Director of Housing and Residence

Director of Housing and Residence Life – University of Southern Indiana

The University of Southern Indiana is seeking a dedicated student‑centered leader to guide campus housing operations and enrich the student housing and residential life experience. The Director serves as the chief housing officer managing a comprehensive campus housing and residential life operation, collaborating with campus service organizations to provide services to more than 2,600 residents, including business operations, administrative services, housekeeping, maintenance, and more.

The Director oversees more than 100 full‑time, part‑time and student employees, an annual operational auxiliary budget of $11 million, 43 apartment buildings and four residence halls. This position works closely with students, Resident Assistants (RAs), campus partners and university leadership to ensure that residential communities foster personal growth, safe and healthy spaces, opportunities for engagement, and student success.

• Provide strong leadership, team development, and inspire a shared vision for the future of Housing and Residence Life (HRL).
• Establish and implement effective operational and strategic planning processes to support the realization of shared goals and vision for HRL.
• Maintain strength of residential life.
• Employ, train, supervise, lead, and evaluate an effective team of professional, support, and student staff to achieve departmental goals.
• Create, develop, and improve staff professional development opportunities.
• Promote professional development and/or training to enhance problem solving, leadership, and communication skills.
• Organize and attend ongoing professional development and in‑service training for all residence life staff members.
• Review and oversee the selection and training of all resident assistants.
• Serve in the highest level of HRL on‑call responsibility duties (as back up to Area Coordinators and Leadership Team).
• Serve as a representative on divisional and university committees as assigned by the Vice President for Student Affairs.
• Ensure ongoing effective marketing, recruitment, and retention initiatives for the department, including in‑person presentations at various professional organizations.

• Direct and supervise the housing application, room selection, and occupancy processes.
• Address student concerns related to room changes, special accommodations, and their housing appeal experience.
• Oversee effective financial management of the housing and residence life operation, including monitoring the budget and recommending capital purchases.
• Work with staff to develop and refine promotional material, website, and social media efforts.

• Assess program outcomes and goal achievement by providing opportunities for student evaluation of the housing and residential life system and implementing appropriate recommendations.
• Supervise the development, implementation, and evaluation of the residential curriculum.
• Provide assessment for residence life and housing policies, processes, and initiatives.
• Review housing trends and make recommendations to retain students in campus housing.
• Prepare retention reports for senior leadership and stakeholders.
• Maintain and revise policies that impact retention (e.g., housing agreement processes, grievance procedures, etc.).
• Ensure compliance with fair housing laws and organizational standards.

• Actively seek student feedback to improve housing policies, programs and living conditions.
• Serve as a primary resource for students regarding housing concerns, roommate conflicts, and residence life experiences from external partners.
• Be visible and accessible to students and family/guardian members through office hours, apartment and residence hall visits, and campus events.

• Set the tone for the implementation of a residential environment that is positive, engaging and challenges students’ growth.
• Foster a sense of community in apartments and residence halls through student‑centered activities.
• Support and mentor staff to enhance the…