Commercial Director – Student Accommodation

Commercial Director – Student Accommodation Location: Dubai, UAE Company: ESAW Premium Student Living Reports to: Owner / Director About ESAW ESAW Premium Student Living provides student accommodation in Dubai, with approximately 650 beds across two residences. We are looking for an experienced Commercial Director to lead the day-to-day running of the business, improve commercial performance and ensure our teams deliver a consistent, high-quality resident experience. The role The Commercial Director will take ownership of ESAW’s daily commercial management and coordinate the work of the team across admissions, sales, marketing, operations and resident services. They will turn agreed business priorities into clear plans, make sure those plans are implemented, and keep the Owner / Director informed through concise, reliable reporting. The Owner / Director will retain oversight of the business and make key strategic and financial decisions in regular one-to-one meetings with the Commercial Director. Key responsibilities • Lead ESAW’s day-to-day commercial activities across both residences. • Develop and deliver plans to increase occupancy, revenue, enquiries and bookings. • Oversee the sales and admissions pipeline, from enquiry and follow-up through to booking and arrival. • Build and maintain relationships with universities, education partners, student recruitment agents and other referral sources. • Review pricing, promotions and room performance, and recommend adjustments based on demand and market conditions. • Coordinate marketing activity and ensure campaigns, collateral and communications are accurate, timely and consistent with the ESAW brand. • Set clear targets, responsibilities and reporting routines for the team. • Review team updates and performance data, identify issues early, and ensure agreed actions are completed. • Prepare a concise regular performance report for the Owner / Director, covering occupancy, revenue, enquiries, conversions, arrears, resident feedback, team performance and key risks. • Chair regular team meetings and hold one-to-one meetings with relevant team members. • Work closely with operations and facilities teams to address service issues that affect resident satisfaction, renewals, reputation or revenue. • Monitor resident feedback, complaints and retention, and lead improvements to the resident journey. • Track budgets and commercial performance, highlighting variances and proposing corrective actions. • Maintain awareness of relevant market activity and competitor offers in Dubai’s student accommodation sector. • Ensure the team follows company procedures and coordinates appropriately on licensing, safety and other compliance requirements. • Bring significant decisions, risks and investment proposals to the Owner / Director with clear analysis and recommendations. Reporting and decision-making The Commercial Director will be accountable for the team’s day-to-day execution and for providing the Owner / Director with a clear overview of progress. They should be comfortable making routine decisions within agreed plans, while escalating matters that require strategic direction, significant expenditure or owner approval. The ideal candidate • Has senior commercial or general management experience in student accommodation, residential property, hospitality or a related service business. • Has a strong record of improving occupancy, revenue, sales conversion and customer retention. • Has led teams across multiple functions and can set clear expectations while supporting accountability. • Is confident using performance data, budgets, forecasts and sales pipelines to guide decisions. • Communicates clearly and can present concise reports and practical recommendations to senior leadership. • Is organised, hands-on and comfortable balancing commercial goals with service quality. • Can build productive relationships with universities, agents, students, parents and internal teams. • Has experience working in the UAE or a strong understanding of the Dubai market. • Is proficient with CRM systems, spreadsheets and standard business reporting tools. What success looks like • Clear ownership of daily commercial activity and team follow-through. • Regular, accurate reporting that gives the Owner / Director a reliable view of the business. • Improved occupancy, enquiry conversion and revenue performance. • Stronger partner relationships and a more consistent resident experience. • Issues identified early, with practical recommendations and timely escalation. • Senior commercial or general management experience in student accommodation, residential property, hospitality or a related service business. • Strong record of improving occupancy, revenue, sales conversion and customer retention. • Experience leading teams across multiple functions and setting clear expectations while supporting accountability. • Confident using performance data, budgets, forecasts and sales pipelines to guide decisions. • Strong communication skills with ability to present concise reports and practical recommendations to senior leadership. • Organised, hands-on and comfortable balancing commercial goals with service quality. • Ability to build productive relationships with universities, agents, students, parents and internal teams. • Experience working in the UAE or strong understanding of the Dubai market. • Proficient with CRM systems, spreadsheets and standard business reporting tools.