Asset and Operational Manager - UK Residential Real Estate

Aberdeen manages £37.7 billion of real estate assets across 22 countries, supported by a team of approximately 220 dedicated real estate investment professionals. Globally, the platform oversees around 30,000 residential homes, representing approximately £8 billion of residential assets under management. This scale provides a strong foundation of institutional expertise, market intelligence, operational best practice and long‑term capital stewardship across the Living sector. In the UK, Aberdeen has delivered strong, risk‑adjusted returns for clients for more than 50 years. From its offices in Edinburgh and London, the business currently manages around £20 billion of UK direct property, making Aberdeen one of the largest and most established real estate managers in the country.

The Living portfolio is an important and growing part of this platform, spanning multifamily residential, purpose‑built student accommodation (PBSA) and single‑family housing across the UK. As the portfolio continues to grow in scale and complexity, active operational oversight will be essential to protect income, enhance performance, improve resident outcomes and support long‑term value creation. This role sits between Asset Management and Property Management, providing an independent operational oversight layer across the UK residential portfolio. The role is designed to ensure that Property Managers and operating partners are held accountable for delivery against agreed business plans, budgets, service standards and governance requirements.

Key Responsibilities:

• Property Manager Oversight: Review and enhance operating model with Property Managers and other suppliers. Act as the primary oversight function for Property Managers. Monitor performance against KPIs, budgets and service standards. Challenge underperformance and oversee corrective actions. Ensure compliance with management agreements and governance requirements.
• Leasing & Income Performance: Oversee leasing and marketing activity to maximise occupancy and rental growth. Monitor arrears, collections and income risks. Review leasing performance, incentives and market positioning.
• Financial Management: Review and approve operating budgets and forecasts. Monitor actual performance against budget. Challenge costs, identify efficiencies and improve forecast accuracy.
• Operational & Resident Performance: Oversee service delivery and resident experience. Monitor operational KPIs and retention metrics. Promote best practice across the portfolio.
• Governance, Risk & Reporting: Ensure compliance with regulatory, health & safety and internal governance requirements. Review operational reporting, portfolio data and KPI performance. Drive improvements in data quality, transparency and reporting standards.
• Strategic Support: Support asset business plans and value‑enhancing initiatives. Provide operational insight to support investment and portfolio decisions. Contribute to governance papers and strategic projects.

Key Success Measures:

• High occupancy and sustainable rental growth.
• Effective income collection and arrears control.
• Delivery of budgets and cost control targets.
• Improved Property Manager performance and accountability.
• Accurate, reliable portfolio reporting and data.
• Strong governance and compliance outcomes.

Essential:

• Extensive experience in UK residential asset management or property management, with exposure to both multifamily Build‑to‑Rent and single‑family housing portfolios.
• Strong financial, budgeting and analytical skills.
• Experience managing Property Managers and service providers.
• Knowledge of residential operations, leasing and governance.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.

Desirable:

• Build‑to‑Rent or institutional residential experience.
• ESG and sustainability knowledge.

Our benefits include 40 days’ annual leave, 16% employer pension contribution, discretionary performance‑based bonus (where applicable), private healthcare, and a range of flexible benefits – including gym discounts, season ticket loans and access to an employee discount portal.

An inclusive culture, where diverse perspectives drive our actions, is at the core of who we are and what we do. At Aberdeen, we’re committed to providing an inclusive workplace where all forms of difference are valued and which is free from any form of unfair or unlawful treatment.