Opportunity Review: Accommodation Services Role at the University of West London

The University of West London (UWL) is a dynamic and highly-regarded institution, consistently recognized for its commitment to student success and satisfaction. As a leading modern university in London, UWL offers a vibrant and diverse community where staff and students collaborate to achieve excellence. This review focuses on an exciting opportunity within the Accommodation Services Department, a crucial team dedicated to ensuring students have a positive and supportive living experience.

The Opportunity: A Strategic Role in Student Welfare

The Accommodation Services Department plays a pivotal role in the student journey, reporting directly to the Pro Vice Chancellor Property, Accommodation & Sustainability. This team acts as the primary interface for students seeking accommodation, working with purpose-built student accommodation providers and private landlords to secure high-quality, compliant housing.

The advertised role is a proactive management position with a broad scope, encompassing:

• Securing and Managing Accommodation Supply: Ensuring there's sufficient and appropriate housing to meet student demand.
• Quality Assurance and Compliance: Upholding university standards for all accommodation options.
• Contract Negotiation and Financial Management: Protecting income streams and maintaining the commercial viability of the service.
• Enhancing Student Experience: Overseeing the student accommodation journey to foster satisfaction and safeguard the university's reputation.
• Day-to-Day Operations: Providing excellent customer service, tenancy management, and administrative support to students in third-party accommodation.
• Cross-University Collaboration: Liaising with colleagues to deliver an exceptional service to students.

Advantages for Potential Candidates

This position offers several compelling advantages for individuals looking to advance their careers in higher education or property management:

• Impactful Role: You will be directly contributing to the well-being and success of students, a deeply rewarding aspect of working in higher education.
• Career Progression: The strategic nature of the role, involving contract negotiation and commercial viability, provides excellent opportunities for professional development and advancement within the university sector.
• Diverse Environment: UWL's commitment to diversity and inclusion means you'll be working in a rich and multicultural environment, fostering cross-cultural understanding and collaboration.
• University's Strong Reputation: Being part of an institution with high rankings and excellent student satisfaction scores adds significant value to your professional profile.
• Proactive Management: The emphasis on proactive management means you'll have the opportunity to shape and improve services, rather than just react to issues.

Key Considerations for Candidates

To help you assess if this role aligns with your career aspirations, here are some key considerations:

• Flexibility and Workload: The role requires flexibility, including potential evening and weekend work, particularly during peak periods (July-October). Candidates should be prepared for these demands.
• Customer-Centric Approach: Excellent interpersonal, communication, and customer service skills are paramount, as the role is student-facing and requires a commitment to delivering a high level of service.
• Analytical and Problem-Solving Skills: The ability to work under pressure, meet tight deadlines, and demonstrate strong problem-solving and analytical skills, including intermediate Excel proficiency, is essential.
• Experience: While a degree is preferred, demonstrable equivalent work experience in student accommodation or private property management is highly valued.
• Commitment to Diversity: UWL actively seeks to increase diversity within its workforce. Candidates who can contribute to this goal, particularly those from under-represented groups, are encouraged to apply.
• Eligibility to Work: Candidates must possess the legal right to work in the UK.

This role presents a fantastic opportunity for a dedicated and skilled professional to make a significant contribution to the University of West London and the student community. If you are passionate about creating a positive and supportive living environment for students and thrive in a dynamic, service-oriented setting, this position is certainly worth exploring.