Manager - Special Populations

Louisiana State University•Baton Rouge, LA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Manager of Special Populations provides leadership, oversight, and coordination of assignment processes, procedures, and occupancy for residential colleges, living-learning communities, athletics, disability accommodations, and other special populations. The position reports to the Assistant Director for Special Populations & Operations and supports communities that connect residential life with academic requirements and student engagement. LSU Residential Life houses more than 8,000 students across 25 residence halls and three single-student apartment complexes; the communities served by this position account for more than half of the on-campus population. The Manager uses independent judgment grounded in departmental policy and mission when communicating with students, parents, and other constituents. The role works with technology-based systems, including the StarRez database, and coordinates with faculty rectors, Residential Education, scheduling coordinators, program sponsors, and other campus partners to support accurate assignments, occupancy, and service. The position is essential under University Policy Statement 18 and may be required to report to or remain on campus during an emergency or closure. It requires the ability and willingness to work frequent evening and weekend hours, and includes at least 40 hours per year supporting divisional initiatives such as Move-In Day, Welcome Week, Family Weekend, Career Expo, Disability Services Finals Testing, and other special projects. An offer is contingent on a satisfactory pre-employment background check. Candidates must have valid U.S. work authorization at the time of hire and maintain it throughout employment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree, or relevant experience meeting the required years of experience in lieu of a degree, as stated in the posting.
Three years of experience in a related field.
Ability and willingness to work frequent evening and weekend hours.
Ability to report to or remain on campus during an emergency or closure if required.
Strong human-relations, customer-service, and communication skills.
Proficiency in Microsoft Word and spreadsheet software.
Skills in adaptability, collaboration, communication, leadership, policy development, project management, resource management, and risk mitigation.
Valid U.S. work authorization at the time of hire and throughout employment.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in College Student Personnel, Higher Education, or a related field.
At least four years of experience in Student Affairs.
Professional experience in occupancy management, residential education programs, student affairs, or a similar field.
Experience using StarRez and other enterprise databases.

Responsibilities

Manage application, selection, and occupancy processes for Residential Colleges, Living Learning Communities, and Special Populations, ensuring processes are transparent, consistent, and communicated effectively.
Coordinate with the Associate Director of Occupancy Management, Faculty Rectors, Residential Education, Marketing and Communications, and program sponsors to establish timelines, clarify requirements, resolve operational issues, and implement community assignment processes.
Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with faculty rectors, scheduling coordinators, Residential Education staff, and special-population sponsors to support participation, engagement, and program objectives.
Monitor application and occupancy activity, identify process challenges, and implement operational improvements within departmental policies and procedures.
Manage administrative procedures, documentation, and operational records for Residential Colleges, Living Learning Communities, and Special Populations programs.
Establish and maintain assignment codes, eligibility criteria, and processing procedures for accurate, consistent student placement.
Coordinate and maintain housing application and assignment databases, ensuring records are complete, accurate, and appropriately maintained.
Review daily operational reports for discrepancies involving application processing, financial transactions, and residential space inventory, and coordinate corrective action with relevant partners.
Maintain historical documentation of program development, process changes, and operational decisions.
Oversee quality control for application, assignment, and occupancy data and coordinate preparation and distribution of weekly statistical reports to university stakeholders.
Maintain and validate student records and admissions data in StarRez and associated databases, including community coding, eligibility tracking, and assignment allocation.
Establish procedures to identify and resolve data discrepancies, monitor assignment accuracy, and maintain consistency across departmental systems.
Coordinate communications about incoming and departing students, occupancy changes, and program participation; support move-in and move-out activities.
Manage student and parent inquiries about housing assignments, housing agreements, roommate requests, room changes, cancellations, and refund requests.
Collaborate with Residential Education and campus partners to address complaints, roommate conflicts, and assignment concerns under established policies and procedures.
Evaluate individual cases, determine appropriate resolutions within delegated authority, and refer complex or policy-sensitive matters to appropriate leadership.
Oversee timely and accurate responses to inquiries received by email, telephone, and in-person service channels.
Develop, maintain, and update forms, online resources, and administrative tools for occupancy management, housing assignments, and special residential communities.
Support divisional and institutional initiatives, including at least 40 hours per year on activities such as Move-In Day, Welcome Week, Family Weekend, Career Expo, and Disability Services Finals Testing.
Refer students seeking help for emotional, behavioral, or mental-health concerns to appropriate Student Health Center services; immediately contact the Care Team, Dean of Students, or appropriate law-enforcement agency if a student appears to pose a danger to themselves or others; do not imply client or patient confidentiality beyond rights provided under FERPA.
Perform other duties as assigned by the Executive Director, Residential Leadership team members, and direct supervisor.