Asset Manager (North/South) in London

Asset Manager (North/South) in London

London Full-Time 50000 - 65000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
Unite Students

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead investment strategies to enhance student living experiences and drive property performance.
  • Company: Join Unite Students, the UK's top provider of purpose-built student accommodation.
  • Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, generous holiday, and health benefits including a gym discount.
  • Other info: Be part of a diverse team committed to inclusion and professional growth.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact on student living while developing your career in asset management.
  • Qualifications: Degree or equivalent experience, ideally RICS qualified, with strong analytical skills.

The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 £ per year.

The Role

We have an exciting opportunity for an Asset Manager to join the team here at Unite Students. The role can be based in either Bristol or London.

Our vision is to be the UK’s leading living platform for young people.

We are achieving this through operational excellence, targeted investment in our properties, and continued growth in the UK’s strongest student markets.

We invest more than £50 million each year across our £10 billion Purpose‑Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) portfolio to enhance the customer experience, protect our assets, and drive long‑term value.

Our Asset Management team plays a pivotal role in shaping these investments.

As an Asset Manager, reporting to the Head of Asset & Fund Management, you will take ownership of a regional portfolio, developing and delivering investment strategies that maximise performance and support our Group Strategy.

  • What You’ll Be Doing
  • Develop and deliver city and asset strategies that maximise portfolio performance and support our Group, Fund and Joint Venture objectives.
  • Shape capital investment priorities across the Unite Students and Hello Student portfolios to drive long‑term value.
  • Identify and deliver asset enhancement opportunities, including refurbishments, reconfigurations and repositioning initiatives.
  • Drive rental growth, improve the customer experience and manage sustainability and lifecycle investment across your portfolio.
  • Identify underperforming assets and develop strategies to improve, reposition or dispose of them.
  • Partner with cross‑functional teams to develop investment business cases, secure approvals and deliver successful projects.
  • Build strong relationships with university partners to unlock value and strengthen long‑term partnerships.
  • Play a key role in regional leadership, supporting acquisitions, disposals, refinancing and wider portfolio strategy.
  • Acne teams to ensure all commercial aspects of any asset management activity are considered and the best possible support is provided to the business.
  • Proactively develop and maintain relationships with the Asset Management function and other business and finance stakeholders.
  • Maintain a good working knowledge of the business, our strategy, activities of our competitors; keep up to date with trends and best practice within own professional area.
  • What We’re Looking for in You
  • Degree qualified, or equivalent professional experience.
  • Ideally RICS qualified.
  • At least three years experience in property, with a strong understanding of operational asset management and the key drivers of real estate value.
  • Commercially minded, with strong analytical and financial skills and the ability to turn insight into action.
  • Proven ability to build strong relationships and collaborate effectively across cross‑functional teams.
  • Confident communicator, able to influence stakeholders and present ideas clearly and persuasively.
  • Flexible and willing to travel regularly across the UK.
  • 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 Share Save 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 leading provider of purpose‑built student accommodation.

You can find us in 25 leading university towns and cities, with 74,000 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.

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Asset Manager (North/South) in London employer: Unite Students

Unite Students in Portsmouth is an exceptional employer, dedicated to fostering a supportive and inclusive work culture that prioritises student engagement and community building. Employees benefit from competitive salaries, generous annual leave, and performance-related bonuses, alongside opportunities for personal and professional growth within the vibrant student accommodation sector. Join us to make a meaningful impact while enjoying a rewarding career in a dynamic environment.

Unite Students

Contact Details:

Unite Students Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Asset Manager (North/South) in London

Get Involved in Local Property Events

Dive into local property expos and networking events! Real estate thrives on connections, so attending these events helps us meet potential employers and industry leaders, plus it's a chance to show off your enthusiasm for the field.

Connect with Local Agents on Social Media

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Don’t Underestimate the Power of Cold Outreach

Got your eye on a specific company like Unite Students? Don't hesitate to send a direct message or an email expressing your interest. Personalise your approach, maybe mentioning a recent listing or project of theirs, and it could set you apart from other candidates.

Utilise Property Management Platforms

Check out property management platforms and job boards tailored for the real estate sector. They often have exclusive listings, especially for full-time roles. Don't forget to visit Unite Students's careers page directly; we love seeing passionate candidates applying through our website!

We think you need these skills to ace Asset Manager (North/South) in London

Asset Management
Investment Strategy Development
Portfolio Performance Maximisation
Capital Investment Prioritisation
Asset Enhancement Identification
Rental Growth Management
Sustainability Management

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Your Real-Estate Savvy:When crafting your CV and cover letter, make sure to highlight any relevant experience in the real estate sector. If you've done internships, assistant roles, or even relevant coursework, lay it out clearly. We want to see your familiarity with market trends, property management, or any sales experience you've got under your belt!

Quantify Your Achievements:In real estate, numbers speak volumes! When detailing your past roles, use concrete figures to demonstrate your achievements. For example, mention how many properties you sold, the percentage increase in client satisfaction, or any successful negotiations. These metrics can give your application that extra punch it needs!

Tailor Your Documents for the Job:Every application should feel personal. When applying for the Asset Manager (North/South) role at Unite Students, tweak your CV to focus on aspects that are important to them. If they value client relationships, emphasise your interpersonal skills. We want to see you aligning your experiences with what they're looking for!

Keep It Professional Yet Approachable:While we want you to show off your expertise, don't forget to let your personality shine through in your cover letter. A touch of friendliness can set you apart, especially in real estate where client interaction is key. Show that you're ready not just to work with the property but also with people!

How to prepare for a job interview at Unite Students

Know Your Market Trends

In real estate, it’s all about staying ahead of the curve. Make sure we brush up on the latest market trends in the area where Unite Students operates. Being able to discuss local property values, demand, and upcoming developments will show that we’re not just interested in the job, but genuinely invested in the industry.

Prepare for Scenario Questions

Expect some scenario-based questions during the interview. We might get asked how we’d handle different client situations or property evaluations. Preparing our responses for common real estate scenarios not only demonstrates our problem-solving skills but also shows that we can think on our feet in a client-facing role.

Showcase Your Connections

In full-time real estate, networking is key! Let’s think about our connections in the industry and what we can bring to Unite Students. Whether it’s insights on prospective clients or relationships with local contractors, talking about these experiences can set us apart from other candidates.

Demonstrate Technical Savvy

Familiarity with different real estate software tools is a big plus. We should be ready to discuss any platforms we've used, whether it's for property management, CRM, or data analysis. Being comfortable with technology not only makes us more efficient, but also shows that we’re adaptable to the tools used at Unite Students.