Head of Residences Services (University Sector)

Advert Head of Residences Services – Cardiff University IT IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE THAT YOU READ THE TEXT RELATING TO THE COMPLETION OF A SUPPORTING STATEMENT DETAILED WITHIN THE PERSON SPECIFICATION SECTION. Cardiff University is an ambitious and innovative place to work with a bold and strategic vision located in a beautiful and thriving capital city. Residences provide accommodation to approximately 5,500 students, along with conference, events and summer accommodation services. We are committed to providing a professional, customer focused service to a diverse range of people. The successful candidate will have a proven track record of working in accommodation and associated facilities management, with extensive experience of leading and managing teams. You will be driven and highly motivated and capable of leading and managing the Residences Services teams, providing advice, guidance and support and leading projects within these areas. You will also lead and manage the Residences Facilities / Estates working partnership to ensure the required services are delivered to Residences Services. This post is full-time and open-ended. Starting Salary: £51,039 per annum, with 3 annual increment points up £55,755 per annum (Grade 7). Please note this role combines both on campus and home working. It is anticipated that interviews will take place in July. We Offer a Leading And Rewarding Staff Benefits Package 37 days holiday per year plus 8 bank holidays, pro-rata for part time staff including Christmas and New Year Off Uniform and Training We offer two contributory pension schemes, and you will be automatically opted into the relevant scheme for your job type Our Cycle 2 Work scheme enables employees to lease bicycles and associated safety equipment up to a value of £1,000 through a Salary Sacrifice scheme The Annual Season Ticket Travel Loans scheme allows you to apply for an interest free loan from the university, who will then purchase a yearly travel ticket on your behalf. This amount will be repayable over 10 months Reduced rates on sports memberships Access to 90 plus staff discounts and deals Discounted childcare For more information go to: What we can offer – Jobs – Cardiff University Date advert posted: Thursday, 8 May 2025 Closing Date: Monday, 9 June 2025 Applications may be submitted in Welsh, and an application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English. Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds. We therefore welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of sex, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age. In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements. Job Description MAIN DUTIES Lead and manage the Residences Services teams, ensuring departmental and service objectives are communicated and engaged with, planning, organising and delegating work, monitoring progress and intervening as required. Specific areas include: Residences Services including: day-to-day delivery and operation of accommodation services; compliance with and delivery of accommodation contract terms and Renting Homes Wales Act and the UUK / GuildHE Student Accommodation Code; customer complaints, queries and disciplinary matters; conferences, events and summer accommodation services. Safety, Health, Environment and Wellbeing in accommodation including: fire safety; control of legionella and management of asbestos; statutory compliance; environmental and sustainability initiatives. Pastoral Care in accommodation including: day-to-day pastoral care and support for students; Residence Life and Student Life liaison; Security Services liaison; Students’ Union and academic schools’ liaison. Lead and manage the Residences Facilities / Estates working partnership to ensure the required services are delivered to Residences Services including reactive, planned and preventative maintenance of accommodation. Plus electrical safety and gas, waste and recycling, grounds maintenance, pest control, electronic access control services in accommodation. Contribute to the setting, checking, managing, and reporting on Residences Services and budgets, including the Planned Maintenance Programme budget, lead on maximising income, controlling expenditure and support rent collection. Lead, manage and liaise on Residences Services contracts, framework agreements, procurement and tendering. Contribute to the long term strategic planning and management of Campus Services – Residences Services, interpreting strategy into work priorities and setting the standards for Residences Services. Contribute to the development of Campus Services – Residences Services initiatives that have a University wide impact. Manage the performance, induction and development of Residences Services teams. Support and guide team members in welfare issues, escalating as necessary to specialist support areas. Ensure the delivery of Residences Services service level agreements, adapting according to changes in workload and customer requirements and working in partnership. Collaborate with others in order to develop processes and procedures used within the sector and Residences Services. Undertake the training of others in areas relating to the teams work. Undergo personal and professional development that is appropriate to and which will enhance performance. Establish working relationships with key contacts to improve service levels, developing appropriate communication links with the University’s Schools / Professional Services and outside bodies as required. Gather and analyse data to inform decisions, establishing basic trends and patterns in date and creating reports as appropriate. Lead and manage service provision to customers during accommodation arrivals / departures, conferences, University open / visit days and other busy periods which may involve working additional, weekend