Hostel Manager - Female UAE Nationals only

SUMMARY OF FUNCTIONS:

The Hostel Manager is a senior operational and strategic leader responsible for shaping and executing Ajman University’s student housing vision. This role encompasses comprehensive oversight of male and female residence facilities, ensuring a high-quality living environment that promotes student welfare, operational excellence, and compliance with institutional standards. The role carries full accountability for financial performance, team leadership, stakeholder engagement, and the ongoing development of housing services in alignment with the University’s broader student development objectives.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Policy & Residential Standards

• Develop and continuously improve housing policies, procedures, and residence regulations to foster an inclusive, safe, and mission-aligned residential environment.

• Ensure full compliance with health, safety, and housing regulations, embedding risk management practices and safety governance across all residential operations.

Financial Management & Budgeting

• Own and manage the housing department’s annual budget — monitoring income and expenditure, identifying cost efficiencies, and ensuring long-term financial sustainability in alignment with university financial objectives.

• Drive occupancy performance by designing and executing targeted communications and recruitment initiatives to meet or exceed accommodation demand benchmarks.

Facilities & Operations

• Oversee the operational performance of all residence facilities, ensuring high service quality through effective coordination with internal departments and third-party service providers.

• Lead the digital transformation of housing operations by evaluating, selecting, and overseeing the implementation of technology-driven solutions that improve transparency and resident experience.

• Manage external housing assets through effective contract administration, lease negotiations, and rental agreements for the male residence building, and oversee commercial rental spaces (external shops) at the female and male hostels, ensuring all associated procedures are properly maintained.

Team Leadership & Performance

• Lead, develop, and appraise the housing team, setting clear performance standards, monitoring KPIs, and fostering a high-performance culture aligned with departmental objectives.

• Establish and oversee a continuous improvement framework across all residential operations, identifying efficiency opportunities and holding teams accountable for measurable outcomes.

Student Engagement & Residential Life

• Design and oversee a vibrant residential life programme, ensuring social activities and student engagement initiatives are purposefully aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the University’s strategic priorities.

• Implement a resident-centred engagement strategy that proactively captures student feedback and fosters a supportive, community-focused living environment — promoting resident satisfaction and well-being.

• Ensure the housing department’s digital communications channels reflect accurate, up-to-date information, delegating content maintenance responsibilities to appropriate team members.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management, Business Administration, Facility Management, or a closely related field.

• Minimum of 5 years of progressive leadership experience in hostel, hotel, serviced apartment, or student accommodation management.

• Demonstrated experience managing a residential or hospitality operation of 300+ beds is strongly preferred.

• A certificate or tertiary qualification in hospitality management is an advantage.

KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS:

• Full professional fluency in English and Arabic (written and spoken).

• Proven track record of leading a team of ten or more staff and managing multiple external service contractors in an accommodation or hospitality environment.

• Strong financial acumen, including budget preparation, expenditure monitoring, and revenue management.

• Professional communication skills and the ability to represent the University to a range of internal and external stakeholders.

• Working knowledge of facility management systems, housing management software, or equivalent digital tools.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work is performed primarily in an office/administrative environment within the University’s residential campus.

• Occasional after-hours availability may be required to respond to residential incidents or emergencies.

• No significant exposure to physical risk under normal operating conditions.

SUPERVISION:

Reporting to: Dean of Student Affairs

Subordinates: Student Resident Staff