GENERAL MANAGER UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAMME
CANDIDATE BRIEFING PACK
JANUARY 2020
UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAMME
4
Introduction to University Partnerships Programme
6
Our Partnerships
8
The Student Experience
10
UPP Management
12
The role of the General Manager
14
Job description and person specification
18
Organisation Chart
20
Benefits of working at UPP
21
Further Information and Application Process
4
UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAMME
Introduction
University Partnerships Programme
UPP
We are the UK’s leading provider of on-campus residential and academic accommodation infrastructure. We have over 35,000 rooms in operation or under construction through long-term, bespoke partnerships with 15 world-leading universities. With over 800 employees, since 1998 UPP has invested well over £2.5bn in the UK higher education sector and provided homes to over 310,000 students. We create bespoke, long-term partnerships which enable universities to make the most effective use of their assets, free up resources and improve student services. We fund, design, develop and operate high-quality and affordable accommodation on campus and deliver the very best student experience in partnership with universities. Our unique partnership approach enables our university partners to develop their estates whilst reinvesting in their core services of teaching and research. We fund, design and build new on-campus residential and academic accommodation infrastructure, complete estate transfers and operate facilities over the long-term. Our transactions are typically undertaken on a demand-risk-transfer basis through a non- recourse approach, with the asset returning to the university in an agreed condition at the end of the concession. We encourage our partners to take an equity share in the project company so that both parties benefit from the successful delivery and performance of the accommodation, with interests aligned over the life of the partnership.
Our Vision
To be the UK’s leading student accommodation provider working with the trust and confidence of our university partners.
To deliver on this ambitious vision, we have three strategic aims:
1. To drive operational excellence throughout our Business. 2. To delight our university partners through the services we provide to them and their students. 3. To generate value for our investors to enable them to further invest in the growth of our Business.
To achieve the aims, we all need to focus on six strategic priorities:
1. Student experience – to provide an easy-to-access, reliable and excellent student experience. 2. Partnership – to develop and maintain highly-effective university partnerships. 3. Our people – to develop a safe, highly-engaged, skilled and collaborative organisation. 4. Accommodation – to apply effective asset management to provide good-quality accommodation. 5. Continuous improvement – to promote a culture of continuous improvement by embracing technology, innovation and efficiencies. 6. Development – to ensure highly-effective development, design and construction capabilities.
6
UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAMME
In Partnership, for the long term.
We deliver a range of services which can help universities to invest in improvements their estate, or improve student services. Our range of services includes; funding, design, build and operation of student accommodation. We employ over 800 people managing more than 35,000 rooms in operation or development. Our support, delivered in partnership, is helping 15 UK Universities to upgrade their estates, make best use of their physical assets, improve services and enhance the student experience. In the last decade we have provided more than £2.5billion in new funding, supporting our partners to invest and grow, to meet demand and improve the student experience. Any UK University with a strong strategic vision can benefit from a partnership with UPP, or access our range of services.
Our University Partners
Imperial College London Lancaster University Leeds Beckett University Loughborough University Nottingham Trent University Oxford Brookes University
1,172 Rooms / FM Services
4,347 Rooms / Eco-Residences / FM services 2,038 Rooms / Eco-Residences / FM Services
1,310 Rooms / FM Services
4,402 Rooms / Academic / Retail / FM Services
771 Rooms / FM Services
University of Plymouth University of Exeter
1,764 Rooms / Academic / FM Services 2,569 Rooms / Academic / FM Services
University of Kent
1,840 Rooms / Eco-Residences / Academic / FM Services
University of Nottingham University of Reading
2,223 Rooms / FM Services
4,971 Rooms / Accommodation Office / FM Services
University of York
1,043 Rooms / FM Services 1,711 Rooms / FM Services
University of London
University of Hull
1,462 Rooms
Swansea University
2,021 Rooms / FM Services
8
UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAMME
Student Experience
Great space and services with student experience built in. Our partnerships support universities to create environments within which students can live, study and thrive. We manage the needs of more than 35,000 students every term so we never stop learning and we share our experience with our partners. We also know that every University is as unique as the thousands of students it serves and this ensures that we are never complacent, and never take a one size fits all view.
Listening, responding, adapting Students can be demanding and their needs constantly evolve.
Independent qualitative and quantitative research helps us understand the evolving needs of students and face to face focus groups, and regular surveys with our residents enable us to check and adapt our approach quickly. As specialists, the quality of our staff and their in-depth understanding of the unique environment and the people for whom we provide services, enables us to support universities, understand their aims and their strategy and together deliver tangible improvements to the student experience. Our design teams work to understand how students want to use space, and how they interact with each other, leading to seemingly small improvements to the specification of a bedroom, or major changes that impact on construction or technology. At UPP we aim to deliver great places to live, with student experience literally built in.
Long-term, stable growth
Our clearly defined strategy for growth is based on our overarching mission to be the strategic partner of choice in the delivery of infrastructure and asset management services to UK universities. Our model is focused on long-term partnerships, supporting universities in improving the quality of their physical infrastructure and services to students. In aligning the interests of both parties, our unique approach provides security in the delivery of revenues and in turn, expected returns to investors. Our strategy will: • Grow the number of partnerships we have with selected universities • Increase the number of student rooms under management • Deepen the existing relationships we enjoy with our current partners • Invest in our staff to ensure we deliver the best customer service • Develop new and innovative ways of funding infrastructure projects • Identify new revenue streams and increase the value of existing revenue streams • Develop innovative solutions for the non-residential requirements of our partners • Wrest the economic benefits of ever more effective procurement
UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAMME
The Role of the General Manager
To lead the site the site team to deliver the contracted services at the agreed service levels within budget, ensuring service delivery meets the University’s and students’ satisfaction and all Health and Safety obligations are met.
