Director, Housing & Residence Life

Lamar University; Beaumont (TX); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental & vision insurance

State of Texas Retirement plans

Tuition benefits for employees & elig.

Paid time off

Job summary

Lamar University seeks a Director of Housing and Residence Life to provide strategic leadership for Cardinal Village and future residential developments. The role reports to the Dean of Students and advances student engagement, academic success, wellbeing, belonging, and retention through a comprehensive residential experience.

The Director oversees housing operations, occupancy management, facilities administration, budget, assessment, conduct, crisis response, and summer housing programs,

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration or similar.
• Seven+ years of progressive leadership in Housing and Residential Life.
• Experience managing large budgets and financial resources.
• Crisis response, risk management, and student support experience.
• Ability to reside within 30 miles of Lamar University campus for emergency response.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for all housing life aspects.
• Collaborate with Facilities, Enrollment Management, IT, and University Police for seamless service.
• Oversee staffing, training, and evaluation of staff.
• Lead crisis response and student support, including on-call coverage.
• Direct planning and assessment, including occupancy forecasting and learning outcomes evaluation.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Budget management

Crisis response

Cross-department collaboration

Education

Master's degree in Higher Education Administration

Doctorate in Higher Education (desired)

Job description

The Director of Housing and Residence Life provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for all aspects of Lamar University's residential housing program, including Cardinal Village and future residential developments. Reporting to the Dean of Students, the Director is responsible for advancing a comprehensive residential experience that supports student engagement, leadership development, academic success, wellbeing, belonging, and retention. This position oversees housing operations, residential education, occupancy management, facilities administration, budget and resource management, assessment, conduct administration, crisis response, and summer housing programs. The Director develops and implements initiatives that enhance the quality of residential living while supporting the University's enrollment, retention, and student success goals. As the University's senior housing leader, the Director serves as the primary representative for housing master planning, major renovation projects, capital improvements, and future residential construction initiatives. The position collaborates closely with campus partners, including Facilities Management, Enrollment Management, Student Affairs, University Police, and other stakeholders to ensure residential communities are safe, well-maintained, student-centered, and aligned with institutional priorities. The Director serves as a member of the Division of Student Affairs leadership team and contributes to the development and implementation of strategic initiatives that advance the mission and goals of Lamar University.

Essential Job Functions

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for all aspects of residence life, including housing assignments, student services, facilities management, budgeting, marketing, and summer housing programs.
• Collaborate across university departments (e.g., Facilities, Student Affairs, Enrollment Management, IT, and University Police) to ensure seamless service delivery and alignment with institutional goals.
• Oversee staffing and professional development, including hiring, training, supervision, and evaluation of professional, administrative, and student staff.
• Lead crisis response and student support efforts, including on-call coverage, emergency preparedness, and coordination with health, conduct, and Title IX offices
• Direct departmental planning and assessment, including policy development, occupancy forecasting, marketing strategy, and evaluation of student satisfaction and learning outcomes.

Minimum and Desired Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration, Student Affairs, Counseling, Educational Leadership or similar discipline from an accredited university.
• Seven (7) years of progressive leadership in Housing and Residential Life, with direct supervision of professional staff and oversight of hall operations, facilities, and student council.
• Demonstrated experience managing large budgets and financial resources.
• Experience in crisis response, risk management, and student support.
• Ability to work collaboratively across divisions and build effective partnerships.
• Ability to reside within 30 miles of Lamar University campus to meet emergency response requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams, including hiring, training, and performance management of professional and support staff.

Desired Qualifications:

• Doctorate in Higher Education, Student Affairs, or a related field.
• Experience leading housing operations at a mid- to large-sized institution, including oversight of residence hall construction, renovation, or major capital projects.
• Experience leading or supporting residence hall renovation, capital improvement, or new construction projects.
• Demonstrated success in strategic planning, assessment, and data informed decision-making within a residential life context.
• Experience supporting student success, persistence, and retention initiatives within residential environments.
• Familiarity with emergency response protocols and crisis management in a residential setting.
• Experience supporting student success and retention initiatives within a residential environment.

Supplemental Information

Key Competencies:

• Demonstrated ability to provide strategic leadership for a complex housing and residence life operation while aligning departmental goals and initiatives with the University's mission and priorities.
• Comprehensive knowledge of student development theory and best practices in residential education, with the ability to foster student learning, engagement, wellbeing, and success within residential communities.
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills, with the ability to build collaborative relationships and effectively engage students, faculty, staff, parents, and external stakeholders.
• Proven ability to exercise sound judgment and lead effectively during emergencies, critical incidents, and student-related concerns, utilizing strong crisis management and problem-solving skills.
• Strong financial and operational management skills, including budget administration, resource stewardship, occupancy planning, facilities coordination, assessment, and continuous process improvement.

Physical Requirements:

This position requires a regular on-campus presence and active engagement with residential communities. The work schedule may include evenings, weekends, holidays, and extended hours during peak operational periods such as residence hall openings, closings, and summer transitions. As a key member of the University's emergency response team, the incumbent must be available to respond to critical incidents and may be required to remain on campus during severe weather events or other emergencies. Occasional travel may be required for professional development, conferences, training opportunities, and other university-related business.

Job Conditions:

• Position requires an on-campus presence and regular engagement with residential communities.
• Schedule may include evenings, weekends, holidays, and extended hours during peak operational periods, including opening, closing, and summer transitions.
• Serves as a key emergency response leader and may be required to remain on campus during severe weather events or other critical incidents.
• Occasional travel for professional development, conferences, and university business may be required.

Who We Are:

Home to more than 18,000 students, Lamar University is among the fastest growing Texas colleges and universities. LU is a member of The Texas State University System, which is the first higher education system of Texas and maintains the lowest average tuition and fees of any university system in Texas. With more than 120-degree options and a community that cares, Lamar students are always proud to be Cardinals. Lamar University strives to educate leaders, demonstrate excellence in student learning and career readiness, and pursue research with relevance.

Lamar University is committed to fostering an environment of teamwork where all students, faculty, and staff can learn, work, and become a part of our community.

Benefits:

Health, dental & vision insuranceLife insuranceState of Texas Retirement plansTuition covered at 100% for employees, spouses and/or eligible dependentsPaid time off – vacation, sick, and holidays

To see more information about the available benefits, please visit: Benefits - Lamar University

Special Note:

We are unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for sponsorship now or in the future.

Lamar University is An Equal Opportunity Employer

Lamar University is proud to provide employment preference to veteran applicants in accordance with Texas 805 Government Code, Section 657.003.

This position is security-sensitive and thereby subject to the provisions of the Texas Education Code §51.215, which authorizes the employer to obtain criminal history record information.