Regional Property Operations Manager Jobs in Durban

A leading student accommodation and property management company is looking for an experienced Regional Property Operations Manager to take regional responsibility for a portfolio of student accommodation properties in Durban. This is a senior, permanent role for someone who can keep buildings, budgets, people and service delivery running smoothly across several sites at once.

About the company and the work

The employer is a leading student accommodation and property management company, and the role is advertised through Hire Resolve, a recruitment agency in South Africa. The successful candidate will oversee the operational, financial, compliance, asset, people and service delivery performance of a regional portfolio of student accommodation properties. That means balancing the condition of the buildings with the experience of the students who live in them, while keeping costs, contracts and compliance under control.

The listing location is Durban (Durban CBD), and the role involves travelling between sites in the region. It is a permanent, senior-level position, advertised with a salary range of R45,000 – R50,000 per month, while the listing also describes the salary as negotiable.

Role details and duties

The Regional Property Operations Manager will be accountable at regional level for property condition, building performance, asset integrity and asset lifecycle management. Key responsibilities include:

• Implementing preventative and lifecycle maintenance programmes, and overseeing maintenance quality, recurring defects and asset deterioration risks.
• Ensuring compliance with the OHS Act, fire regulations, SANS and building codes, as well as local authority and university requirements.
• Making sure OHS inspections, fire drills, evacuation procedures and statutory records are completed and maintained.
• Preparing, consolidating and managing regional OPEX and CAPEX budgets and three-year financial forecasts.
• Reviewing monthly income and expenses, operating cost variances, municipal recoveries, arrears and collections.
• Approving expenditure within delegated authority levels and ensuring adherence to procurement frameworks.
• Overseeing regional vacate and intake planning, occupancy and demand trends, and contractor planning.
• Providing regional oversight of hard and soft services, including cleaning, security and maintenance contracts.
• Monitoring contractor performance, cost effectiveness and service-level agreement adherence, and addressing recurring defects.
• Ensuring a consistent tenant and student experience across the regional portfolio.
• Managing escalated student complaints and supporting crisis and emergency response when required.
• Maintaining productive relationships with universities, institutional stakeholders and municipalities.
• Providing direct line management to Residence Managers and regional operational teams.
• Ensuring performance reviews, training plans, corrective action and workforce capacity planning are handled effectively.
• Providing regional direction and control of daily operations, ensuring standard operating procedures, business rules and reporting are followed.
• Developing and executing regional operational strategies and submitting monthly reports covering occupancy, finances and related performance.
• Supporting new site launches, expansion projects and portfolio growth initiatives.
• Supporting senior management with special projects, investigations, audits and performance interventions.

Some wording in the original listing is cut off in places, so applicants should check the original advert for the complete wording of those items.

Requirements

Only the requirements stated in the listing are given here:

• A degree in Property Management, Facilities Management, Business or a related field.
• 5-8 years of experience in multi-site property or operations management.
• Experience in student accommodation or hospitality is preferred.
• Strong leadership and team management skills.
• Financial acumen and budgeting expertise.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Strong conflict resolution and crisis management abilities.
• Knowledge of property legislation and student housing trends.
• Tech-savvy, with experience using CRM systems, Microsoft Office and property management software.
• A valid driver’s licence and willingness to travel between sites.
• Familiarity with South African housing regulations and NSFAS policies is advantageous.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including weekends during peak periods.
• Experience with sustainability and lifecycle asset planning is advantageous.

Where to find and apply safely

This opportunity is listed on CareerJunction by Hire Resolve. Use the Apply button on this page, which links directly to the original CareerJunction advert. Apply only through that official listing and the contact details given there, and be cautious of anyone asking for payment or personal banking details as part of an application.

According to the listing, applicants can contact Abigail King at Hire Resolve or through LinkedIn, and the Hire Resolve website is also mentioned for more opportunities. Suitable candidates will be contacted telephonically within 3 days.

Practical tips

Before applying, prepare a CV that shows your multi-site property or operations management experience clearly, including the size and type of portfolios you have managed, your budgeting and contractor management work, and any student accommodation or hospitality experience. If you have worked with OHS compliance, fire safety procedures or NSFAS-related processes, highlight those examples. Because the role covers several sites, be ready to talk about how you travel between properties, manage residence teams remotely, and handle peak periods such as student intake and vacating.

How the process works

Applications are made through the original CareerJunction listing via Hire Resolve. The listing states that suitable candidates will be contacted telephonically within 3 days. If you are not contacted within that period, the listing indicates that the application was not successful on this occasion, and applicants are encouraged to keep an eye on other opportunities.

Important information

This page is an informational summary of the original job advert only and is not the employer or the recruiter. Details such as the salary range, the negotiable salary note, the Durban (Durban CBD) location and the 7-day expiry shown on the listing (posted 28 October 2026) come from the original advert and may change, so always check the original listing for the current status before applying. The listing reference is 205543, and the CareerJunction job number is 2645696.

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