or unsociable hours. Continued In Additional Information Person Specification The Person Specification is split into 2 sections: essential and desirable. Please demonstrate clearly how you meet all of the essential criteria. Where possible you should give examples of how, when and where you have used your experience, knowledge, specific skills and abilities to match those required for this particular job role. Please ensure that you communicate this fully by creating a new document containing your supporting statement, refer to sample layout below, listing ALL OF THE CRITERIA and commenting against each one as to how you meet them. This will need to be completed before you begin making your application on line as you will be required to upload it. When uploading the supporting statement, the document title needs to read “supporting statement and should also detail the post reference number ending in BR” (relevant to the job you are applying for). Essential Criteria Relevant degree / NVQ 4 or equivalent work related experience. Extensive experience of working in an accommodation management business with an ability to explore customers’ needs and adapt service accordingly to ensure the highest quality standards are delivered. Substantial experience of managing a section consisting of one or more teams with an ability to deal with performance, pastoral care and welfare issues. Specialist knowledge of appropriate administrative systems and processes and proven experience in developing new, processes and procedures. Ability to set up and develop accommodation systems and procedures. Ability to communicate detailed and complex information effectively and professionally with a wide range of people. Experience of managing several teams, balancing multiple objectives and priorities. Proven experience in dealing with diverse and challenging problems, including researching issues and creating new solutions where no prior precedent exists. Evidence of the ability to plan the work of Residences Services, over year plus time scales, reacting to changes in workload and strategic direction. Experience of managing budgets, maximising income generation, controlling expenditure. DESIRABLE CRITERIA Experience of dealing with students including pastoral care and / or welfare issues. Experience of delivering conferences and events. Experience of working in a Higher Education environment. Postgraduate / professional qualification. Ability to speak and / or write in Welsh or a willingness to learn. All shortlisting decisions will be based initially on essential criteria, with desirable being used to further select or deselect candidates as appropriate. We interview those candidates who are the closest match to the identified criteria. An example of how to set out your document containing Essential and Desirable criteria is detailed below: Essential Relevant degree / NVQ 4 or equivalent work related experience. Provide evidence Extensive experience of working in an accommodation management business with an ability to explore customers’ needs and adapt service accordingly to ensure the highest quality standards are delivered. Provide evidence And continue this by listing all Essential and Desirable criteria and providing evidence under each heading. Additional Information Continued from Job Description: Lead, manage and actively participate in an out of hour’s on–call / on stand-by rota to cover out of hours emergencies. Ensure that an understanding of the importance of confidentiality is applied when undertaking all duties. Take reasonable care for the health and safety of yourself and of other persons who may be affected by your acts or omissions at work in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, EC directives and the University’s Safety, Health and Environment Policies and procedures and to cooperate with the University on any legal duties placed on it as an employer. As a member of staff with managerial / supervisory responsibilities you will also be responsible for ensuring that University policy and procedures and legal duties are applied within your areas and that appropriate risk assessments are undertaken, necessary actions are implemented and staff within your area are fully conversant and trained in respect of their health and safety obligations. Ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements in respect of equality and diversity, data protection, copyright and licensing, security, financial and other University policies, procedures and codes as appropriate. Perform other duties occasionally which are not included above, but which will be consistent with the role. CAMPUS SERVICES INFORMATION Campus Services provides a range of professional support services to students, staff and visitors at Cardiff University. Residences manages accommodation places for approximately 5,500 students, both catered and self-catered. In terms of catering, there are cafés and restaurants conveniently located across university campuses, in addition to a delivered hospitality service. Cardiff University Sport exists to provide students and staff with a balanced, high quality and integrated sport service which meets the needs of a broad range of users. The Nursery offers facilities for children aged between 10 weeks and 5 years and is divided into sections appropriate to the ages and development of the children. Both residential and catering facilities are utilised for conferences and functions during the University’s vacation periods. A purpose built and designed conference centre and conference facility is also available throughout the year. The Campus Services operation is supported by its own central administration functions covering the allocation of residences, human resource and quality, purchasing, facilities, finance, and general administration. Salary Range Min. 51,039 Salary Range Max. 55,755 Job Category Admin / Clerical Grade Grade 7 #J-18808-Ljbffr