Mobilisation Manager - North in Manchester

Location: Manchester Head Office with regular travel across the northern portfolio

Reporting To: Head of Operations

Department: Operations – Flow Student (MCR Property Group)

Salary: Up to £55,000 per annum depending on experience.

Bonus: Performance-related bonus linked to delivery against agreed mobilisation and operational KPIs

Role Overview

The Mobilisation Manager will lead the successful mobilisation of new Flow Student properties across the northern region, ensuring that all operational, compliance, technology, supplier and people elements are fully established prior to opening or operational transition. The role sits at the centre of new property onboarding and will work closely with construction teams, asset management, marketing, finance, and operational site teams to ensure a seamless handover into live operations. The Mobilisation Manager will create and deliver structured mobilisation programmes, ensuring that buildings, teams, systems and operational processes are fully prepared to deliver the Flow Student resident experience from day one. In addition to property mobilisation, this role will lead operational improvement and business critical projects across the portfolio when mobilisation activity is not underway.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the end-to-end mobilisation process for new student accommodation sites, refurbishments, or operational transitions.
• Create and manage detailed mobilisation project plans covering all operational readiness milestones.
• Coordinate cross-departmental activity across operations, construction, marketing, IT, finance and HR to ensure mobilisation timelines are achieved.
• Develop mobilisation frameworks, playbooks and checklists to standardise property launches across the Flow Student portfolio.
• Support the recruitment, onboarding and training of new site teams including Accommodation Managers, Customer Service teams, maintenance teams and security.
• Coordinate procurement and onboarding of suppliers including facilities management, cleaning, security, utilities, waste management and other operational services.
• Oversee installation and readiness of technology systems including access control, CCTV, Wi‑Fi infrastructure, property management systems (PMS), CRM integration, and compliance platforms.
• Ensure all statutory compliance requirements are completed prior to opening including fire safety, health & safety documentation, risk assessments, compliance certification and safety systems.
• Work closely with construction and asset management teams to coordinate FF&E delivery, building snagging programmes and room readiness plans.
• Ensure bedrooms, communal areas, and operational spaces are fully prepared to the required Flow Student brand and operational standards before handover.
• Coordinate operational documentation including SOPs, policies, compliance records, operational handbooks and training guides.
• Manage mobilisation budgets where required and ensure supplier costs remain within agreed parameters.
• Produce mobilisation progress reports, project dashboards and risk registers for senior leadership review.
• Identify risks, delays or operational gaps early and implement mitigation strategies.
• Support site teams during the early operational phase to ensure a smooth transition into steady‑state operations.
• Act as the operational bridge between development/completion and day‑to‑day property management.
• Lead operational improvement projects across the portfolio including systems implementation, process improvement and operational efficiencies.

Performance & Bonus KPIs

• Delivery of mobilisation programmes within agreed timelines.
• Operational readiness of buildings prior to handover (systems, staffing, compliance and suppliers in place).
• Successful implementation of operational systems including property management platforms and access control.
• Compliance readiness including fire safety documentation, statutory certifications and risk assessments.
• Smooth transition to operational teams with minimal disruption to residents or operational delivery.
• Delivery of operational projects that improve efficiency, compliance or resident experience across the portfolio.

Experience & Skills

• Experience delivering mobilisation or operational setup projects within PBSA, residential, hospitality or property sectors.
• Strong project management capability with the ability to manage complex timelines and multiple stakeholders.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to coordinate multiple workstreams simultaneously.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills.
• Strong understanding of building readiness, operational compliance and property operations.
• Commercial awareness and ability to manage suppliers and operational budgets.
• Strong IT skills including Microsoft Office and project planning tools.
• Ability to work independently, take ownership and deliver projects to completion.

Personal Attributes

• Highly organised and detail focused.
• Problem solving mindset with the ability to manage changing priorities.
• Ability to work at pace in a fast-growing property environment.
• Strong leadership presence and ability to influence teams without direct authority.
• Flexible and willing to travel to sites across the portfolio.

About Flow Student

Flow Student is the national student living brand from MCR Property Group, bringing together a growing portfolio of purpose-built student accommodation across the UK. Our mission is to create environments where students can live, study and grow with ease, combining high-quality accommodation with strong operational delivery and a focus on resident wellbeing.