Assistant Director of Operations – Residential Life Facilities

Louisiana State University

21h

About The Position

Assistant Director of Operations – Residential Life Facilities Reporting to the Director of Housing Facilities, the Assistant Director of Operations provides strategic direction, leadership, and management of critical operational areas for Residential Life Facilities, supporting a portfolio of 28 residential buildings totaling over 3.2 million square feet and serving more than 8,000 students. The Assistant Director directly supervises key functional areas, including security access control, procurement and inventory management, work order administration, and a large student workforce supporting departmental business operations. The Assistant Director plays a vital role in ensuring safe, efficient, and responsive facility operations across the residential system. GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THIS POSITION INCLUDE: Security access control and key management for residential facilities Procurement and inventory management for supplies and equipment exceeding $1 million annually Administer work orders and coordinate responses to service requests Coordinate vendors and monitor contracts Business operations supported by a large student workforce OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEADERSHIP: Drive Operational Stewardship and Strategic Process Improvement By leading the advancement of operational excellence through evaluating and redesigning departmental processes and systems, the Assistant Director will build strong cross-functional relationships to gather insights, communicate outcomes, and translate operational data into meaningful narratives that demonstrate impact and inform strategic decision-making. Implement Proactive Customer Service The Assistant Director of Operations has the opportunity to enhance the residential student experience by developing a comprehensive, facilities-focused customer service model. This will require thinking about the work in a new way and creating systems to track, respond to, and proactively follow up on student concerns within residence halls. ATTRIBUTES OF THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE: Collegial team-player who actively build authentic and mutually-beneficial relationships, who is able to influence others without positional authority, and who is unconcerned with where credit for accomplishing institutional objectives is assigned. A leader who has a sincere positive regard for all people including co-workers, faculty, staff, and students. A team lead that is capable of fostering harmonious working relationships. Effective communicator who clearly conveys complex financial and operational information to diverse stakeholders and departments. A diplomatic communicator who values accountability with kindness and starts with “Maybe” Maintains trust, transparency, and compliance when managing sensitive financial and operational matters. Manages many concurrent deadlines, processes, and reporting cycles while keeping workstreams on track and with high attention to detail A proactive problem-solver who views constraints as opportunities for innovation. ABOUT THE DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS PRIORITIES: Three priorities guide our work in the Division of Student Affairs. Foremost, we maintain a commitment to quality which is rooted in the belief that LSU students deserve our best effort. Every interaction we have with students should communicate care, relevance, polish, and attention to detail. We work to ensure every space, place, and staff-to-student interaction communicates a sense of home to students. Finally, we design programs, services, events, and experiences with everyone in mind.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree
• 3 years experience Some experience in Facilities Management, Emergency Management, Public Administration, or related field.
• Experience working in university residential facilities or student housing operations.
• Knowledge of access control and security systems
• LSU values skills, experience, and expertise. Candidates who have relevant experience in key job responsibilities are encouraged to apply— a degree is not required as long as the candidate meets the required years of experience specified in the job description.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s Degree in Facilities Management, Public Administration, or related field
• 5 years experience - Facilities Management, or related field
• Preferred Certifications/Licenses: Project management certification (PMP, CAPM)

Responsibilities

• Leadership & Management: Serve as a key member of the Housing Facilities management team. Directly supervise staff responsible for security operations, procurement, inventory, and student operational support. Oversee business operations including CMMS data, risk management records, compliance tracking, utility data, and inventory systems. Lead customer service operations and act as a primary point of communication for internal and external stakeholders. Serve as a primary liaison for vendors and external partners, including public-private (P3) partners, ensuring compliance with contractual FOMA requirements. Participate in emergency response efforts and serve in an on-call rotation for facility, safety, and security issues
• Program Oversight: Oversee security systems operations (keys, locks, and electronic access) across 28 facilities. Manage procurement operations exceeding $1 million annually, including inventory control and vendor coordination. Ensure compliance with maintenance, custodial, quality assurance, risk management, and budget tracking programs. Maintain accurate operational records, policies, and standard operating procedures. Collaborate daily with internal partners including LSUPD, Facility Services, Environmental Health & Safety (EHS), Risk Management, RISE, and Procurement. Support data-driven decision-making and strategic operational planning
• Project Management: Develop and implement initiatives to improve security, customer service, and operational efficiency. Define project timelines, deliverables, and resource requirements. Coordinate cross-functional teams across facilities, operations, and external partners. Maintain documentation related to project costs, risk management claims, CMMS data, housing development plans, and operational records (e.g., floor plans, databases, photo documentation). Establish and maintain processes for records management in coordination with P3 partners. Manage risk management processes related to student liability and property claims, including documentation and coordination through resolution
• Customer Service & Training: Maintain consistent communication with students, parents, staff, and campus partners. Develop and manage vendor relationships impacting residential facilities and student experience. Create and maintain a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) manual and contribute to departmental handbooks. Partner with Quality Assurance to develop and deliver training programs for staff, students, and external partners. Collaborate with Residence Education to enhance student experience through communication, training, and issue resolution. Identify and implement process improvements to enhance service delivery
• Emergency Operations & Security: Coordinate with Facilities Maintenance leadership to maintain emergency operations records and procedures. Manage and update the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) manual for residential facilities. Lead annual reviews and updates of emergency management protocols. Support development and implementation of a 24/7 customer service model for student needs. Oversee emergency supply inventory, procurement, and expense tracking. Participate in emergency response and on-call rotation.
• Other Duties as Assigned: Attend departmental and divisional meetings, trainings, and professional development opportunities. Serve on Residential Life committees, task forces, and workgroups. Participate in university-wide initiatives and events, contributing a minimum of 40 hours annually (e.g., Move-In Day, Welcome Week, Family Weekend, Career Expo, finals support, and special projects).

Benefits

• LSU offers outstanding benefits to eligible employees and their dependents including health, life, dental, and vision insurance; flexible spending accounts; retirement options; various leave options; paid holidays; wellness benefits; tuition exemption for qualified positions; training and development opportunities; employee discounts; and more!

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager