Property Manager (Student Accommodation)

Ability Executive Recruitment Full time

Johannesburg, South Africa Posted on 09/04/2026

The Property Manager is assigned a portfolio of buildings within a region (i.e. 3-4 Business Units of approximately 5000 heads). The Property Manager is responsible for the operational management and oversight of the portfolio entrusted to them. They are to ensure that the various properties (BU's) are always compliant in terms of OHS Act, Risk and Risk Mitigation, Operational Processes and Procedures, Staff and Contracted Service Compliance, thus ensuring that the organization's mission is being executed and delivered.

• Keep abreast of market activities in respect of tenant movement, new developments, major vacancies, and other landlords' strategies
• Attend meetings related to successful operations of property
• Ensure the deployment and implementation of the annual preventative and lifecycle maintenance programme as developed by the FM and the MM and approved within the BU Budget
• Motivation of refurbishments and major repairs as appropriate with the FM, the MM, and the PE
• Responsible for compliance in terms of the OHS Act (all areas including first aid and fire training)
• Management, control, and oversight of all assets within the building (fixed and moveable) in terms of
• Annual replacement
• SLA's in the plant infrastructure to ensure longevity of the equipment
• Maintaining the asset record and replacement cycle

• Devise a three-year maintenance plan including allowances for provisions or depreciation where applicable
• Maintain a hands-on control of projects in hand
• Review the building status/grade annually and maintain the standards within those grades
• Ensure compliance with legal regulations
• Complete regular OSH Act inspections and updates monthly
• Ensure that OSH Act requirements are effectively managed and complied with
• That fire drills and evacuation procedures are in place and performed as defined by the organizations business rule

• Preparation and completion of budgets each year
• Completion of monthly forecast
• 3-year CAPEX and OPEX budget preparations / controls
• Set and motivate the CAPEX budget per business unit
• Check and authorize payments of accounts as per the approved authority levels and that no authorization has taken place outside of the approved framework

• Provide accurate information to owner according to agreed format timeously
• Analysis of monthly income/expenses
• Analysis of operating costs monthly in terms of the approved forecast
• Monitoring of all municipal recoveries (and general recoveries monthly)

• Deal with correspondence / interaction with tenants as required

• Approve CAPEX within authority limits
• Ensure we conform to CAPEX procedures
• Estimate new operating cost
• Ensure recovery of operational cost in accordance with lease terms
• Check and authorize payment of accounts
• Authorize cleaning consumables, electrical and general maintenance orders
• Control municipal payments and recoveries there against
• Ensure cost effectiveness and performance of contractors

• Annually the vacate and intake is planned by the PM's and the BU assigned team
• Ensure that the plans are submitted on time as defined by the business rule
• Before submitting, audit your own planning process to ensure it complies with;
• Budget controls (across all levels)
• Timeline management and controls
• Stock and Human Resource planning
• Additional contractor requirements
• Asset replacements
• Facilitate the Vacate Intake close out report (aka postmortem) and review the success of the vacate intake against the prior year

• Asses and reports on the monthly performance against budgets
• Assess and reports on the monthly occupancy of the buildingAssess and report on the monthly recoveries versus expenses

• Acts as a liaison between the company and the external contractors
• Works at maintaining productive business relationships with vendors, suppliers, contractors, universities, and stakeholders
• Promotes good will and a positive image of the Company

• Provides leadership to assigned personnel through effective objective setting, delegation, and communication.
• Conducts regular meetings to ensure that personnel are well informed of changes in policies and procedures and discusses areas needing improvements.

• Identifies, develops, and implements training programs as appropriate
• Conducts performance appraisals, provides measurable feedback to assigned personnel and suggestions for improved performance. Formulates and implements employee corrective actions as needed
• Ensures that staffing levels are appropriate, interviews, hires and assigns personnel as necessary
• Assist with any ad-hoc duties that is reasonable within your capabilities.

• Grade 12
• Degree/Diploma in Property Management OR
• Degree/Diploma in Operations Management
• Member of related official bodies i.e. SAFMA
• 5 years' experience in a Property Management environment, specifically student accommodation
• People Management - 3 years' experience
• Project Management - 2-3 years' experience