Assistant Director, Housing Operations (on-site)

DePaul University; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 56,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stable University

Health benefits

Retirement plan matching 8%

Tuition waivers

Paid time off

Full-time benefits

Job summary

DePaul University in Chicago seeks an Assistant Director of Housing Operations to oversee occupancy management, housing assignments, and meal plan administration across Lincoln Park and Loop campuses. The role manages StarRez and reporting systems, supervises staff, and collaborates with campus partners to ensure accurate billing and service excellence.

Responsibilities include developing occupancy strategies, coordinating front desk operations, and providing senior leadership on housing

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business or liberal arts (preferred).
• 3+ years of administrative experience in university or corporate settings.
• Experience supervising full-time staff.
• Strong proficiency with StarRez, reporting, and scheduling systems.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership for Housing and Residence Life operations and occupancy management.
• Oversee front desk operations, building access, and staff supervision.
• Administer housing and meal plan assignments, room changes, and waitlists.
• Maintain housing system data integrity and generate occupancy reports.
• Collaborate with campus partners to coordinate specialized housing assignments.
• Supervise staff including hiring, training, payroll, and performance management.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Customer service

Independent work

Multicultural sensitivity

Emergency response

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

Access

Windows

Teams

Zoom

Maxient

StarRez

WhenToWork

Salesforce

Job description

The Highlights:

The Assistant Director of Housing Operations is responsible for creating, updating, and distributing residential agreements and housing assignments for the Lincoln Park and Loop campuses while overseeing the administration of the housing management software system. The Assistant Director of Housing Operations develops and maintains internal reports, occupancy audits, and tracking systems to ensure the accuracy of housing and meal plan assignments and billing. This position also oversees the day-to-day management of residence hall front desk operations, access control processes, and graduate assistant supervision. A key responsibility of the role is maintaining the technological functionality and data integrity of the residential management system. The position supports operational efficiency and accurate occupancy management across both campuses.

What You'll Do:

• Provide leadership and strategic oversight for Housing and Residence Life operations, including occupancy management, residential retention initiatives, operational planning, building access procedures, key inventory systems, and occupancy changes. Oversees housing occupancy management and assignment operations for the Lincoln Park and Loop campuses, including the development of occupancy strategies aligned with university enrollment and business objectives. Administers housing and meal plan assignments, room changes, waitlists, and housing agreements while ensuring compliance with university policies and contract requirements.
• Provide leadership and oversight for residence hall front desk operations, HRL office suite operations, building access control processes, and contracted overnight security services to ensure a safe, customer-focused residential environment. Supervises reception desk operations and coordinates procedures related to building access, occupancy changes, and key inventory management.
• Supervise the Housing Occupancy Coordinator, graduate supervisors, student employees, office assistants, and reception desk staff, including hiring, training, scheduling, payroll, performance management, and operational coverage for in-person, phone, email, and live chat services. Reviews operational reports, addresses escalated issues, and collaborates with Public Safety and campus partners on safety and policy-related matters.
• Manage the administration, functionality, and data integrity of the housing management system (StarRez), housing portal, and related business systems. Develops and maintains occupancy reports, audits, statistical data, and projections to support operational planning, enrollment forecasting, and effective business practices.
• Collaborate with campus partners including Enrollment Management, Athletics, the Center for Students with Disabilities, Honors, academic colleges, and other university departments to coordinate specialized housing assignments and student support services. Oversees housing assignment and meal plan communications for students, families, and campus stakeholders in collaboration with divisional marketing and university partners.
• Work with the Housing Occupancy Coordinator to oversee summer conference housing operations and serves as the primary liaison with Student Center staff to coordinate on-site summer programs. Collaborates closely with HRL staff supporting summer conference operations to ensure efficient housing and customer service delivery.
• Respond to complex housing and meal plan inquiries and serves as a senior-level resource regarding housing agreements, assignment processes, cancellations, appeals, and university policies. Ensures accurate reconciliation of housing and meal plan charges, cancellations, and prorations in partnership with business operations staff and external housing partners while supporting departmental strategic planning and operational efficiency initiatives.
• Directly supervises 1 full time Housing Occupancy Coordinator and several undergraduate and graduate student employees. Assigns housing and meal plans, administers the housing management software (StarRez), and manages the residence halls front desk operations.

What You'll Need:

• Bachelor's degree in business or liberal arts, preferred.
• 3+ years of experience in administrative positions in a university/corporate setting required.
• Successful experience in supervising full-time staff.
• Master's degree and 3 to 5 years of successful, full-time experience in higher education administration, with a strong emphasis in housing operations strongly preferred, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, Windows, Teams, Zoom, Maxient, StarRez, WhenToWork and Salesforce.
• Strong verbal and written communications skills.
• Ability to work independently and able to manage priorities and tasks.
• Ability to effectively interact with students, parents, colleagues, vendors, university staff and faculty.
• Ability to provide student-centered customer service.
• Appreciation for and commitment to multiculturalism and diversity issues.
• Must maintain confidential information.
• Responsible for responding to emergency situations as needed.
• Ability to respond to a telephone call after hours and maintain constant availability via cell phone coverage, as needed.
• Occasionally ascends and descends stairs while conducting building inspections.
• Ability to make and hear calls via radio communication.
• Occasionally lift up to 25 pounds.
• Evening, weekend and holiday work is expected, as needed.

The anticipated hiring range for this position is: $56,222 to $71,703/year.

The salary range provided in this posting reflects what we reasonably expect to pay for this position. Actual compensation offered or earned is dependent on experience, education and other factors including departmental budget.

Perks:

• Working for a stable and well-known University.
• Top choice medical, dental, and vision benefits.
• Retirement plan matching contribution of 8%.
• Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.
• Generous paid time off, sick time, holidays, floating holidays, and more!
• Full-Time Benefits

For consideration, please include a resume and cover letter.

Vincentian Mission:

Guided by an ethic of Vincentian personalism and professionalism, DePaul compassionately upholds the dignity of all members of its diverse, multi-faith, and inclusive community. We seek to hire collaborative, open-minded, and dedicated professionals who are committed to advancing our university mission to making education accessible to all, with special attention to including underserved and underrepresented communities. Successful candidates thrive in an environment where ideas and perspectives representing a wide variety of cultures, backgrounds and experiences are welcome and supported.

Required Background Check:

Employment at DePaul University is contingent on passing a background check. Only final candidates who are extended an offer of employment will undergo a background check.

DePaul University is an Equal Opportunity employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, genetic information or any other legally protected status, in accordance with applicable federal, state and local EEO laws.