Residence Life Manager

University of British Columbia; Kelowna; On-site; CAD 80,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of British Columbia is seeking a Residence Life Manager to lead a team of student staff and oversee a comprehensive on-campus Residence Life program. You will ensure high-quality student life, engagement, and a safe living environment in assigned residences.

The role requires an undergraduate degree, 3–4 years of related experience, and strong communication, budget management, and crisis response skills. You will live in on-campus housing and participate in 24/7 on-call coverage.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline.
• Minimum of three to four years of related experience.
• Satisfactory Criminal Record Check.
• Ability to be thorough, accurate, and have a high level of attention to detail.
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
• Proficiency with standard office software.
• Ability to develop and deliver effective presentations and workshops.
• Ability to work effectively independently and in a team environment.
• Ability to analyze problems, identify key information and issues, and effectively resolve issues.
• Oral fluency in a second language an asset.
• Ability to exercise tact, discretion and good judgement.

Responsibilities

• Builds, motivates and supervises a team of part-time student staff.
• Conducts performance management processes of Residence Life student staff including evaluations and discipline.
• Responsible for full cycle recruitment of Residence Life student staff including job descriptions, interviews, training and onboarding.
• Organizes orientation, training and ongoing development of Residence Life student staff.
• Provides 24 hour on-call support of staff responding to students in distress and facilities emergencies.
• Ensures safety practices compliance with WorkSafeBC regulations and university policies.
• Develops and administers departmental programming funds and budgets.
• Coordinates delivery of Residence Life services to residents to meet departmental goals.
• Maintains a residence life program that supports recruitment, retention and student success.
• Residence Life operates 24/7 to support students and respond to crises.

Skills

Effective communication

Leadership

Education

Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline

Tools

Proficiency with standard office software

Job description

Job Title: Residence Life Manager

Job Category: M&P - AAPS

Job Profile: AAPS Salaried - Student Management, Level B

Job Family: Group Staff - Non Union

Department: UBCO | Residence Life | Student Housing and Hospitality Services | Business Operations

Compensation Range: $7,158.42 - $10,292.25 CAD Monthly

The Compensation Range is the span between the minimum and maximum base salary for a position. The midpoint of the range is approximately halfway between the minimum and the maximum and represents an employee that possesses full job knowledge, qualifications and experience for the position. In the normal course, employees will be hired, transferred or promoted between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range for a job.

Job End Date: Ongoing

Posting End Date: October 27, 2026 (Applications accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date)

This position is subject to the satisfactory completion of required background checks.

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

UBC Okanagan Student Housing UBC’s Okanagan campus is an innovative hub for research and learning situated in the heart of Syilx Okanagan territory. With 63 Undergraduate and 26 Graduate programs, the campus has a student population of approximately 11,500, representing 114 countries. UBC Okanagan Student Housing offers on-campus accommodation to approximately 2,100 students with a variety of modern traditional, single-connected and townhome style residences. The residence community is comprised of eight traditional-style residence and two suite-style residence communities. 85+ live-in student staff support a dynamic Residence Life program that features nine vibrant living learning communities.

Job Summary

As a member of the Residence Life leadership team, this position is responsible to provide support services that foster student learning, success and strong student communities through meaningful orientation and transition experiences.

Establishes a climate that supports and facilitates student-focused approach to customer service and support.

Supports and contributes implementation of the UBC Student Residential Experience such as Residence Life program curriculum development, staff recruitment, supervision, training and development, and student leadership development.

To be responsible for all aspects of student life in an on-campus residence area and live in assigned accommodation.

To manage the overall program and the residence life budget in their assigned area.

To coordinate the delivery of all Residence Life services to residents to accomplish departmental goals.

This position is responsible for providing a residence life program that furthers student recruitment, retention, academic success, personal, and community and leadership development.

Residence Life is a 24-hour operation providing support to students and responding to all resident crises and residence emergencies as well as inquiries from students, parents, emergency services and other university personnel.

The Residence Life Manager is required to live in an assigned private apartment in their residence area, and is highly visible, works flexible hours, and is on-call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and participates in a rotating on-call schedule for student and residence facilities emergencies.

Frequent irregular hours including extended workdays; attendance at evening and weekend meetings, programs, functions; and occasional travel are required. Work has sessional peaks and an annual cycle.

Organizational Status

This position provides supervision to a team of student employees including: Residence Advisors, Senior Residence Advisors and Program Resource Advisors.

Reports to the Assistant Director, Residence Life.

Works in cooperation with Facilities and Maintenance Services team, Residence Front Desk, Residence Administration and other area administrative staff.

Regularly liaises with Food Services personnel, Health & Wellness. Campus Security staff, RCMP, Fire Department, and campus Student Services and Student Development units.

