Student Experience Team Leader

Lead with heart. Create a home. Make an impact.

Location: Market gate

Contract Type: Permanent

Working hours: 37.5 hours per week, working 5 days out of 7 between the hours of 7am and 10pm. Weekends will be required on a rota basis.

Salary: £28,000 - £30,139 + bonus + benefits

As a Student Experience Team Leader, you’ll play a key part in delivering an outstanding student living experience and overseeing daily operations for your property. You’ll work closely with Student Experience Managers, facilities and housekeeping teams, ensuring your team provides excellent service and maintains a safe, welcoming environment. Leading by example, you’ll support students as they settle into university life, resolve day‑to‑day issues, and drive operational efficiency to meet performance goals.

Every shift brings something different – coaching and supporting your team across multiple sites, to managing emergencies or stepping in as the duty manager. You’ll balance leadership with hands‑on problem‑solving, keeping things running smoothly and your team feeling supported every step of the way.

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 and support the Student Experience Team to deliver a safe, consistent, and caring environment.
• Provide line management and leadership to your team – conducting performance reviews, managing attendance, conduct, and performance, and supporting their growth and development.
• Be responsible for setting objectives, creating rotas, and managing holidays to ensure effective cover and operational excellence.
• Contribute to cluster performance by delivering key business KPIs.
• Act as the point of escalation for incidents and ensure every situation is managed calmly, professionally, and with care.
• Keep our spaces clean, tidy, and well‑maintained – taking pride in every detail.
• Collaborate with the day and night teams to ensure a seamless student experience across shifts.
• Build connections with students, supporting welfare and responding promptly to their needs.
• Plan and deliver on‑site events and activities to help foster a sense of belonging and community.
• Drive local sales activity and help to meet occupancy and revenue targets.

You don’t need to fit a box or follow a traditional path – what matters most is your mindset. We’re looking for curiosity, openness to learning, and the drive to make a difference. Whether you’re solving problems, leading change, or supporting our students day‑to‑day, it’s your attitude and approach that will help shape something bigger.

• Bring a people‑focused, supportive approach to leadership.
• Be able to guide and motivate others, even in challenging moments.
• Stay composed and solutions‑focused in fast‑moving or high‑pressure situations.
• Have previous experience managing a team, including supporting performance, wellbeing, and development.
• Preferably, have previous experience in customer service, hospitality, accommodation, retail roles – but this isn’t essential. What’s most important is your ability to connect and act with integrity.
• Exceptional communicator who listens actively, conveys ideas clearly, and uses appropriate tone and language in all interactions.
• Collaborative team player who respects diversity and works well both independently and with various internal stakeholders.

A background in hospitality or retail would be ideal, as it equips you with valuable experience in customer service, team leadership, and operational environments.

In this values‑led organisation, you’ll 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.

• 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 and earn up to 5 additional days for long service (FTE equivalent).
• A generous pension scheme where contributions between 4% and 11% depending on how much you…