Assistant Director of Housing Assignments & Operations

Towson University•Towson, MD

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

This role is responsible for managing and implementing housing selection and assignment processes, overseeing summer housing operations, and administering the StarRez system. The position involves significant collaboration with various university departments, staff supervision, and providing excellent customer service to students and families. The Assistant Director will also serve on leadership teams and contribute to departmental projects and initiatives.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree.
Four years of experience in housing operations.
Project management experience and ability to meet hard deadlines within the set timeframe.
Intermediate knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and Google Suite.
Sensitive, diplomatic, detail-oriented, and articulate written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to implement problem solving strategies to manage everyday residential challenges such as crisis response, conflict management, community development, and student/family concerns in a fast-paced environment.
Delivers accurate, well-organized work through exceptional attention to detail.
Strong understanding of housing operations and assignments processes.
Commitment to expand knowledge and awareness of understanding cultural differences, social identities, and historical inequalities, and strategies for interacting effectively with people different from oneself.
Demonstrated commitment and passion for professional growth in the areas of student learning and development, community development, supporting students’ well-being, and best practices in residence life programs and operations.
Knowledge of equity and inclusion issues and laws that impact higher education and particularly community living (all gender spaces, Title IX, affinity-based living learning communities, ADA compliance).
Demonstrated experience using a diverse perspective in delivering programs and services practice (i.e., staffing practices, supervision, training, housing policies, programs, and services).

Nice To Haves

Previous work experience with external reporting systems and Housing Management System experience, particularly StarRez.
Proficiency in PeopleSoft and Lenel Card Access System.
Understanding of emerging issues in higher education, particularly in student affairs and residence life and housing.
Demonstrated skills in public speaking, facilitating conversations, and presenting to families, students, staff, and other constituents.

Responsibilities

Manage and implement housing selection and assignment processes for incoming and returning students.
Manage the housing request/waitlist process, ensuring timely communication of updates.
Collaborate with the Director of Housing & Business Operations to establish timelines and ensure needs are met across various operational areas.
Oversee the annual review and update of housing assignment policies and procedures, and ensure staff training.
Oversee the room change process for current students and communicate expectations to hall staff.
Coordinate with Housing Operations Coordinator and Athletics on athlete housing assignments and related needs.
Collaborate with the Office of Accessibility and Disability Services for reasonable accommodations.
Ensure effective and accurate execution of student account billing for housing and ancillary charges.
Collaborate with the Assistant Director of Budget & Finance Management on quarterly housing charge and advance payment audits.
Coordinate housing needs for International Students and work with relevant offices.
Serve as a power user for the Housing Management System (HMS) and communicate issues to the Assistant Director of Housing Information Technology & Communications (AD-HITC).
Work with the AD-HITC to configure rooms for gender and special housing options in the HMS.
Manage Early Arrival & Late Stay Processes for fall and spring semesters.
Ensure lists are maintained and shared, and HRL staff are notified.
Assist with the oversight of university-wide residential community openings and closings.
Advise students and family members and provide resource referrals.
Provide strategic and operational oversight of the University’s summer housing program.
Oversee the development, configuration, testing, and implementation of the Summer Housing Application.
Direct summer housing billing processes, including charge assessment, execution, reconciliation, auditing, and discrepancy resolution.
Plan and oversee all spring-to-summer and summer-to-fall housing transitions.
Coordinate summer housing operations with various internal and external partners.
Oversee summer housing application, eligibility-verification, and assignment processes.
Monitor summer housing occupancy, assignments, transitions, and billing activity, implementing solutions for operational concerns.
Evaluate summer housing processes annually and recommend improvements.
Serve as a departmental power user within StarRez, ensuring assignment-related processes are configured and functioning effectively.
Oversee assignment workflows within StarRez, including room changes, emergency placements, mid-year assignments, waitlist placements, and special population assignments.
Oversee and ensure maintenance of assignment-related settings in StarRez.
Oversee and ensure maintenance of dashboards and saved views in StarRez.
Develop and run standard and ad hoc reports from StarRez.
Oversee and monitor data accuracy in assignment records and conduct regular audits.
Process and track assignment-related financial adjustments within StarRez.
Ensure guides and job aids for assignment-related processes are developed and distributed.
Recruit, train, and directly supervise the Housing Operations Coordinator, Housing Operations Assistant, and the Office Manager.
Hold regular one-on-one meetings with direct reports and provide professional development opportunities.
Indirectly supervise student office assistants and professional live-in Residence Life Coordinators.
Ensure adequate daily coverage for housing assignments support.
Continuously develop and enhance training, support, and supervision initiatives for staff.
Initiate and support staff recognition initiatives and promote professional development.
Stay informed of supervisor’s resources and policies and ensure compliance.
Oversee and ensure successful management of the department’s day-to-day operations, ensuring efficient systems for timely response to inquiries.
Ensure effective oversight and management of the HRL email account and voicemail.
Ensure effective oversight and management of day-to-day office activities, ensuring compliance with policies.
Ensure continuous enhancement of HRL’s customer service and support strategies and procedures.
Serve as a member of the HRL Senior Leadership Team.
Serve as a member of the Housing and Business Operations Leadership Team.
Serve as a member of the Housing Processes & Systems Team.
Assist in leading committees and task forces, presenting training topics, and executing departmental and TU projects.
Represent the department in new student recruitment and orientation events.
Serve on departmental committees/taskforces and participate in all required training.
Respect and maintain confidentiality, parameters of operation, professional protocols, and privacy.
Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor or their designee.