Assistant Director of Housing and Administration
Location: Claflin University Main Campus, Orangeburg, SC
Position Type: Full-Time
Reports To: Assistant Dean/Executive Director of Residence Life and Housing
Education Required: Bachelor's Degree
Preferred Education: Master's Degree
Travel: Up to 25%
Work Schedule: Day Shift, Live-On Position
Department: Student Development and Services / Residence Life and Housing
Position Overview
The Assistant Director of Housing and Administration is a key member of the Residence Life and Housing leadership team responsible for overseeing residential housing operations, administrative functions, facilities management, occupancy processes, and student residential engagement. This position supports the university's commitment to providing a safe, inclusive, and student-centered living environment that promotes academic success, personal growth, and community development.
The Assistant Director supervises professional and student staff, manages housing administration and occupancy processes, coordinates facility maintenance efforts, supports student conduct initiatives, and serves in the department's after-hours on-call rotation. The position collaborates extensively with university departments and external partners to enhance the residential experience for approximately 1,200 residential students.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Housing Operations and Administration
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Oversee daily housing operations for all university residential facilities.
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Manage housing occupancy, assignments, room changes, check-in/check-out processes, and housing records.
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Coordinate housing processes related to special-interest housing communities and Living Learning Communities.
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Develop, implement, and monitor housing policies, procedures, and operational guidelines.
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Maintain accurate housing occupancy reports, resident records, and administrative documentation.
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Assist with budget management, housing utilization planning, and resource allocation.
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Coordinate housing accommodations and extensions with appropriate university offices.
Residential Student Experience
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Provide leadership and support for approximately 1,200 residential students.
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Promote a positive living-learning environment that encourages student engagement, success, and retention.
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Develop initiatives that foster student well-being, inclusion, community involvement, and personal development.
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Respond to student concerns and identify resources and interventions that support persistence through graduation.
Staff Supervision and Development
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Supervise Residence Life Coordinators, Area Coordinators, Graduate Assistants, and Resident Advisors.
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Conduct performance evaluations and establish accountability measures for staff.
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Coordinate staff training and professional development programs.
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Manage student employee payroll and employment processes.
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Lead recruitment, selection, onboarding, and retention efforts for professional and student staff.
Community Development and Programming
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Provide leadership for residence hall programming and educational initiatives.
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Collaborate with academic and student affairs departments to support student learning outcomes.
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Develop partnerships with faculty, staff, students, and campus organizations to enhance residential programming.
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Support university-wide events designed for current and prospective students and their families.
Student Recruitment and Retention
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Represent Residence Life and Housing at admissions and recruitment events.
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Collaborate with Admissions, Financial Aid, Academic Affairs, and Student Services to support student success.
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Assist in developing marketing and communication materials related to housing and residential life.
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Identify barriers affecting student retention and recommend strategies to improve residential student persistence.
Facilities Management and Housing Maintenance
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Conduct regular inspections of residence halls and surrounding grounds.
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Monitor facility conditions and coordinate repairs, maintenance, and improvement projects.
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Collaborate with Facilities Services to ensure timely completion of work orders and preventive maintenance.
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Develop and implement housing facility protocols related to safety, cleanliness, and building conditions.
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Support capital improvement and renovation planning efforts when applicable.
Student Conduct and Behavioral Intervention
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Assist in the implementation and administration of Residence Life policies and University conduct standards.
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Serve as a conduct hearing officer and adjudicate student conduct cases as assigned.
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Train staff on conduct procedures, incident documentation, and policy enforcement.
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Collaborate with Public Safety and university leadership regarding behavioral concerns and student support needs.
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Participate on behavioral intervention and emergency management teams as appropriate.
Crisis Response and On-Call Responsibilities
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Participate in an after-hours emergency on-call rotation.
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Respond to crises, emergencies, behavioral incidents, and facility-related concerns.
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Provide leadership during emergency situations and support university response efforts.
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Assist with crisis management training and preparedness initiatives.
Assessment and Strategic Planning
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Assess housing operations, residential services, policies, and programs for effectiveness.
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Analyze resident satisfaction, occupancy trends, retention data, and operational outcomes.
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Develop recommendations for continuous improvement.
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Contribute to departmental annual reports, strategic planning efforts, and accreditation-related initiatives.
Summer Housing, Camps, and Conferences
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Coordinate summer housing operations, camps, conferences, and special programs.
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Manage housing reservations, room assignments, billing processes, and occupancy tracking.
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Recruit, train, and supervise summer housing staff.
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Coordinate residential transitions before, during, and after summer operations.
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Collaborate with Auxiliary Services and campus partners to ensure successful summer programs.
Collaboration and Leadership
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Serve on departmental, divisional, and university committees.
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Maintain a visible and engaged presence within the residential community.
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Participate in departmental meetings, retreats, and professional development opportunities.
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Foster collaborative relationships across campus to support student success and institutional goals.
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Perform additional duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
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Bachelor's degree in Higher Education Administration, Student Affairs, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a related field.
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Minimum of two (2) years of experience in Residence Life, Housing, Student Affairs, or a related higher education setting.
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Experience supervising and training student staff.
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Experience managing housing operations, residential programs, or student services initiatives.
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Strong written, verbal, and public presentation skills.
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Demonstrated organizational, analytical, and problem-solving abilities.
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Experience responding to emergencies, crises, and student conduct matters.
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Ability to live on campus and participate in an on-call rotation.
Preferred Qualifications
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Master's degree in Higher Education Administration, Student Personnel, Student Affairs, or a related discipline.
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Two (2) or more years of full-time professional experience in Residence Life, Housing Administration, or Student Affairs.
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Experience with housing management systems and occupancy administration.
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Experience working with Living Learning Communities and special-interest housing programs.
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Strong knowledge of facilities management and residential operations.
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Demonstrated success in planning and implementing large-scale student programs and initiatives.
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Experience developing collaborative partnerships across campus.
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Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, student-focused environment.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
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Knowledge of higher education housing and residence life best practices.
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Understanding of student development theory and student success strategies.
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Strong leadership, supervision, and staff development skills.
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Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining attention to detail.
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Excellent conflict resolution and crisis intervention abilities.
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Strong customer service orientation and commitment to student success.
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Ability to analyze data and make informed operational recommendations.
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Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, housing management software, and student information systems.
Physical and Working Conditions
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Live-on campus requirement.
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Evening and weekend work required as needed.
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Participation in emergency response and after-hours duty rotation.
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Occasional travel for training, conferences, and university business.
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Ability to navigate residential facilities, including stairs and multiple building locations.
This position offers the opportunity to make a significant impact on the student experience by providing leadership in housing administration, residential education, facilities oversight, and student success initiatives.
