University Partnerships & Brand Engagement Manager

Location: Royal Albert Docks, London (site-based with regular East London university presence)

Reporting: Homes for Students (embedded RAD role) with structured relationship to DPK

Salary: £35k p/a

Hours: 40 hours per week Mon‑Fri with occasional weekend and evening work

Role Purpose

Lead university engagement, student partnerships and local brand presence for the Royal Albert Docks PBSA scheme, supporting the successful lease‑up and sustained occupancy of 1,085 beds. Maintain direct relationships with East London universities, accommodation teams, student unions, and societies, ensuring RAD is visible, trusted and actively recommended within university housing ecosystems. Act as the on‑the‑ground market interface between DPK, Homes for Students and the student community.

Core Responsibilities

• University Partnerships: Develop active working relationships with accommodation officers, housing teams and international offices across East London universities. Position RAD as a preferred accommodation option through presentations, visits and ongoing engagement.
• Student Union & Society Engagement: Build direct relationships with student unions, societies and student leaders. Coordinate RAD participation in fresher fairs, housing fairs, society days and campus events.
• Brand Presence & Outreach: Maintain consistent RAD presence across campuses and student touchpoints throughout the academic year. Plan and deliver promotional activity, tours and events both on campus and at RAD.
• Market Insight & Feedback: Maintain awareness of student accommodation preferences, pricing sensitivity and competitor activity. Provide regular feedback to Homes for Students and DPK on student needs and market positioning.
• Client-Operator Interface: Act as the day‑to‑day liaison between DPK and Homes for Students on university relationships and outreach activity. Align university engagement with leasing campaigns and occupancy strategy.

Key Outcomes

• Stronger university relationships across East London.
• Increased referrals and awareness of RAD accommodation.
• High‑visibility presence at student events and housing channels.
• Improved leasing pipeline and occupancy performance.
• Continuous student insight informing product and marketing.

Profile

Experience in student engagement, community outreach, partnerships, youth programmes, campus activity, events or brand activation roles. This may have been gained within higher education, student unions, charities, youth organisations, community groups, cultural organisations or consumer brands targeting young adults. Direct PBSA or accommodation sector experience is not essential but preferable. The role is suited to candidates who bring transferable relationship‑building and engagement skills with student or youth audiences. Evidence of proactive outreach and partnership creation, with confidence initiating contact, arranging meetings and developing relationships from the ground up. Strong interpersonal and communication skills suited to both institutional stakeholders and student audiences. Organised and self‑starting, able to plan engagement activity and maintain consistent external presence.

Candidate Attributes

• Authentic relatability with student communities and student insight, with interpersonal style to build trust quickly with current students and student bodies.
• High energy and initiative, comfortable approaching new organisations, attending events independently and creating opportunities rather than waiting for introductions.
• Natural connector and relationship builder, motivated by creating partnerships and networks.
• Confident operating in informal peer environments such as campuses, societies and student spaces.
• Inclusive and culturally aware, able to engage across diverse East London student populations.
• Likely early‑career stage with recent proximity to university or youth environments, bringing current perspective on student living expectations.

Delivery Model Recommendation

Role employed by Homes for Students and dedicated to RAD, based on site. Provides direct alignment with leasing delivery while maintaining structured reporting to DPK on partnerships and market insight.

What’s on Offer

• Generous holiday package of 25 days, plus bank holidays, to recharge and enjoy life outside of work. (pro‑rated for part‑time colleagues)
• Access to a range of exclusive retail discounts to make your money go further.
• Take your special day off! Enjoy your birthday with a well‑deserved break from work.
• Stay active and eco‑friendly with our cycle‑to‑work scheme.
• Make a difference in the community with 2 charity days per annum.
• Opportunity to work towards a nationally recognised qualification.

At Homes for Students, we believe in equal opportunities and inclusivity. We are proud members of Inclusive Employers, and we value the growth and learning that comes from a diverse team. We encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds and communities, and we are open to discussing any reasonable adjustments you may require.