Student Accommodation Growth & Marketing Lead

Flair TM; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 700,000 - 1,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Flair TM is seeking a skilled Sales & Marketing Manager to drive occupancy, manage lead generation, and oversee end-to-end admissions and portfolio onboarding across multiple student accommodation properties. The role demands strategic planning, cross-functional leadership and hands-on execution in a dynamic education environment.

Based in Stellenbosch, the role includes travel to residences, campuses and schools.

Qualifications

• Diploma or Bachelor's Degree in Sales, Marketing, Business Management, Communications or a related field.
• Minimum 5 years' relevant Sales and Marketing experience.
• Proven experience managing sales targets, marketing campaigns and performance reporting.
• Demonstrated ability to lead projects, workstreams or cross-functional teams.
• Strong experience in lead generation, sales pipeline management and conversion optimisation.
• Experience managing applications, admissions processes or customer conversion journeys.
• Proven ability to coordinate marketing agencies, suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Strong numerical, analytical, presentation and written communication skills.
• Experience preparing sales reports, analysing performance and implementing corrective actions.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and relevant business systems.
• Valid driver's licence and willingness to travel between residences, campuses, schools, events and stakeholder locations as required.

Responsibilities

• Take responsibility for day-to-day sales delivery against approved occupancy, application and booking targets.
• Drive student accommodation occupancy and booking conversion performance.
• Monitor sales pipelines, student enquiries, applications, waiting lists, offers, bookings and cancellations.
• Ensure effective lead follow-up and enquiry management across sales, call-centre and residence teams.
• Identify underperforming sales channels, residences or stages of the conversion funnel.
• Implement corrective action plans to improve lead conversion and occupancy.
• Monitor available accommodation inventory and booking progress.
• Support engagement with students, parents, schools, tertiary institutions and bursary stakeholders.
• Translate commercial objectives into practical sales and marketing strategies.
• Plan and coordinate integrated marketing campaigns across digital, direct and on-campus channels.
• Drive qualified lead generation for student accommodation properties.
• Coordinate student recruitment campaigns, campus activations, school engagement and promotional events.
• Prepare marketing briefs, campaign messaging and promotional material requirements.
• Work with digital marketers, creative agencies, designers and external suppliers.
• Monitor marketing campaign performance, competitor activity and market trends.
• Evaluate campaign effectiveness and recommend improvements to lead quality and conversion.
• Ensure marketing communications and promotional material comply with approved brand standards.
• Coordinate the student enquiry, application, admissions and booking journey.
• Improve conversion rates from initial enquiry through to confirmed student check-in.
• Monitor application progress, waiting lists and booking turnaround times.
• Ensure prospective students and parents receive accurate and timely information.
• Identify barriers within the application and admissions process.
• Coordinate corrective actions to improve the student and parent experience.
• Maintain accurate lead, application and booking information.
• Support sales and marketing onboarding across student accommodation properties.
• Coordinate the transition of marketing assets, digital platforms and customer-facing communication channels.
• Ensure websites, social media accounts, online listings, application links and databases are accurate and operational.
• Coordinate marketing collateral, photography, content and brand material.
• Manage onboarding workstreams, deadlines, dependencies and action plans.
• Work closely with internal departments and external stakeholders to ensure smooth portfolio transitions.
• Identify operational risks and escalation potential delays.
• Develop and coordinate student intake readiness plans.
• Prepare sales teams, call centres and residence staff for peak student intake periods.
• Coordinate sales activations, showrooms, promotional material and student communication.
• Ensure accommodation pricing, product information and application processes are accurate.
• Prepare enquiry scripts, frequently asked questions and application guidance.
• Monitor service standards and resolve operational challenges affecting conversion.
• Ensure sales and marketing activities are aligned with intake timelines and occupancy objectives.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Coordinate digital marketing agencies, creative suppliers and service providers.
• Work closely with residence management, operations, finance and admissions teams.
• Support relationships with schools, universities, tertiary institutions, students and parents.
• Monitor supplier deliverables, campaign deadlines and budget commitments.
• Ensure clear communication and accountability across multiple workstreams.
• Prepare accurate weekly and monthly sales and marketing performance reports.
• Track occupancy performance against approved targets.
• Monitor lead generation, application progress, booking conversions and campaign results.
• Analyse sales funnel performance and identify improvement opportunities.
• Prepare target-versus-actual reports and recommendations.
• Monitor marketing expenditure and approved budgets.
• Maintain accurate campaign records, approvals and performance trackers.
• Provide regular progress reports and recommendations to the Managing Director.

Skills

Sales & Marketing Leadership

Lead generation

CRM management

Campaign planning

Budget management

Stakeholder management

Data analysis

Education

Diploma or Bachelor's Degree in Sales, Marketing, Business Management, Communications or a related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

CRM systems

Job description

Flair TM is seeking a skilled Sales & Marketing Manager to drive occupancy, manage lead generation, and oversee end-to-end admissions and portfolio onboarding across multiple student accommodation properties. The role demands strategic planning, cross-functional leadership and hands-on execution in a dynamic education environment.

Based in Stellenbosch, the role includes travel to residences, campuses and schools.