Director of Operations (PBSA)

Background to Dominus and the Director of Operations (PBSA) Appointment:

·       Dominus are developing an operational team to support in mobilising and operating its student accommodation platform.  The current pipeline is approximately 5000 beds with ambitious growth targets.

·       Assets are currently being explored and built in London, along with key student regional markets across the UK, to that end they have decided to recruit a Director of Operations.

·       The Director of Operations will help Investment team underwrite new opportunities.

·       The Director of Operations will present to board on a monthly basis and produce dashboard metrics and monthly report capabilities internally but also for external capital as Dominus look into that strategy. 

·       The Director of Operations will have a detailed / forensic approach to the P&L and numbers 

·       The Director of Operations will look for synergies across operational platform with hotels / student accommodation and potentially Build to Rent.

·       The Director of Operations will create a LIVING sector OpCO for the Dominus platform 

·       The Director of Operations will create systems and processes from ground up to operate, including the setting of KPIs and creating/sharing dashboards/reporting

Main Purpose of Role: MOBILSATION STRATEGY PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

·      To oversee the day-to-day delivery and operational activity of the Dominus student accommodation platform.

·      The new Director of Operations and the Dominus Board will choose the relevant operational platforms which will form the bedrock of the operational business.

·      To help raise the profile of Dominus and promote the operational strategy with key stakeholders, including professional advisors, consultants, and the wider student accommodation industries with the overarching aim to help establish Dominus as a well-respected and industry leading owner operator of bespoke student accommodation residences across the UK.

·      To develop and then lead the in-house operational teams at Dominus and be responsible for all operational reporting between the student accommodation businesses and Dominus board.

·      To play a key role in the annual budgeting and reforecasting process across the student portfolio, along with CapEx budgeting

·      Using experience to define best practice across assets, with the aim of building a best-in-class product and sharing insights with the broader Dominus team

Role Responsibilities:

a. Strategic:

·       Making recommendations as to the most appropriate operational platforms including but not limited to, leasing and lead management, resident engagement, resident referencing, IT, health & safety risk management and compliance, utilities procurement and third-party maintenance contractors.

·       In conjunction with the Dominus Board, being responsible for the recruitment of key hires into the site based operational teams.

·       Being responsible for all day-to-day operational health & safety and statutory compliance across the portfolio always seeking to minimize operational risk.

·       Driving an exceptional level of customer service for residents across all Dominus developments.

·       In conjunction with the Dominus Board, develop and, influence and help maintain strong working relationships with key external advisors, consultants, and third-party stakeholders.

·       Ensuring all assets under management within the platform are managed in line with the asset’s strategic business plan ensuring all occupancy targets, net operating income targets, ESG and net zero operational strategies, statutory obligations and health and safety compliance are achieved.

·       Working closely with the Dominus Board, providing the vision, and gaining the necessary commitment from all operational site-based staff to deliver the strategic objectives of the student accommodation platforms.

·       Supporting the Dominus Board across other operational platforms, as required.

·       Work with Sales and Marketing teams to review and analyse competitor activities and implement plans to drive occupancy and revenue across the academic cycle

b. Tactical:

·       Provide input at the underwriting stages of each development from an operational cost perspective to ensure the appropriate allowances are made in the gross to net operational models.

·       Formulate a set of operational design briefs and provide input at the design stage of all schemes from an operational perspective to ensure the completed schemes are operationally effective and efficient and that the user experience for our residents is the best it can be.

·       In conjunction with the site based operational teams to have responsibility for the preparation of and ongoing monitoring of all operational budgets.

·       Be the lead on all operational matters on new acquisitions.

·       Be the operational lead on all operational ESG matters feeding into the Dominus Board on student accommodation.

c. Team Leadership:

·       Ensuring the operational team understand their key roles and responsibilities and are fully accountable to the Director of Operations.

·       Manage all direct reports effectively, providing supervision, support, development and undertaking the annual performance reviews for each individual and ensuring they do so for all their reports.

·       Support and enhance the culture of the Dominus student accommodation businesses both internally and externally. Working with the Dominus Board and other senior leadership, help to increase the awareness of the student accommodation businesses across the UK marketplace.

·       Work with internal teams to develop a suite of onboarding and training materials for the site team, keep updated with trends and best practices to ensure all team members have had the same standard of training

Key Attributes:

·       At least ten years’ experience of undertaking a similar Director of Operations role from working across a Student Accommodation customer facing organizations.

·       A strong customer service background is essential as Dominus see a large part of the success of this platform being because of its ability to exceed our resident’s expectations to help ensure a high level of resident engagement and increased rate of renewal when tenancies come to expire.

·       Ability to work successfully as part of a small, close-knit team but also be able to work independently. This role requires the successful candidate to be able to ‘hit the ground running’ and be able to work in detail building upon the work already undertaken in preparing for the launch of the first operational asset.

·       Ability to fit within the culture of Dominus is essential.

·       Possess a strong operational skillset being fully adept in current health and safety / statutory compliance / operational risk management and the ability to deliver an exceptional level of customer service.

·       An individual with the skillset and ability to lead and manage teams, some of whom may be based remotely across the UK.

·       Commercially astute with the ability to negotiate contract terms and contract principles with third party advisors, contractors, and consultants.

·       Financially astute with a strong attention to detail.

·       Experience in multi-site operations across multiple areas/regions

Behaviors

Exceptional Focus – working hard to achieve the needs of Dominus quickly and efficiently, someone who truly takes pride in their work and what they do.

Collaborative Approach – Working collaboratively with a variety of teams internationally to achieve Dominus’ wider goals and vision, goes above and beyond.

Honesty & Responsibility – building trust and respect; understanding the business goals and how the role plays a part in Dominus’ success.

About you

Your rewards

Salary: Competitive

Your working environment

At Dominus, we work in an open-plan office that promotes collaboration, interaction and passion. We have a strong set of values, bring them to life in our daily routine. This helps us create the very best place to work, collaborate and innovate. A force for good, making a positive impact in a rapidly changing world.

Our Dominus office can be found on Shouldham Street in Marylebone, centrally located to enjoy some of London’s best hotspots, and all the amenities you could ask for just a short walk away.

About the next steps

To apply in confidence, please submit n application via LinkedIn.

The closing date for receipt of applications is TBC

At Dominus, we are committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from all parts of the community.

About us

Our company

From modest origins many years ago, Dominus has grown into one of the UK’s most ambitious family-owned business groups. We’re proud to be potent enablers and catalysts for positive change.

Our track record of honesty, integrity and delivery spans the real estate sector across the UK – in student accommodation, hospitality, residential development and beyond.

Find out more at dominusrealestate.co.uk.

Our culture

Working in collaboration nationwide, we make a daily difference at street level, with landmark developments, innovative partnerships and a progressive, long-term view of the future.

For a decade, we’ve been driven by our ethos of creating and investing in strong, vibrant, sustainable communities. Today, we’re more than an award-winning, forward-thinking business. We encompass charitable values, taking action in the community. And we’re a trusted partner, forging links across the public and private sectors.

Our vision

To invest in a better society where everyone’s welcome.

Our mission

We invest in design and create the future of the urban environment, harnessing the partnerships that underpin the UK.