operational systems across properties
• Improve margin through cost control
• Strengthen team capability on ground
• Ensure student living scales without chaos

Student Living is entering a scale phase.

The difference between success and failure will be: Operational discipline at scale

This role offers:

• High visibility impact on business performance
• Growth into City / Regional Operations roles