The role has an important requirement to develop the client relationship.
To monitor and appraise the service delivery to ensure continuous improvement and to identify revenue generating opportunities which will enhance the customer experience.
The role will play an important part in managing and developing aspects of the investment project.
12
UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAMME
Job Description Job Title : General Manager Location : Plymouth Reports To : SW Regional Director Direct Reports :
Maintenance Manager, Soft Services Manager and Management Assistant
Roles and Responsibilities
Contract Delivery
• Deliver all contractual and statutory obligations in a timely, cost effective and efficient manner through directly employed and sub contracted staff • Monitor service delivery functions ensuring they are compliant with the underlease, facilities management contract and service level agreement • Plan and deliver the annual PPM programme within the defined timescale and budget • Plan and deliver the annual summer works programme within the defined timescale and budget • Attend and provide reports for the monthly University Liaison meetings • Assist in the reporting submission for the Partnership board • Plan and deliver the vacation business operations for UPP rooms for the University
People Management
• Manage the activities, training and welfare of the site team including the validating and submission of leave requests, timesheets, absence documentation and completion of training records • Carry out recruitment, induction, training needs analysis and performance appraisal as required and in line with the UPP Leaning and Development programme • Develop new operational structures in line with agreed budgets
Health and Safety
• Deliver Health & Safety compliance ensuring all systems, processes and policies are in place and monitored • Ensure all staff are trained in and aware of their Health and Safety duties and responsibilities • Deliver and develop a positive site safety culture • Develop PPM and Compliance procedures in all matters relating to the companies health and safety policy
Financial Management
• Deliver the revenue targets (term time rent, summer vacation income) • Identify other appropriate revenue generating opportunities which enhance the service provided • Manage the budget (profit and loss); approving and authorising expenditure to authorised levels following company procedures • Report as required on financial performance (income and expenditure), operational performance and service delivery performance • Develop the annual budget for approval • Deliver and oversee the Lifecycle programme for the site
Client Liaison
• Undertake and manage liaison and performance monitoring between the University and UPP • Maintain on-going and effective working relationships with the university staff, student residents and student bodies • Liaise with the University’s accommodation office • Plan and develop the summer conference business with the Client team
Service Delivery and Quality Control
• Monitor the quality of service delivery ensuring that service delivery levels meet the Service Level Agreements, high levels of customer satisfaction are delivered and there is continuous improvement of the service • Work with the Business Development team to ensure that the core UPP brand is communicated effectively • Liaise with the university client, student bodies (e.g. student union) and individual students over complaints and matters covering all aspects of the accommodation • Monitor the quality and cost effectiveness of suppliers and services for the site • Manage and oversee the delivery of the site’s student experience programme
Marketing
• Assist the University in marketing the accommodation for term time and summer occupation ensuring occupancy levels are maximised
Other
• Take part in an on-call rota and be part of the management escalation procedure • Other duties as commensurate with the post • Willing and able to travel to other UPP sites and/or Head Office, if required
UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAMME
Person Specification
Attributes
Essential criteria
Desirable Criteria
Experience
Previous experience of managing facility operations and maintenance services, staff and budgets (operating and lifecycle) Hospitality and Residential experience of a multi site operation
Higher Education sector experience
Skills/ Ability/ Knowledge
Evidence of excellent planning and communication experience Able to demonstrate a thorough understanding of general management techniques in a large and complex organisation
Education/ Qualification
Educated to first degree standard in a relevant discipline Evidence of a sound foundation of MS office and bespoke computer systems Exceptionally, candidates who are able to cite a substantial amount of relevant senior management experience in Facilities Management or in a related field with a demonstrably successful track record, may be considered
Appropriate postgraduate and/or professional qualifications Health and Safety qualification eg IOSH Managing Safely
Member of BIFM or other relevant professional organisation
Personal Qualities
Strong interpersonal and communication skills
Ability to liaise with all parts of the business internally and externally; including the ability to promote a partnering culture with university staff and academics, trade unions, students and student bodies, contractors and suppliers Strength and quality of leadership and the personal skills required to develop and lead an effective and well- motivated, multi-disciplinary and multi-task site team
Sense of humour
The benefits of working at UPP
In addition to a competitive basic salary level and industry leading bonus potential, UPP offers a diverse range of employee benefits, including: • Salary exchange pension – matched contributions of 5% • Private Medical Insurance – single cover with the option to add dependants • Private Health Insurance (Group Income Protection) • Life Assurance x4 salary (x2 salary if opted out of pension scheme) • 29 days annual leave, plus 8 days bank holiday • Holiday purchase option – up to 5 days (FTE) • Discretionary bonus scheme (up to 20% of annual salary) • UPP Payroll Giving (Give as You Earn) • UPP Rewards (discount portal) • Employee Assistance Programme Our people forms one of our six strategic priorities. We strive to develop a highly-engaged, skilled and collaborative organisation that is diverse and has an embedded culture that promotes equality of opportunity. We offer the opportunity for flexible working and an inclusive environment for our people.
Further information and application process
For a confidential discussion to learn more about the role and opportunity please contact the UPP’s appointed recruitment partners Hayley Mintern and Charlotte Turedi of The Management Recruitment Group.
Hayley Mintern T: 020 8892 0115 M: 07530 680 184 E: hayley.mintern@mrgpeople.co.uk Charlotte Turedi T: 020 8892 0115 M: 07852 131 794 E: charlotte.turedi@mrgpeople.co.uk
Applications should consist of a comprehensive CV and supporting cover letter. Applications should be sent to
hayley.mintern@mrgpeople.co.uk and charlotte.turedi@mrgpeople.co.uk.
The closing date for applications is Sunday 16th February 2020.
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator