General Manager in Edinburgh

General Manager – Student LivingColby River Student Living | Full-Time | Permanent | Site BasedBring the energy. Lead the experience. Own the results.We’re looking for an exceptional General Manager to take ownership of one of our Colby River Student Living communities. This is a high‑impact leadership role where you’ll have responsibility for the complete performance of your property—resident experience, people, commercial performance, building standards, safety and day‑to‑day operations. We’re a growing Purpose‑Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) operator creating premium, student‑first communities across the UK. We’re ambitious, hands‑on and full of ideas, and we want a General Manager who brings the same energy. If you love leading from the front, building great teams and creating places where students genuinely want to live, this could be the role for you.Your roleAs General Manager, you are the driving force behind your property. You’ll be visible, approachable and right at the heart of the operation. You’ll lead and develop your on‑site team, create an outstanding resident experience and make sure the building is safe, welcoming and performing commercially. You’ll have direct leadership responsibility across Resident Management, Resident Services, Maintenance and Housekeeping, giving you the opportunity to shape the culture and standards of the entire site.Create a Brilliant Resident ExperienceFrom the first pre‑arrival message and check‑in through to events, everyday support, rebooking and departure, you’ll make sure every stage of the resident journey counts. You’ll listen to residents, act on feedback and create an inclusive community where people feel safe, supported and proud to call it home. You’ll also take ownership of complaints and service recovery and ensure welfare, safeguarding or resident concerns are handled professionally and sensitively.Drive commercial performanceThis is also a genuinely commercial leadership position. You’ll take ownership of your site’s performance across occupancy, income, debt, conversion, rebookers and other key KPIs, working closely with our Leasing Manager to deliver the property’s leasing strategy. You’ll understand your local student market, keep an eye on competitors and university demand and look for smart opportunities to improve occupancy, income and overall performance.Own the numbersYou’ll have responsibility for your site’s operating budget, reviewing income, expenditure, purchase orders, invoices, accruals and variances. We want someone who can do more than report the numbers. You’ll understand what they’re telling you and what needs to happen next, providing clear insight into the performance of your property.Keep the building at its bestYou’ll make sure bedrooms, communal spaces and back‑of‑house areas are safe, secure and presented to a consistently high standard. You’ll oversee planned and reactive maintenance, contractors and statutory servicing, while taking the lead during the biggest operational moments of the year—particularly check‑out, summer turnaround and check‑in.Lead a team that deliversGreat buildings need great people. You’ll set the tone for your team through clear expectations, regular one‑to‑ones, coaching and honest feedback. You’ll lead recruitment, induction and development and create an environment where people feel supported but are also accountable for delivering high standards. You’ll build a culture that celebrates great work, learns quickly and is always looking for a better way.What We’re Looking ForYou’ll already have proven operational leadership experience within PBSA, Build to Rent, residential property, hospitality or another complex customer‑focused environment.You’ll BringExperience leading and developing a multi‑disciplinary on‑site teamStrong commercial and financial awareness, including budgets and KPIsA track record of delivering excellent resident or customer experiencesConfidence dealing with complaints and challenging or sensitive situationsGood knowledge of building operations, maintenance, contractors and Health & SafetyStrong organisation, communication and decision‑making skillsConfidence using property, CRM, finance or compliance systemsExperience of Yardi, or a comparable platform, would be advantageousA full UK driving licence and willingness to travel when requiredFlexibility to participate in an out‑of‑hours escalation rota and support the property during peak periodsThe kind of person who’ll thrive hereYou’re visible, positive and credible and comfortable leading from the front. You’re commercially switched on without losing sight of the resident experience. You’re decisive when you need to be, calm under pressure and prepared to challenge when standards aren’t where they should be. Most importantly, you take ownership. You don’t wait for someone else to solve the problem—you bring people together and make things happen.What’s in it for you?Alongside a Competitive Salary, You’ll ReceivePerformance‑related annual bonusCompany mileage or travel allowance and business expense reimbursementContributory pensionHealth cash planGenuine opportunities to learn, develop and grow your career as our Student Living portfolio expandsCome and build something brilliant with usThis is much more than managing a building. It’s an opportunity to lead a community, develop a great team and take real ownership of the performance of your property.Why Colby River?Colby River combines disciplined investment with operational expertise and a commitment to quality at every stage of the asset lifecycle. Joining us means being part of a business with clear direction and strong governance—where your contribution, whether operational or strategic, plays a vital role in our continued growth.
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