Senior Associate Director of Housing Operations
About The Position
Are you passionate about creating inclusive, student-centered living experiences? Bowdoin College is seeking a dynamic leader to serve as our Senior Associate Director of Housing Operations. In this pivotal role, you'll orchestrate the full spectrum of housing logistics-from occupancy planning and room selection to policy development and system administration-all while championing fairness, equity, and belonging.You'll be the strategic force behind smooth transitions in and out of campus housing, accurate data reporting, and collaborative partnerships across departments. As part of our integrated residential education model, you'll work closely with professional and student staff to support co-curricular learning and foster a vibrant residential community.This role oversees occupancy planning, housing assignments and room selection, housing policies and communications, StarRez system administration, and strategic cross-campus partnerships. The Senior Associate Director ensures smooth openings/closings, accurate data and reporting, and consistent application of processes that support belonging, co-curricular learning, and advance the College's residential learning goals.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree required; Master's in Higher Education, Student Affairs, or related field preferred. Specialized training in StarRez housing software preferred.
- Excellent interpersonal, communication, and conflict resolution skills.
- Familiarity with student development theory and crisis management protocols.
- Supervisory skills to hire, train, coach and evaluate professional and/or paraprofessional staff.
- Proficiency in Excel/Google Sheets and report-building.
- A minimum of 4 years experience in residential life, student affairs, or related campus role required. Experience Equivalencies may include multiple years of non-Residential Life experience in higher education along with other significant, comparable professional residential experience, such as: large-scale retreat center housing/operations; residential camp housing/operations & capital planning; or hotel/hospitality experience with residential program components.
- Ability to: Cultivate a welcoming and inclusive residential environment that supports student learning and personal growth.
- Serve as a first point of contact for student concerns, providing guidance, support, and referrals as needed.
- Plan and execute educational, cultural, and community-building programs in alignment with institutional goals.
- Uphold and communicate college policies while fostering a respectful and accountable community.
- Respond to incidents and emergencies as part of a the student support network
- Collaborate with campus departments (e.g., Counseling, Campus Safety, Student Activities) to support holistic student development.
- Maintain accurate documentation of incidents, programming, and student interactions in accordance with college protocols.
- Navigate sensitive topics with discretion and uphold confidentiality; exercise sound judgment in complex or emotionally charged situations.
- Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications in this posting to be considered for hire.
Nice To Haves
- Master's in Higher Education, Student Affairs, or related field preferred. Specialized training in StarRez housing software preferred.
- Candidates able to overlap with incumbent (May - June) may be given preference; start date of May 1, 2026; some flexibility is possible.
Responsibilities
- Oversee all aspects of residential Housing Assignments in the academic year, including first-year placements aligned with Bowdoin's community model, transfers, housing accommodations with Student Accessibility, and special program placements.
- Serve as the StarRez system administrator, configuring applications and portals, permissions, automations, communications, and reports. Build and maintain dashboards and routine reports on occupancy, demand trends, space utilization, and other key metrics.
- Serve as primary point of contact for students in upperclass housing with challenges; offer kind, caring & predictable support to students problem-solving their housing issues.
- Lead cross-divisional teams to plan, execute and debrief housing transitions including openings, closings, mid-year transitions, early arrivals, and break housing.
- Provide strategic occupancy management by leading annual and term-based forecasting and space planning across residence halls, College Houses, and the off-campus lottery.
Benefits
- A variety of health insurance plans (Medical, Vision, Dental)
- Generous Retirement Plan - 401(a) and 403(b)
- Life and Disability Insurance
- Paid Time Off: 20 days of vacation per calendar year, 12 days of personal/sick time
- Paid Holidays and Special Days Off: https://www.bowdoin.edu/hr/our-workplace/college-holidays-and-special-days-off.html
- Paid Parental Leave (Available after one year of service)
- Household access to many of the College's facilities including the gym and pool
- Free fitness and wellness classes!
- And more: https://www.bowdoin.edu/hr/benefits-perks/index.html
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
Industry
Educational Services
Number of Employees
1,001-5,000 employees
