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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a vibrant student residence, ensuring a supportive and engaging environment.
- Company: Dynamic student accommodation provider in Cardiff with a focus on community.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, leadership development, and a chance to make a real impact.
- Why this job: Shape the student experience while driving business success in a fast-paced setting.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership and financial management experience in customer-focused environments.
- Other info: Join a passionate team dedicated to creating a welcoming home for students.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
We are seeking an experienced and people-focused General Manager to lead the day-to-day operation of a large student residence in Cardiff. This is a senior, hands-on leadership role with full responsibility for the building, the on-site team, and the overall resident experience. You will be accountable for creating a safe, welcoming and well-managed environment where students feel supported, while also driving commercial performance, occupancy, and profitability.
The Role
As General Manager, you will take ownership of operational excellence, financial performance, customer satisfaction, and team leadership. You’ll balance the serious responsibilities of managing a complex building with fostering a vibrant, social community where students enjoy living and staff enjoy working.
Key Responsibilities
- Business Development & Occupancy
- Maximise occupancy across academic and summer periods
- Support lettings activity including viewings, renewals, and sales enquiries
- Drive student retention through excellent service delivery
- Identify and support new revenue-generating opportunities
- Customer Experience & Pastoral Care
- Deliver consistently high levels of customer service and resident satisfaction
- Build strong relationships with local universities and colleges
- Oversee student move-in and move-out processes
- Provide pastoral support, including mental health awareness and emergency response
- Manage disciplinary and judicial processes where required
- Financial Management
- Full responsibility for budgets, P&L, forecasting, and cost control
- Ensure accurate billing, credit control, and cash handling
- Maintain profitability through strong financial controls and reporting
- Use property and finance management systems to monitor performance
- Daily Operations
- Ensure smooth day-to-day running of the residence in line with policies and procedures
- Maintain accurate administrative records and reporting
- Ensure staff are fully trained and compliant with company standards
- Health & Safety
- Overall responsibility for health and safety compliance
- Ensure statutory checks, fire safety, and emergency procedures are followed
- Support building safety initiatives and legislation compliance
- Facilities, Maintenance & Presentation
- Oversee reactive and planned maintenance
- Manage cleaning operations to maintain high visual and hygiene standards
- Ensure the building meets all legislative and brand presentation requirements
- Team Leadership
- Recruit, onboard, and develop a high-performing on-site team
- Provide coaching, performance management, and regular 1:1s
- Manage rotas, holidays, absence, and employee relations
- Foster strong team culture, engagement, and accountability
- Oversee resident-facing student staff where applicable
- Reporting & Compliance
- Complete month-end and operational reports
- Ensure audit readiness and accurate record keeping
- On-Call Responsibility
- Act as the main emergency contact outside normal working hours
- Attend site when required to manage incidents effectively
About You
You will be a confident, resilient, and commercially minded leader who thrives in a fast-paced, customer-facing environment.
Essential Skills & Attributes
- Strong leadership and people management capability
- Excellent organisation, prioritisation, and problem-solving skills
- Calm, professional, and adaptable under pressure
- Confident communicator with the ability to influence and engage
- Highly customer-focused with a proactive, can-do attitude
- Strong attention to detail and financial accuracy
- IT literate, with strong Microsoft Office skills
Experience Required
- Proven management experience in a customer-facing service environment
- Demonstrable team leadership experience
- Strong financial management experience (P&L, budgeting, forecasting, cost control)
- Sales, lettings, or business development experience is desirable
General Manager in Cardiff employer: Housdenrecruitment
Contact Detail:
Housdenrecruitment Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land General Manager in Cardiff
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join relevant groups on social media, and don’t be shy to reach out to current or former employees of companies you’re interested in. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their values and think about how your experience aligns with their goals. This will help you stand out as someone who’s not just looking for any job, but is genuinely interested in contributing to their success.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Conduct mock interviews with friends or family to get comfortable with common questions. Focus on articulating your leadership style and how you’ve successfully managed teams in the past. The more you practice, the more confident you’ll feel when it’s time for the real deal.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We’ve got loads of opportunities waiting for you, and applying directly can sometimes give you an edge. Plus, it shows you’re proactive and really keen on joining our team. So, what are you waiting for? Get that application in!
We think you need these skills to ace General Manager in Cardiff
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that match the General Manager role. Highlight your leadership experience, financial management skills, and customer service achievements to show us you’re the right fit.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you’re passionate about creating a vibrant student community and how your past experiences have prepared you for this hands-on leadership role.
Showcase Your People Skills: As a General Manager, you’ll be leading a team and engaging with students daily. Make sure to include examples of how you’ve successfully managed teams and built strong relationships in your application.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates during the process!
How to prepare for a job interview at Housdenrecruitment
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the role of a General Manager in a student residence. Familiarise yourself with the key responsibilities like occupancy maximisation, customer experience, and financial management. This will help you speak confidently about how your experience aligns with their needs.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your leadership and people management capabilities. Think of specific situations where you've successfully led a team, resolved conflicts, or improved team performance. This is crucial for a hands-on role like this one, so be ready to share your stories!
✨Demonstrate Customer Focus
Since the role is heavily focused on customer satisfaction, come prepared with examples of how you've delivered excellent service in previous positions. Discuss how you’ve built relationships with clients or residents and any initiatives you’ve implemented to enhance their experience.
✨Be Ready for Financial Questions
Brush up on your financial management skills, as you'll likely be asked about budgeting, P&L, and cost control. Be prepared to discuss how you've managed finances in past roles and any strategies you've used to maintain profitability while ensuring high service standards.