Work Performed

1. Employee Management - Builds, motivates and supervises a team of part-time student staff. Leads and coaches towards effective performance and service excellence.
2. Conducts performance management processes of Residence Life student staff which includes performance evaluations, discipline and terminations.
3. Responsible for full cycle recruitment of Residence Life student staff which includes job descriptions, interviews, training and onboarding.
4. Organizes and implements the orientation, training, and ongoing development of Residence Life student staff responding to current needs as necessary throughout the year.
5. Provides 24 hour on-call support of staff responding to students in distress, fire systems and facilities emergencies.
6. Ensures all employees work in a correct, safe manner, and are trained in regard to all necessary safety and environmental regulations, standards, practices and procedures.
7. Ensures safety practices are in compliance with applicable WorkSafeBC regulations, UBC Student Housing and Hospitality Services policy and UBC policy.
8. Community Development: Assist in budget preparation for residence life in assigned residence area and approves and dispenses departmental programming funds at area level.
9. Develop a year long outline of educational, recreational, social and wellness programs and manages the programming in an assigned residence area.
10. Implement programs through advisory staff that contribute to personal and community growth of residents.
11. Residence Conduct: Promote, regulate, and support residence behavioural standards process.
12. Manages administrative judicial process (residence standards) in assigned residence area.
13. Decides all judicial sanctions, and communicates decision to appropriate person(s).
14. Assists with appeals of standards decisions.
15. Reviews and revises residence behaviour standards, annually.
16. Crisis Management: Respond to crisis incidents and determine how best to support students to ensure the impact is mitigated and all involved are supported through the interpretation, implementation and administration of departmental policies.
17. A densely populated community of vulnerable youth means significant volume (weekly) of crisis incidents.
18. Liaises with parents, faculty, staff who may be impacted by critical incidents to ensure they are appropriately supported and works with AVP Students' Office, Campus Security, RCMP, emergency services to support broader investigations and crisis response.
19. Provide ongoing post-incident support of residents and staff impacted.
20. Maintain building safety by coordinating on-call schedules, scheduling building rounds and communicating with Campus Security dispatch.
21. Student Support: Act as a resource person for students and staff on personal, academic, and social concerns and advise students on a group and individual basis, including providing personal crisis support, guidance and referral, assistance to students on administrative and procedural requirements and act as a mediator and resource on issues between and among students in residence.
22. Liaise with and refer students to other student services departments, examples include Campus Health & Wellness, Equity and Inclusion Office, International Programs & Services, Student Learning Hub, Aboriginal Programs & Services and Disability Resource Centre and Sexual Violence Prevention and Response office.
23. Available daily to students and staff, during posted office hours and on call 24 hours a day to Residence Life and Administration and student staff, seven days a week.
24. Project Development and Management: Review and assess all aspects of student life in residence including assessing the effectiveness of previous years' policies and programs.
25. Researches and writes reports with recommendations.
26. Assist in the review and development of departmental policies and procedures and as necessary, implement changes to improve quality of residence living.
27. Initiate, develop and implement orientation programs that support new students in their transition to residence and university.
28. Assist in revising departmental literature such as: Residence Contract, Residence Advisor Orientation Manual, Roommate Contracts etc.
29. Partnerships: Represent the Department with non-residence groups; including parents and campus organizations, regarding to residence policies, student issues and concerns.
30. Participate in other university committees as requested by the Associate Director, Residence Life.
31. Liaise with other area staff including Front Desk staff, Facilities Building Services staff and Food Services staff.
32. Facilities: Investigate and make decisions regarding damage assessment appeals.
33. Develop and administer procedures for facilities/equipment reservations and use.
34. Respond to reports of after-hours facilities emergencies.
35. Investigate; decide appropriate course of action; authorize over-time for tradestaff or make alternate arrangements for residents.

Supervision Received

The RLM reports to the Assistant Director, Residence Life.

The RLM works independently in accordance with general directives and goals in implementing and administering departmental policies, directives and plans.

The RLM’s work is reviewed in terms of achievement of goals and overall effectiveness in management of services.

The RLM meets regularly with the Assistant Director, Residence Life to provide information, discuss cases of significantly heightened complexity or risk, advise on issues related to Student Housing operations that extend beyond the scope of the assigned residence area, and to assess current and future Student Housing operations.

The RLM is expected to make decisions with a managerial mindset and to exercise particularly good judgment regarding whether or not, and how, to elevate or refer a case or decision.

The RLM remains independently attentive to detail and follows through to achieve outcomes.

Supervision Given

Directly supervises 20 to 40 part-time residence life staff.

Accountable for the conduct management and residence environment of residents.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

Residence Life Managers represents the University and Residence Life department.

Incorrect decisions/judgments will directly affect the University’s reputation with the professional community, community groups, students and faculties.

Incorrect decisions would have an impact on the University’s current and future ability to recruit and retain students, hiring and supervisor of student staff, the operation of the programs and services, and the reputation of the department, and the University.

Poor judgment or failure to maintain policies and standards could result in poor public relations, loss of property or injury to residents or staff, loss of revenue, damage to building and equipment, loss of prestige and potential legal liability for the University.

Department and university credibility and image are strongly impacted by ongoing interactions with students, parents, campus organizations and the community at large.

Poor performance could result in failure to provide a comprehensive residential educational experience for students, as mandated by the University and the Department of Student Housing & Hospitality Services.

Qualifications

1. Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline.
2. Minimum of three to four years of related experience or the equivalent combination of education and experience.
3. Satisfactory Criminal Record Check.
4. Ability to be thorough, accurate, and have a high level of attention to detail.
5. Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
6. Proficiency with standard office software required.
7. Ability to develop and deliver effective presentations and workshops.
8. Ability to work effectively independently and in a team environment.
9. Ability to analyze problems, identify key information and issues, and effectively resolve issues.
10. Ability to deal with a diversity of people in a calm, courteous, and effective manner.
11. Oral fluency in a second language an asset.
12. Ability to exercise tact, discretion and good judgement.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged.

We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

The University of British Columbia is a global centre for research and teaching, consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities globally. A large part of what makes us unique is the community of engaged students, faculty, and staff who are collectively committed to shaping a better world.

Recognized as a leading employer in British Columbia and Canada, UBC supports inspired students, faculty and staff on their journey of discovery, and challenges them to realize their greatest potential.

New ideas, changing infrastructure, innovative technology, and fresh approaches are opening up possibilities for the future of research, teaching, and work. Are you ready to embrace the future together?

Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community foster the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, and/or Indigenous person. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

If you have any accommodation or accessibility needs during the job application process, please contact the Centre for Workplace Accessibility at [e-mail].