At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team to ensure top-notch maintenance and safety in student accommodation.
- Company: Join Unite Students, the UK's largest provider of purpose-built student housing.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, a bonus scheme, and health perks like gym benefits.
- Why this job: Be part of a vibrant culture that values inclusion and personal growth.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in facilities management with a focus on compliance and student experience.
- Other info: Criminal record check required; we prioritise safeguarding our students.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Job Description
Facilities Manager
Keep Home Running
Are you experienced in managing a team to deliver high quality planned and reactive maintenance services in a property management environment, whilst keeping a customer focus? Then we have room for you in an exciting and varied new role, in a company that will recognise, reward, and grow your potential.
We are Unite Students, a progressive FTSE 100 company and the leading provider of purpose-built student accommodation in the UK. We are looking for great people to join our Customer Operations team as Facilities Managers and help us provide outstanding service to the students who call US Home.
You will be responsible for managing our Housekeeping and Facilities teams to maintain a well-kept, safe, secure, compliant, and efficient environment across a cluster of properties, with support from the Team Leaders. This includes taking ownership of planned and reactive maintenance and housekeeping, and ensuring your team provide our students with a world-class and responsive service.
You will be able to:
- Articulate and advocate the organisations vision and strategic plans to your team to help deliver at a local level
- Take responsibility for the delivery of the planned maintenance strategy within your local cluster of properties
- Take responsibility for ensuring compliance with all relevant Health and Safety assessments and monitoring, ensuring compliance across the cluster
- Apply a consistent set of practices to identify team performance and gaps, build core competencies and improve overall employee performance
- Manage your own and your team`s workload and pressure, and adapt to evolving situations by seeking alternative approaches
- Assist the facilities engineering team in keeping our properties in excellent condition.
- Conduct regular building checks to make sure that our buildings are clean, safe, and secure
- Help us deliver on our sustainability strategies to provide net-zero carbon accommodation and create resilient, resource-efficient assets to do so
What we`re looking for in you:
- You will be a Proven leader with exceptional organizational and planning abilities, adept at driving projects from concept to successful completion.
- You will have experience working within soft or hard facilities management
- You are able to manage the competing demands of compliance and delivering world-class experience for our students
- You remain calm and focussed, even in difficult or pressurised situations
- You are detail-orientated, nothing escapes your eye
You will have technical capabilities:
- Basic undertsanding of Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems
- Good knowledge of property related health and safety issues preferably within a management system
- Experience of managing fire safety within the property environment
- Experience of project management of small to medium projects
What You`ll Get in Return
- A discretionary annual bonus so you can share in the company`s success
- 25 days` paid holiday and an annual holiday buying scheme, with 5 additional days awarded for long service
- A generous pension scheme – employer contributions between 5% and 11% depending on how much you save
- Various benefits to support your health and wellbeing including a Healthcare Cash Plan, an Employee Assistance Programme, a Wellbeing platform and a Gym benefit that you can share with your family and friends
- Enhanced Family Leave including 18 weeks full pay for birthing parents and 4 weeks for non-birthing parents
- Lots of other great benefits including an annual ShareSave scheme, Employee Life Assurance, a discounts portal and more!
About Unite Students
Founded in 1991, Unite Students is a FTSE 100 business and the UK`s largest provider of purpose-built student accommodation. You can find us in 23 leading university towns and cities, with over 70,000 students calling US home! We are driven by our values, culture, and a commitment to develop diverse and inclusive teams, filled with positive energy and new ideas.
Instinctive inclusion. We know that to create and maintain a happy healthy organisation, we have to work hard to ensure inclusion isn`t just what we do but who we are.
People make Unite Students. Employees, students, and neighbours all contribute to building environments where we can all thrive.
Room for Everyone
We`re proud to be an employer that embraces individuality, and we`re passionate about building inclusive teams. We focus on creating a collaborative culture where you can be you, where your voice is heard, and where you can truly belong. We take great pride in being rated Gold Investors in People and are constantly striving to provide the highest standard of learning and development opportunities and professional pathways for our people. Building a home for success, for both our employees and students, requires exceptional people with a passion for creating room for everyone, doing what`s right, keeping US safe, and raising the bar. Join us as we build better experiences for students that live with us.
We are US.
As part of our commitment to safeguarding our students, all new employees in this position will be required to undertake a basic criminal record check prior to commencing employment. The cost of this check will be incurred by Unite Students. Any offer of employment will be subject to a satisfactory criminal record check result.
If this position sounds exciting to you, we would love to receive your application!
Facilities Manager employer: Unite Students
Contact Detail:
Unite Students Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Facilities Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the specific facilities management practices and compliance standards relevant to student accommodation. Understanding the unique challenges in this sector will help you demonstrate your expertise during interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with current or former employees of Unite Students on platforms like LinkedIn. Engaging with them can provide valuable insights into the company culture and expectations, which you can leverage in your discussions.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare examples of how you've successfully managed teams and projects in high-pressure environments. Being able to articulate your leadership style and problem-solving skills will set you apart from other candidates.
✨Tip Number 4
Research Unite Students' sustainability initiatives and be ready to discuss how you can contribute to their goals. Showing that you're aligned with their values will demonstrate your commitment to the role and the organisation.
We think you need these skills to ace Facilities Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in facilities management, particularly in leading teams and managing maintenance services. Use specific examples that demonstrate your ability to deliver high-quality service and compliance.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for creating safe and efficient environments. Mention how your leadership skills align with the company's vision and how you can contribute to their commitment to student satisfaction.
Showcase Relevant Skills: Emphasise your technical knowledge of HVAC systems, health and safety regulations, and project management experience. Be specific about how these skills have helped you succeed in previous roles.
Proofread Your Application: Before submitting, carefully proofread your application for any spelling or grammatical errors. A polished application reflects your attention to detail, which is crucial for a Facilities Manager role.
How to prepare for a job interview at Unite Students
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Facilities Manager, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to lead and manage teams effectively. Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams in the past, focusing on your communication style and how you motivate others.
✨Understand Compliance and Safety Regulations
Familiarise yourself with relevant health and safety regulations, especially those related to property management. Be ready to discuss how you've ensured compliance in previous roles and how you would approach this at Unite Students.
✨Demonstrate Problem-Solving Abilities
Prepare to discuss specific challenges you've faced in facilities management and how you resolved them. Highlight your ability to remain calm under pressure and adapt to evolving situations, as this is crucial for the role.
✨Align with Company Values
Unite Students values inclusion and collaboration. Research their culture and be prepared to discuss how your personal values align with theirs. Share examples of how you've contributed to a positive team environment in the past.