Assistant City Manager in Sunderland

Assistant City Manager in Sunderland

Sunderland Full-Time 38000 - 40000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead operations and support teams to create an unforgettable student living experience.
  • Company: Join Abodus, a vibrant community-focused company dedicated to student wellbeing.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, leadership experience, career development, and a supportive team environment.
  • Other info: Dynamic role with varied challenges and excellent career progression opportunities.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact on student lives while developing your leadership skills.
  • Qualifications: Organised, proactive, and people-oriented with a passion for student welfare.

The predicted salary is between 38000 - 40000 £ per year.

At Abodus, we’re all about creating a fun, vibrant and supportive student community that goes beyond just a place to sleep — we aim to make the uni experience unforgettable. Behind the scenes, that means safe buildings, strong teams, smooth operations and residents who feel cared for every day.

As an Assistant City Manager, you’ll help lead a portfolio of around 2300 beds within the city, supporting operational performance, team development and the student experience across multiple buildings. You’ll be the right-hand support to the City Manager, helping ensure buildings run efficiently, teams feel supported and students receive a consistent, high-quality living experience.

This is a hands-on leadership role — part operations, part people management, part problem-solving. You’ll help oversee day-to-day site performance, step in for escalations, and support managers in delivering strong occupancy, compliance and satisfaction results.

What You’ll Be Doing:

  • Operational Support
    • Support the City Manager in overseeing the daily operations of multiple properties, ensuring consistency in service delivery, presentation standards and resident experience.
    • Monitor site performance including occupancy, arrears, maintenance response times and resident feedback, helping implement improvement actions where needed.
    • Provide on-site support during busy operational periods such as arrivals, departures, inspections and clearing.
  • Team Leadership
    • Act as a support and escalation point for site teams.
    • Help coach and develop teams to deliver excellent service and confident decision-making.
    • Assist with recruitment, onboarding and training of new team members.
    • Step in to cover management absence where required.
  • Compliance & Safety
    • Help ensure all buildings operate in line with company policies and statutory requirements including fire safety, building checks and safety procedures.
    • Support incident management and documentation, ensuring correct escalation and follow-up actions.
    • Assist with audit preparation and compliance reviews- including ANUK regulations and HMO/Licensing requirements.
  • Maintenance & Facilities
    • Work with maintenance teams and contractors to ensure repairs are completed within service level targets.
    • Help monitor building standards and presentation across the city.
    • Support planned works, inspections and asset protection activities.
  • Student Experience
    • Support teams in managing complaints, resident concerns and welfare situations to ensure fair and consistent outcomes.
    • Be a leader and set an example to teams to maintain a welcoming, safe and inclusive community across all buildings.
    • Monitor resident feedback and online reviews, helping implement improvement plans.
  • Commercial Performance
    • Assist the City Manager in achieving occupancy and retention targets.
    • Support rebooking campaigns and leasing periods.
    • Monitor arrears and support escalation processes.
    • Help analyse performance data and identify improvement opportunities.

What We’re Looking For:

  • Organized & Proactive: You keep things moving and spot problems before they escalate.
  • People Leader: You support and motivate teams while maintaining accountability.
  • Confident Decision Maker: You’re comfortable handling escalations and complex situations.
  • Operationally Minded: You understand that great student experience relies on smooth operations behind the scenes.
  • Adaptable: No two days are the same — you stay calm and solution-focused.
  • Student Focused: You genuinely care about creating a safe and positive living environment.

Why You’ll Love It!

  • Leadership Experience: Gain hands-on experience managing people, performance and operations across multiple buildings.
  • Real Impact: You’ll directly influence student wellbeing, team culture and building success.
  • Career Development: Develop skills in operations, compliance, leadership and commercial performance — ideal progression to City Manager.
  • Supportive Team: Work within a collaborative environment that values ideas, ownership and growth.
  • Variety: Every day brings new challenges, people and achievements.

Location: Newcastle, NE2

Hours: Full time, 40 hours across Monday-Friday 8-8 rota

Salary: £38-£40k per annum depending on candidate

Assistant City Manager in Sunderland employer: Abodus Student Living

At Abodus, we pride ourselves on fostering a vibrant and supportive student community in Newcastle, where every team member plays a crucial role in enhancing the university experience. As an Assistant City Manager, you'll enjoy hands-on leadership opportunities, a collaborative work culture, and the chance to make a real impact on student wellbeing and team dynamics. With a focus on career development and a commitment to operational excellence, Abodus is an excellent employer for those looking to grow in a dynamic environment.
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Contact Detail:

Abodus Student Living Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Assistant City Manager in Sunderland

✨Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at Abodus on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give you insider info and maybe even a referral, which can really boost your chances.

✨Tip Number 2

Prepare for the interview by understanding the company culture. Abodus values a supportive community, so think about how you can demonstrate your people leadership skills and commitment to student wellbeing during your chat.

✨Tip Number 3

Showcase your problem-solving skills! Be ready to discuss specific examples where you've tackled operational challenges or improved team performance. This will highlight your fit for the hands-on nature of the Assistant City Manager role.

✨Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of the Abodus team.

We think you need these skills to ace Assistant City Manager in Sunderland

Operational Support
Team Leadership
Compliance Management
Incident Management
Coaching and Development
Problem-Solving
Customer Service
Data Analysis
Organisational Skills
Proactive Approach
Decision-Making
Adaptability
Student Focus
Performance Monitoring

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Your Passion for Student Experience: When writing your application, let us know why you care about creating a vibrant student community. Share any relevant experiences that highlight your commitment to enhancing the student living experience.

Highlight Your Leadership Skills: We want to see how you've led teams in the past! Include examples of how you've motivated and developed others, especially in challenging situations. This will show us you're ready to support our site teams.

Be Organised and Clear: Make sure your application is well-structured and easy to read. Use bullet points or headings if it helps convey your message clearly. We appreciate clarity as much as we value creativity!

Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting role with Abodus.

How to prepare for a job interview at Abodus Student Living

✨Know the Company Culture

Before your interview, dive into Abodus's values and culture. They’re all about creating a vibrant student community, so think about how your experiences align with that mission. Be ready to share examples of how you've contributed to a positive environment in previous roles.

✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills

As an Assistant City Manager, you'll be leading teams and supporting operations. Prepare specific examples of how you've successfully managed teams or resolved conflicts in the past. Highlight your ability to motivate others and maintain accountability — this will resonate well with the interviewers.

✨Demonstrate Problem-Solving Abilities

This role involves handling escalations and complex situations. Think of scenarios where you’ve had to make quick decisions or implement improvements under pressure. Share these stories during your interview to showcase your operational mindset and adaptability.

✨Focus on the Student Experience

Abodus prioritises the student experience, so be prepared to discuss how you would enhance it. Bring ideas on how to manage resident feedback and improve service delivery. Showing that you genuinely care about creating a safe and positive living environment will set you apart.

Assistant City Manager in Sunderland
Abodus Student Living
Location: Sunderland
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