Unite Students
Cluster Operations Manager
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Cluster Operations Manager
Lead with heart. Drive operations. Create communities where students thrive.
At Unite Group, we create Homes for Success through our student accommodation brands, Unite Students and Hello Student. This opportunity is with our Unite Students OR Hello Student Brand.
Cluster Operations Manager
Location: Cardiff
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: Competitive + bonus + benefits
As a Cluster Operations Manager, you will oversee the day-to-day operations of a group of properties within your cluster, leading teams to deliver strong operational and commercial performance.
You will take ownership of multiple sites, ensuring they operate safely, efficiently, and deliver a consistently high-quality resident experience. With responsibility for both operational delivery and day-to-day financial performance, you will play a key role in driving results, maintaining standards, and building thriving student communities.
Working closely with the Area Operations Manager and support teams, you will combine hands-on leadership with a proactive, performance-driven approach. This is more than just running buildings?you’ll create environments where students feel supported, connected, and at home.
Your impact
Responsibilities
Whilst no two days are the same at Unite Students, here’s a flavour of what you’ll be responsible for in this role:
- Lead operational performance across your cluster, overseeing multiple properties and ensuring consistent, high standards
- Take ownership of day-to-day financial performance, supporting occupancy, revenue, cost control, and overall cluster results
- Lead, develop and support teams across your cluster, creating a high-performing, engaged and collaborative environment
- Ensure properties are safe, compliant and well-maintained, maintaining strong health, safety and operational standards
- Deliver an excellent resident experience, resolving issues quickly and creating welcoming, inclusive communities
- Work closely with maintenance and operational teams to ensure buildings are presented to a high standard and issues are resolved efficiently
- Build strong relationships with university partners, suppliers and contractors to support operational success
- Act as a key escalation point for operational issues and participate in the Duty Manager rota where required
- Use data, feedback and insight to identify opportunities to improve performance, efficiency and resident satisfaction
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Your background
You don’t need to fit a box or follow a traditional path - what matters most is your mindset. We are looking for curiosity, openness to learning, and the drive to make a difference. Whether you’re solving problems, leading teams, or supporting residents day-to-day, it’s your attitude and approach that will help shape something bigger.
To Be Successful In This Role, You Will
- Bring experience in operational leadership within property, hospitality, facilities management, or another customer-focused environment.
- Have experience managing teams and multi-site operations.
- Be confident managing operational performance and service delivery standards.
- Be an excellent communicator, comfortable building relationships with colleagues, suppliers and external partners.
- Be organised, solutions-focused and able to manage priorities in a fast-paced operational environment.
- Experience within property, hospitality or PBSA would be advantageous, but is not essential.
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Why it’s great to work with US!
In this values-led organisation, you will do work that makes a difference, helping to shape welcoming, vibrant communities where students can thrive. Whether this is your first step or your next one, we’ll help you build skills, confidence and a career you’re proud of.
We Believe That Everyone Thrives When They Are Able To Bring The Best Version Of Themselves To Work. So, Alongside a Competitive Salary, We’ve Built a Culture And a Reward Package To Support You In Bringing Your Full, Authentic Self To Work, Including
- A performance-related bonus paid twice a year
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, with the option to buy up to 5 extra days
- A generous pension scheme where contributions range between 4% and 11% depending on how much you save
- Life assurance worth 4 times your salary
- Share save scheme giving you access to purchase Unite Students shares at a discounted rate
- Enhanced Family Leave policies
- Medicash (Health Cash Plan)
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
- One free volunteering day each year
- Retail and hospitality discounts
Alongside these benefits, you’ll also have access to learning and development programmes designed to support your growth and career progression.
If you’re expecting ordinary, think again. We’re US, we’re different - and we’re proud of it.
How far could you go? Join US and find out.
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