Director of Housing & Residence

Position: Director of Housing & Residence Life

Job Summary

Director of Housing & Residence Life serves as the designated senior administrator for this department, reporting to the Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students. The Director provides visionary, student-centered leadership for all housing and residential operations aspects at NEIU's 440-bed NEST community, including residence life programming, occupancy management, housing assignments, staff supervision, crisis response, safety protocols, and coordination of facilities and housekeeping in collaboration with University Facilities.

The Director will advance a comprehensive residential program that enhances student engagement, learning, retention, and wellness, and will lead the department through a significant operational transition from third‑party to full university management.

Strategic & Operational Leadership

• Provide strategic vision and direction for NEIU Housing and Residence Life in alignment with institutional priorities and values.
• Oversee day‑to‑day operations of the 440‑bed NEST residence hall, including assignments, service contracts, key control, move‑in/​move‑out logistics, safety protocols, and crisis response.
• Manage the annual housing budget, including rent analysis, forecasting, and expenditures aligned with institutional and divisional priorities.
• Develop and manage housing partnerships, including vendor and contract oversight.
• Serve on the Division of Student Affairs Leadership Team and contribute to university‑wide initiatives.

Supervision & Staffing

• Supervise professional and paraprofessional housing staff, including Assistant Director, Residence Hall Director, Leasing Managers, Resident Assistants (RAs), and Desk Assistants.
• Create a supportive and inclusive working and living environment, focusing on equity, professional development, and performance evaluation.
• Participate in an after‑hours on‑call rotation to support residential operations and emergency management, and serve as a senior student affairs liaison to the University Police.

Student Engagement & Success

• Design and implement residential programs that support student engagement, leadership development, inclusive excellence, and academic persistence.
• Partner with faculty and campus departments to integrate living‑learning initiatives, wellness supports, and community standards.
• Collaborate with Student Counseling Services, Disability Services, and Student Conduct to support holistic student development.

Technology, Systems & Analytics

• Lead implementation and utilization of a Housing CRM system (eRezLife or Star Rez) and integration with Ellucian/Workday systems.
• Ensure data‑informed practices through nightly system updates, occupancy dashboards, and satisfaction assessments.

Facilities & Risk Management

• Collaborate closely with the Executive Director of University Facilities to coordinate maintenance, housekeeping, capital improvements, and preventive maintenance schedules.
• Coordinate with the NEIU Chief of Police for building entry protocols, safety coverage, risk assessments, and incident response planning.
• Participate in annual room inspections, health & safety checks, and long‑term facilities planning.

Marketing, Recruitment & Communications

• Oversee the marketing, outreach, and communications plan for Housing, including website, social media, tours, and promotional campaigns.
• Collaborate with Enrollment Services and University Marketing to align housing efforts with recruitment goals.

Assessment & Continuous Improvement

• Monitor departmental effectiveness through surveys, focus groups, occupancy data, and benchmarks.
• Present quarterly housing updates to the President's Cabinet and annual reports to the Board of Trustees.
• Support continuous improvement efforts through policy reviews and training.

Minimal Qualifications

• Master's degree in Higher Education Administration, Student Affairs, Counseling, or a related field.
• Five or more years of progressive experience in university housing or residence life.
• Proven leadership and supervision of housing operations and residential education programs.
• Demonstrated experience with budget development, housing CRM implementation (e.g., Star Rez, eRezLife), and emergency…