Residence Manager - Student Accommodation

The Working Earth; South Africa; On-site; ZAR 300,000 - 420,000; Full time

Job summary

The Working Earth is seeking a Residence Manager for our student accommodation portfolio in Bloemfontein, Bellville, and Centurion. The role combines operations leadership with student engagement, ensuring safe, welcoming living environments and smooth day‑to‑day management.

You will lead front office, housekeeping, maintenance, and vendor coordination while developing resident programs, managing budgets, reporting KPIs, and driving occupancy readiness.

Qualifications

• Diploma or Bachelor’s degree in Property Management, Hospitality Management or related field.
• Experience leading customer-facing teams in property or residence settings.
• Strong budget management and operational reporting capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Front office and reception services
• Resident administration and communication
• Building presentation and housekeeping standards
• Security and access control
• Common-area management and inspections
• Operational risk management and budget control
• Resident engagement and programme delivery
• Staff recruitment, onboarding and coaching
• Maintenance coordination and contractor liaison
• Inventory and supplier management
• Governance, risk and compliance with internal policies
• Reporting and KPI tracking of occupancy and services

Skills

Front office

Resident administration

Team leadership

Budget management

Customer service

Communication

Education

Diploma or Bachelor's Degree in Property Management or Hospitality Management

Tools

Property Management Systems

Facilities management software

Job description

Residence Manager Student Accommodation

Locations: Bloemfontein, South Africa; Bellville, South Africa; Centurion, South Africa.

Full time.

Key Responsibilities

Residence & Building Operations

• Front office and reception services
• Resident administration and communication
• Building presentation
• Cleaning and housekeeping standards
• Security service delivery
• Access control
• Common‑area management
• Operational inspections
• Inventory management
• Operational risk management
• Compliance with company operational standards

Student Experience & Resident Engagement

• Building a vibrant and inclusive residence community
• Planning and delivering student engagement activities
• Coordinating social, educational and wellbeing programmes
• Supporting first‑year student integration
• Promoting diversity and inclusion
• Encouraging resident participation
• Managing Student Assistants / Residence Ambassadors
• Supporting student wellbeing through appropriate referrals
• Managing resident complaints professionally
• Building positive relationships with students and parents
• Driving resident satisfaction and retention

Team Leadership & People Management

• Daily operational management
• Setting performance objectives
• Conducting team meetings
• Coaching and mentoring
• Performance management
• Identifying training requirements
• Supporting recruitment and onboarding
• Promoting teamwork and accountability

Student Intake & Operational Readiness

• Rooms are prepared for occupation
• Cleaning standards are achieved
• Furniture and equipment are inspected
• Welcome packs are prepared
• Staff are fully trained
• Building inspections are completed
• Deficiencies are identified and resolved before occupation
• Student arrivals are efficiently managed

Customer Service Excellence

• Responding promptly to resident enquiries
• Resolving complaints effectively
• Monitoring service levels
• Maintaining regular communication with residents
• Conducting resident satisfaction surveys
• Implementing service‑improvement initiatives

Building Inspections & Property Standards

• Student rooms
• Common areas
• Reception areas
• Study spaces
• Recreational facilities
• Cleaning standards
• Security standards
• Furniture and equipment

Facilities & Maintenance Coordination

• Reporting maintenance requirements
• Prioritising operational maintenance needs
• Coordinating contractor access
• Monitoring maintenance completion
• Following up on outstanding work orders
• Communicating maintenance activities to residents
• Identifying recurring building issues

Operational Budget & Cost Management

• Monitoring operational expenditure
• Managing consumables
• Controlling stock
• Managing petty cash where applicable
• Approving operational purchases within delegated authority
• Identifying cost‑saving opportunities
• Ensuring responsible use of resources

Governance, Risk & Compliance

• Company policies and procedures
• Residence rules
• Operational standards
• Internal controls
• Risk‑management procedures
• University accommodation requirements
• Incident‑reporting protocols

Reporting, Administration & Property Systems

• Weekly operational reports
• Incident reports
• Resident engagement reports
• Resident satisfaction reports
• Operational KPI reports
• Occupancy readiness reports
• Budget reports
• Inspection reports

Minimum Requirements – Qualifications

• Diploma or Bachelor's Degree in Property Management, Hospitality Management, Business Management or a related discipline

Advantageous Qualifications

• Qualification in Student Affairs, Community Development or Leadership
• Professional membership with SAFMA, SAPOA or a related professional body
• First Aid and Fire Marshal certification

Experience

• Minimum 35 years' experience in Property Management, Hospitality, Residence Management or Student Accommodation
• Previous supervisory or management experience
• Experience leading customer‑facing teams
• Experience organising community or resident‑engagement programmes
• Operational budget‑management experience advantageous

Who We're Looking For

We are looking for someone who is professional, highly organised, energetic, approachable, resilient, ethical and customer‑focused, with a genuine passion for creating outstanding student communities.

This role requires a visible, hands‑on leader who enjoys working with people, solving operational problems and maintaining high service standards while holding teams accountable.

Success will be measured by an exceptional student living experience, resident satisfaction and retention, operational standards, building presentation, student engagement, team performance, budget control and effective coordination of maintenance requirements.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

• Join an established Student Accommodation Property Management environment
• Take ownership of the day‑to‑day operation of a student residence
• Lead and develop customer‑facing operational teams
• Make a direct impact on student experience and resident retention
• Gain exposure to property operations, budgets and operational reporting
• Build experience within the growing Student Accommodation / Student Housing sector

Key Skills & SEO Keywords

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