Job Title: General Manager
Location: Waterford (on-site, Monday to Friday)
About the Company
Our client is a long-established, purpose-built student accommodation campus in Waterford. With 192 apartments housing up to 595 students during the academic year, and a thriving summer programme accommodating language schools and visiting student groups, the campus is one of the most significant residential assets of its kind in the South East.
About the Role
We are appointing a General Manager to take full responsibility for the day-to-day and strategic operation of the campus. Reporting directly to the Managing Director, this is a senior, hands-on role with a high degree of autonomy and clear accountability for operational performance, compliance, and commercial outcomes.
You will lead a small on-site team of office staff, maintenance personnel, and a seasonal cleaning crew, supported by an external network of trade contractors and an out-of-hours security provider. You will be the primary interface between the Board, tenants, individual unit owners, and the Owners' Management Company.
The current General Manager retires in December, and you will benefit from a structured handover covering September check-in, August year-end, and the AGM cycle.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the on-site office, maintenance, and cleaning teams, ensuring a responsive, tenant-focused service
- Drive year-round occupancy across the 192 units, including maximising summer utilisation
- Oversee the full lettings cycle: bookings, onboarding, turnover, and tenant management
- Manage planned preventative and reactive maintenance programmes across all units and common areas
- Oversee contractors, procurement, and cost control to ensure value and quality
- Monitor rental income, arrears, cash flow, and monthly client account reconciliations
- Maintain full compliance with PSRA regulations, client account rules, and Multi-Unit Developments Act obligations
- Support the Owners' Management Company, including AGM preparation and delivery
- Modernise operational processes, maximise use of property management systems, and improve tenant acquisition channels
- Provide regular performance reporting to the Managing Director and Board
Candidate Profile
You are an experienced property professional who combines strong operational leadership with commercial focus and disciplined compliance management. You are calm under pressure, comfortable with autonomy, and confident managing a varied stakeholder group ranging from tenants to Board level.
Desired Experience
- Minimum 10 years' experience in property management (residential or multi-unit developments)
- PSRA Licence Category C and D (essential)
- Demonstrated experience managing live, operational residential environments (not pure sales or agency)
- Strong facilities and maintenance management background, including contractor oversight
- Track record managing tenant relationships, occupancy, and rental performance
- Experience with client accounts and regulatory compliance obligations
- Excellent communication, organisational, and stakeholder management skills
What's on Offer
- Performance-related bonus
- Auto-enrolment pension contribution
- Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm or 9am to 5pm
- Direct Managing Director and Board engagement
- Structured handover with the outgoing General Manager
- A stable, varied role with genuine ownership of a significant residential asset
Why Join
This is a rare opportunity to take full operational ownership of one of the South East's most established student accommodation campuses. The role offers the autonomy of a leadership position, the variety of a multi-disciplinary remit, and the predictability of a Monday to Friday on-site schedule. For a property professional based in or willing to relocate to the South East, it is one of the most compelling residential leadership roles in the region.
For immediate consideration, please email your CV to [email protected] or call Darren O'Connor on 051 878813.
Hartley People Recruitment works to the highest ethical standards in our industry. We value the trust you place in us when you send your CV. We guarantee that your CV will not be sent to any of our clients without your prior consent and are happy to provide a full, confidential consultation.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Work Location: In person
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Work Location: In person
