Housing and Residence Life Director of Assignments

University of Virginia

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About The Position

The Director of Housing Assignments provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for all aspects of student housing assignments, camps and conferences, occupancy management, room selection processes, and related customer service functions. This role ensures an equitable, efficient, and student-centered housing experience that supports institutional goals for recruitment, retention, and student success. The Director collaborates extensively across the university and uses data-driven practices to optimize occupancy and operational performance. The UVA housing and residence life portfolio encompasses approximately 110 residential buildings, including traditional residence hall rooms, suites, and apartment complexes. Residential students can participate in specific living and learning programs such as residential colleges and language immersion houses.

Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree in higher education, business administration, or a related field.
• A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in university housing, occupancy management, enrollment services, or closely related areas.
• Advanced proficiency with the StarRez housing management system.
• Strong analytical skills, including the ability to interpret data, develop reports, and support forecasting and decision-making.
• Effective communication skills.
• Customer service skills.
• Conflict-resolution skills.
• Experience supervising staff within a complex, fast-paced operational environment.

Nice To Haves

• A master’s degree.
• Experience in large, residential university settings.
• Experience navigating housing operations during construction, renovation, or enrollment shifts.
• A strategic thinker with a detailed and analytical approach to managing complex housing processes (room selection, assignments, waitlists), and the ability to align housing assignment work with institutional goals.
• A professional who capably prioritizes the student experience through a student-centered mindset and utilizes a fair and inclusive approach to policy creation and decision-making.
• A collaborative leader who partners effectively with university stakeholders and housing and residential life team members to design and implement a comprehensive assignment process that accounts for intersecting priorities and operational needs.
• A skilled and experienced supervisor who can train, support, and encourage a professional staff team.
• An innovative thinker who can solve problems creatively and decisively.

Responsibilities

• Oversee a team inclusive of the director of Conferences@UVA, assistant director of housing assignments, assistant director for conferences, two housing assignments coordinators, marketing coordinator, and approximately 30 student staff members working in conference services.
• Develop and implement comprehensive housing assignment strategies to ensure efficient occupancy management and to support enrollment planning, student success initiatives, and institutional priorities.
• Oversee the management of housing assignments, camps, and conferences, occupancy planning, forecasting, and data analytics to ensure optimal utilization of the housing inventory and efficient workflow.
• Oversee the management of Conferences@UVA, which coordinates all tasks and activities related to camps and conferences at the university.
• Evaluate and adjust assignment policies and procedures to align with best practices, legal requirements, and other considerations.
• Manage the full lifecycle of housing assignments, including applications, room selection, waitlists, and contract management.
• Ensure timely preparation and rollout of timelines, communications, and system updates.
• Manage and ensure effective use of housing management software and databases. Collaborate with university information technology (IT) and software vendors to maintain and enhance housing management systems.
• Serve as the subject matter expert for the StarRez Housing Management System and/or other systems directly supporting assignments and conferences.
• Oversee occupancy reporting and prepare data for leadership, finance, and facility partners.
• Ensure a high-quality, student-centered service experience through transparent processes and effective communication.
• Resolve complex or escalated concerns from students, parents, and campus partners with professionalism and empathy.
• Develop communication strategies around assignments, deadlines, policies, and appeals.
• Partner with the student disability access center (SDAC) to support housing accommodations based on disability or medical needs.
• Foster a culture of customer service excellence, continuous improvement, and professional development.
• Manage staffing structures, workload distribution, and team priorities.
• Continuously review and enforce housing policies, assignment guidelines, and contract terms, and analyze trends and emerging needs to recommend policy updates.
• Ensure compliance with Fair Housing, ADA, FERPA, and other applicable regulations.
• Contribute to revenue forecasting and housing demand analysis.
• Manage operational budgets related to areas of responsibility.
• Support long-range planning for housing expansion or renovation impacts on inventory.
• Advise the executive director and university leadership on matters relating to housing assignments, camps, and conferences.
• Represent housing and residence life on committees and special projects as needed.

Benefits

• The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees