General Manager – Luxury PBSA

Role summary

SAV Group is hiring a General Manager to run two luxury purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) buildings in Central London, operated under its Fifty One brand, with full P&L, team and guest-experience accountability.

Job title: General Manager – Luxury PBSA (two buildings) Reports to: Head of Operations, SAV Group Direct reports: Building managers, front-of-house, housekeeping and maintenance leads Beds: 227 across the two buildings Operating model: Student accommodation during the academic year; aparthotel operation over the summer Location: Central London (Notting Hill), on-site across both buildings Contract: Permanent, full-time Base salary: £90,000 per annum Experience required: Minimum 5 years in hotel management within the luxury segment

About the role

The General Manager is the single point of accountability for two PBSA buildings: commercial performance, resident experience, building standards, compliance and the team that delivers all of it.

Our residents are students who expect a hotel-grade experience: concierge-level service, immaculate standards, fast resolution of issues and a community that feels curated rather than managed.

Outside the academic year, both buildings switch to aparthotel operation for the summer: short-stay guests, daily arrivals and departures, OTA distribution, dynamic pricing and hotel-style housekeeping turnover. The General Manager runs both seasons and the transition between them.

What success looks like after 12 months

• Both buildings fully let for the academic year ahead of the market, at or above budgeted rate
• NOI at or above budget, with costs controlled without diluting service
• Resident satisfaction and review scores at the top of the London luxury PBSA set
• A stable, well-led team with low turnover and clear succession for key roles
• Zero material compliance findings

Key responsibilities

Commercial and financial

• Own the P&L for both buildings: annual budget, monthly forecast, variance analysis and corrective action
• Drive occupancy and rate: lettings strategy, pricing, re-booking campaigns and summer aparthotel revenue (OTA distribution, dynamic pricing and length-of-stay management)
• Control operating costs, procurement and supplier contracts without compromising standards
• Report monthly to the Head of Operations and ownership on performance, risks and pipeline

Resident experience and service standards

• Set and enforce a luxury service standard across arrivals, concierge, housekeeping, maintenance response and communal spaces
• Own the resident journey from enquiry to move-out: onboarding, welfare, complaints and escalations
• Build a residents’ events and community programme that supports retention and referrals
• Monitor satisfaction (surveys, reviews) and act on the findings

People and leadership

• Recruit, train and lead the on-site teams across both buildings; set rotas and cover
• Run performance management, development plans and succession for key roles
• Build a service culture consistent with the luxury hospitality standard the brand is hired against

Building, compliance and safety

• Ensure both buildings remain compliant: fire safety, health and safety, and Building Safety Act obligations
• Oversee planned and reactive maintenance, lifecycle works and contractor management
• Own emergency procedures, incident reporting and resident welfare protocols

Commercial partnerships and reputation

• Manage relationships with universities, agents and corporate partners
• Protect and grow the brand’s reputation across review platforms and university channels
• Represent the buildings to ownership, lenders and external stakeholders as required

Who we are looking for

Essential

• Minimum 5 years in hotel management in the luxury segment (five-star, boutique luxury or branded residences), including at least 2 years as General Manager, Hotel Manager or Director of Operations, at a property holding guest review scores of 9.0 or above (Booking.com or equivalent)
• Proven P&L ownership: budgeting, forecasting and delivering against revenue and cost targets
• Track record of leading multi-department teams of 15+ and of building service culture
• Hands-on experience with guest-experience programmes, complaint resolution and reputation management
• Working knowledge of UK health and safety, fire safety and building compliance in an operating property
• Based in the UK or willing to relocate to London for this on-site role – international candidates are welcome

Desirable

• Experience managing hotel F&B operations (restaurant, bar, events) – a strong advantage
• Experience running more than one site, or a pre-opening / repositioning
• Hospitality or business degree, or equivalent professional qualification

Personal qualities

• Exacting standards and a visible, floor-led management style
• Commercially sharp and comfortable being challenged on the numbers
• Calm under pressure; clear and quick in an incident
• Builds trust fast with a young, international resident base and with ownership alike

Package

• Base salary: £90,000 per annum
• Annual bonus: up to £10,000, paid against the KPIs
• 25 days’ holiday plus bank holidays, pension, and development budget
• Hours: full-time, on-site; flexibility across evenings and weekends is expected at peak periods (September move-in, summer turnaround)

How to apply

Send a CV and a short note on the luxury property you are proudest of running, and why, to recruitment@savgroup.co.uk. First interview with the Head of Operations; second stage with ownership, including a walk-through of both buildings.

We are happy to consider candidates from outside the UK. The role is on-site in London, so relocation would be required; right-to-work and relocation arrangements will be discussed with the successful candidate.

SAV Group is an equal-opportunities employer.

Pay: £90,000.00-£100,000.00 per year

Work Location: In person