Strategic Director, Residence Life & Conference Services

Gannon University; Erie (Erie County); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Gannon University seeks a Director of Residence Life and Conference Services to lead a comprehensive housing and conference program on campus. The role supports student learning, belonging, retention, and crisis response while optimizing housing resources and external partnerships.

The position requires a master’s degree in a related field and at least five years of progressive residence life leadership experience, including budget management.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs, College Student Personnel, Higher Education Administration, or related field.
• Five+ years of progressively responsible experience in residence life, housing, or student affairs leadership, including supervisory and budget management.
• Experience with housing management software (e.g., StarRez) and conference systems is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide vision and strategic management for a comprehensive residence life program aligned with the division and university priorities.
• Develop policies, procedures, and initiatives to improve student engagement, retention, and housing operations.
• Direct staffing, budget planning, and resource allocation; supervise associate directors and staff.
• Coordinate housing, renewal, and occupancy plans with Admissions and leadership to maximize capacity.
• Lead crisis response, student conduct collaboration, and on-call coverage.
• Oversee Conference Services and auxiliary revenue, contracts, and client relations.
• Collaborate with campus partners to support student success and well-being.

Skills

Staff leadership

Project management

Policy interpretation

Data analysis

Budget management

Communication

Collaboration

Housing systems

Education

Master’s degree in Higher Education/Higher Education Administration

Tools

StarRez

Maxient

Conference management systems

MS Office

Job description

Gannon University seeks a Director of Residence Life and Conference Services to lead a comprehensive housing and conference program on campus. The role supports student learning, belonging, retention, and crisis response while optimizing housing resources and external partnerships.

The position requires a master’s degree in a related field and at least five years of progressive residence life leadership experience, including budget management.