Director of Student Housing Operations

Capstone on Campus Management LLC•Pittsburgh, PA

6d•$90,000 - $95,000•Onsite

About The Position

Capstone On-Campus Management (COCM), with headquarters in Birmingham, Alabama, is a group of student housing professionals focused exclusively on the management of housing communities owned by non-profits and/or highly affiliated with a university. The Director of Operations for Lumina Communities at Duquesne University provides overall leadership and strategic oversight for three student housing communities—Brottier Hall, St. Martin Hall, and McGinley Hall. This role is responsible for serving as the primary liaison between ownership and key stakeholders while ensuring the efficient, effective, and fiscally responsible operation of each community. Key areas of responsibility include financial oversight; management of accounts payable and receivable; leadership of marketing and leasing initiatives; supervision of facilities maintenance; and direct oversight of professional staff. The Director of Operations is expected, as an extension of the culture of Duquesne University, to foster a collaborative, service-oriented environment that supports both staff and residents while maintaining operational excellence. This position requires a strong combination of managerial, organizational, and interpersonal skills. The Director must work collaboratively with ownership, campus partners, and internal teams to ensure a high-quality residential experience and the successful execution of operational goals.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required (Master’s degree preferred)
4-6 years full-time experience in leadership of student housing business operations including marketing, leasing, facilities operations, resident account management and front desk operations.
Experience in facilities management or asset management, including management of operating and capital budgets.
Demonstrates customer service skills and a commitment to student success.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate effectively with students, staff, and campus partners.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office and student housing management software.
Ability to operate standard office equipment (e.g., copier, computer, telephone).
Experience supervising full-time staff.
Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.
Ability to manage multiple tasks and competing priorities in a dynamic environment.
Ability to lift and/or move up to 35 pounds.
Ability to work on-campus in the office a minimum of 40 hours per week and actively participate in an after-hours on-call duty rotation, including the ability to respond to the Duquesne University campus within 45 minutes when on call. This role requires sound judgment, effective problem-solving skills, and confident decision-making in emergent situations.

Responsibilities

Provide day-to-day leadership, guidance, and supervision of full-time office administrative and maintenance staff, as well as student office staff, across the three residential communities, while working collaboratively with all Duquesne University departments to support community operations and student support.
Oversee human resources functions, including hiring, onboarding, training, performance management, payroll processing, benefits administration, and workers’ compensation claims.
Serve as the primary onsite liaison, ensuring effective coordination and communication with ownership, campus partners, vendors, and other key stakeholders.
Prepare and distribute regular operational updates, including weekly operations reports and leasing status reports.
Support and guide leasing and marketing initiatives to achieve occupancy and revenue goals.
Provide comprehensive fiscal oversight through the development, implementation, and management of operating and capital budgets, including:
Preparing and presenting annual budget proposals to ownership for approval
Monitoring expenditures to ensure alignment with approved budgets
Planning for and managing unforeseen expenses
Overseeing accounts payable processes and expenditure approvals
Submitting monthly budget variance explanations and coordinating with corporate accounting teams
Conduct monthly reviews of financial statements to ensure accuracy and compliance
Review delinquency reports and oversee collections efforts, including coordination of eviction follow-up as necessary.
Ensure the effective execution of daily facilities operations, including maintenance, preventative maintenance programs, grounds, and housekeeping services.
Identify, evaluate, and manage vendors; negotiate and administer service contracts to ensure quality and cost efficiency.
Oversee “turn” process between occupancy cycles, including vendor coordination, communication, and final unit inspections prior to move-in.
Participate in a 24-hour on-call response rotation, documenting incidents as required; on-call responsibilities require the Director to remain within a 45-miniute response radius of the communities.
Maintain positive, professional relationships with campus partners, ownership, and other constituents involved in the properties.
Develop and implement initiatives that enhance operations, resident experience, and overall property performance.
Facilitate opportunities to engage student feedback on a regular basis, evaluating quantitative and qualitative data to drive strategic response to improve the quality of the student experience.
Perform other duties as assigned.