Residence Accommodation Manager

For priority consideration, please submit your application to the following link: https://ghc.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/Kaplan_International_Careers/job/Cambridge-MA-USA/Residence-Accommodation-Manager_JR224467-1

Job Description

The Residence Accommodation Manager manages the Kaplan Language Group (“KLG”) residence housing program for particular Kaplan schools in North America. Their responsibility will include ensuring the availability of a sufficient quantity and variety of residential housing options for Kaplan students; managing occupancy rates to maximize profit for KLG while providing sufficient residence bed inventory for our sales and customer service teams to sell; and the efficient and effective resolution of student residence housing issues.

The ideal candidate will be very organized, communicative, interested in international travel and education, and have a strong commitment to providing excellent customer service to students, while being a strong and trusted partner to KLG’s housing vendors.

Reporting to the North America Regional Accommodations Director (remotely based), this position can be based in the United States or Canada (depending on the successful candidate’s ability to work in either, or both, of those countries), and can be located at one of our nine North American schools, our regional headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts, or remotely (with a willingness and ability to travel to our US and Canadian schools, as well as our regional headquarters as needed).

Key Job Responsibilities

• Manage all aspects of the residential housing program for designated Kaplan Languages Group schools
• Work with prospective and current housing (and, potentially) airport transfer vendors, and manage the relevant residence housing budget
• Develop and execute effective plans to find, retain, and manage residence housing providers – constantly seeking to improve and expand the current supply, while managing budgets and student satisfaction goals
• Work closely with local schools to fully utilize accommodation resources, maximize occupancy and the average daily rate of residences within each school’s accommodation mix
• Work with the North American Director of Accommodations on reviewing residence agreements and contracts in the US and Canada; prepare occupancy and break-even analyses to present to senior management for approval of these residence agreements and contracts
• Forecast seasonal housing needs and work with existing and new suppliers to ensure these demands are met
• Prepare accurate and complete occupancy and availability reports for existing and potential residences,
• Act as point of contact for applicable residence providers and agents; work together to solve student service issues and meet capacity demands
• Communicate student, KLG sales, and agent feedback to vendors. Develop and implement plans to address any deficiencies identified in that feedback
• Coordinate and direct preparation of monthly residence revenue reforecast for the current and upcoming months and assist in ensuring accuracy
• Manage payment processing for housing – review and approve invoices, work with Kaplan accounting staff to facilitate timely and accurate billing and payments from/to vendors
• Ensure timeliness and accuracy of residence database. Work with North American Director of Accommodations to implement technical and process improvements as identified and needed
• Synchronize communication among school staff, housing providers, students, agents, and sales advisors to ensure excellent service to students
• Coordinate the arrival and departure of international students; help them understand rules and policies; and aid in their adjustment to life in their local Canadian community
• Ensure appropriate turn-around time on all housing inquiries
• Monitor competitor activities as they pertain to housing (facilities, pricing, service, etc.)
• Maintain accurate records
• Work with housing teams across the global KLG organization to share best practices
• Complete other job duties as assigned

Minimum Qualification

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent*
• Two (2)+ years in a business or operational setting
• Ability to travel and work some evenings and weekends, as needed
• Must be authorized to work in the United States and/or in Canada
• Exceptional experience will be considered in lieu of a bachelor’s degree

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience managing staff
• Experience as an exchange student, or post-graduate, living outside your home country
• Prior experience with international students
• One or more foreign language ability

Physical Requirements

• Sitting
• Standing
• Walking
• Climbing
• Lifting up to 50+ pounds
• Pulling
• Pushing
• Carrying
• Grasping
• Reaching
• Bending
• Visual Acuity - Color Determination
• Speaking
• Listening