Director, Residence Life and Conference Services

Gannon University•Erie, PA

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Residence Life and Conference Services provides strategic leadership for the University’s residential experience, housing operations, conference services, and auxiliary housing initiatives. The Director is responsible for creating a safe, inclusive, and engaging residential environment that supports student learning, belonging, retention, and success while maximizing the effective use of university housing resources through conferences and external partnerships. The position collaborates closely with campus partners to enhance the student experience, support crisis response and student conduct processes, and advance the mission and strategic priorities of the University. Must be able to support and promote the University’s inclusive Mission, its Catholic identity, its students from diverse backgrounds and experiences, and its academic programming in the liberal arts and professional education.

Requirements

A master’s degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs, College Student Personnel, Higher Education Administration, or a related field.
Five or more years of progressively responsible experience in residence life, housing, or student affairs leadership, including supervisory and budget management experience.
Demonstrated ability to lead and develop professional and student staff.
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.
Demonstrated ability to interpret and apply university policies and applicable federal and state regulations.
Demonstrated ability to analyze data to inform decision making.
Demonstrated ability to manage budgets and auxiliary revenue operations.
Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with diverse constituencies.
Demonstrated ability to build collaborative relationships across campus.
Demonstrated ability to utilize housing management and student information systems.
Must be able to support and promote the University’s Mission.

Nice To Haves

Experience with housing management software (e.g., StarRez), conduct databases (e.g., Maxient), conference management systems, and Microsoft Office applications is preferred.

Responsibilities

Provides vision and strategic management for a comprehensive residence life program that is central to achieving the goals of the division and the university’s strategic plan and reflects a mission-oriented, student-centered philosophy.
Develops departmental goals, policies, operational procedures, and strategic initiatives that align with divisional and institutional priorities.
Monitors national trends, emerging best practices, and regulatory changes in housing and residence life to continuously improve operations, student engagement, and retention.
Directs the selection and development of a diverse staff. Assigns and delegates duties and provides resources to ensure the success of professional and office staff.
Uses assessment data to guide strategic planning, resource allocation, and continuous improvement.
Develops and implements a comprehensive residential curriculum and student engagement strategy that supports learning, belonging, student success, and retention.
Determines fiscal requirements of the operation; tracks and prepares budgetary recommendations; monitors, verifies and reconciles expenditure of budgeted funds.
Coordinates housing and facility renovation projects, furnishing and appliance replacements and acquisitions with university resources and external contractors and suppliers.
Provides leadership, coaching, and professional development for professional staff and student leaders while fostering an inclusive residential community.
Builds collaborative partnerships with Academic Affairs, Student Success, Athletics, Counseling Services, Campus Police, Global Support, and other campus partners to support student persistence and well-being.
Provides executive leadership during emergency situations affecting residential students and performs other duties as assigned within the scope of the position.
Provides leadership and supervision to Associate Directors and other professional staff to ensure excellence in housing operations, residential education, staff development, and student success initiatives.
Represents Residence Life on university committees and serves as a collaborative leader in advancing institutional priorities related to student success, enrollment, retention, and campus life.
Develops and implements strategic occupancy management plans in partnership with Admissions and university leadership to maximize residential capacity, enhance the student experience, and support institutional enrollment goals.
Collaborates with Admissions, Student Success, Athletics, Global Support, and other campus partners to coordinate assignments and maximize occupancy.
Ensures seamless transition of the housing process, including Spring to Summer and Summer to Fall.
Coordinates move-in for early arrival groups, including athletes, student leaders, and global students.
Conducts pre- and post-inspections of residential spaces to ensure facilities meet university standards.
Analyzes housing occupancy trends and prepares reports and recommendations for university leadership.
Serves as a member of the University’s behavioral intervention and crisis response processes, collaborating with campus partners to support students experiencing personal, behavioral, or mental health concerns.
Partners with the Office of Student Conduct, Title IX, Counseling Services, Campus Police, and other campus partners to coordinate appropriate intervention and support for students.
Shares weekday/night, weekend, and holiday on-call/on-duty responsibilities with other professional staff members.
Provides leadership during residential emergencies and critical incidents while ensuring appropriate communication, documentation, and follow-up.
Establishes clear guidelines and expectations for policy enforcement and associated documentation with hall staff.
Follows up on student conduct matters, behavioral concerns, and student welfare issues, making referrals and coordinating support as appropriate.
Sets clear expectations and guidelines for student staff concerning confidentiality and reporting of psychological concerns, roommate conflicts and personal crises.
Provides strategic leadership for Conference Services and auxiliary housing operations, including summer camps, conferences, Olds Norman Guest House, and the Waldron Campus Center.
Develops annual auxiliary revenue goals and evaluates operational performance to maximize financial sustainability and customer satisfaction.
Provides an annual report with recommendations for future clientele and budget considerations.
Oversees all aspects of summer camps and conference operations to provide exceptional customer service and maximize auxiliary revenue.
Establishes customer service standards and operational procedures to ensure a high-quality experience for conference guests and campus partners.
Develops and implements strategies to grow conference and auxiliary revenue through partnerships with internal and external clients.
Negotiates contracts, pricing, facility usage, and service expectations for conferences and camps.
Manages camps and conferences budget line, including invoicing and payment collection, staff wages, supply purchases, and expense analysis.
Oversees marketing and promotional efforts to increase conference utilization and auxiliary revenue.
Hires, trains, and supervises student Conference Assistants in achieving daily office and campus tasks during the academic year.
Serves as the primary contact to the university Physical Plant and contracted cleaning services, prioritizing and scheduling services throughout the summer and academic year for the maintenance and improvement of all campus residential living facilities for student and university guest satisfaction.
Coordinates with Physical Plant and cleaning representatives to assess all facilities and inventory related to the maintenance and longevity of housing units.
Coordinates with Physical Plant to implement major maintenance and beautification projects over the summer and the academic year.
Evaluates opportunities for new residential and auxiliary housing initiatives, including financial feasibility and operational impact.
Collaborates with the university Locksmith to ensure proper key protocol is followed in rekeying rooms and buildings for student safety.
Oversees the identification, prioritization, and completion of maintenance and capital improvement projects for residential facilities.