Assistant Director, Residential Living, Occupancy and Operations

Position Title: Assistant Director, Residential Living, Occupancy and Operations

Department: Residential Living

Advertised Pay: Mid to Upper $50,000's

Campus Location: Washburn University

Application Deadline:  Application review will begin as applications are received and will continue until the position is filled. Applicants can be assured of full consideration if submitted by October 27, 2025.

Position Summary: The Assistant Director, Residential Living, Occupancy and Operations, oversees Residential Living’s daily business and financial operations. Coordinates departmental projects, assessments, and technology, establishing, implementing, and leading a continuous improvement process for all residential living business processes. Some evening and weekend time commitments are involved to attend events and handle incidents that occur outside of the regular work schedule.

About Washburn University: Washburn University is a teaching-focused, student-centered, public institution located in the metropolitan setting of Topeka that has earned national recognition for its high-impact programs for first-generation students. Washburn has a student body of over 5,500 undergraduate, graduate, and law students, a significant and growing number of whom are first-generation and Pell-Grant eligible. The University has created educational pathways for all students to be successful and achieve their educational goals.

Washburn is dedicated to recruiting and retaining a dynamic faculty, staff, and student body and cultivating a robust learning and working environment and curriculum. We employ more than one thousand faculty and staff on our campuses throughout Topeka and strive to offer competitive wages, an excellent benefits program, and a supportive culture and a healthy work/life balance. Washburn seeks to create an environment that reflects our core values for creating positive IMPACT: inclusion, modernization, partnership, achievement, community and transformation. In 2024, Washburn was recognized as one of the best colleges in the nation to work for, according to Great Colleges to Work For® program.

Essential Functions:
• Reviews applications, assigns rooms, notifies applicants, and enters information into Banner/Housing Cloud software to process housing applications (contracts), room placement/changes, and cancellations for all residence halls during the year.
• Supervises the part-time house director in their role to support the Fraternity House Director, initiate facility service requests, and follow up on the completion of work requests.
• Reviews maintenance requests and collaborates with Facilities Services to request necessary maintenance and repairs to guarantee housing facilities remain fully functional.
• Tracks and reports occupancy to confirm services meet student needs and for use in preparing budget requests and reports.
• Ensures accurate billing for student accounts through department software programs. (Housing Cloud and Banner.
• Collaborates with campus partners to confirm that student billing accuracy, meal plans, and accounts payable are accurately managed.
• Serves as the primary liaison with the Vice President of Administration and Treasurer (VPAT) offices to manage accounting, billing, and finance functions, ensuring the efficient operation of the Department.
• In conjunction with appropriate staff, prepares the budget, monitors expenditures, and works with VPAT offices to validate the financial stability of Residential Living. Completes reports, maintains accurate records, and verifies the appropriate spending of available funds.
• Participates in preparing budgets for capital projects with the Director to verify adequate funding and appropriate expenditures.
• Determines housing needs for summer camps and conferences. Schedules facility use and maintenance to minimize inconvenience to summer residents and avoid conflict with maintenance activities.
• Provides vision and leadership among Residential Community Coordinators, develops a residential campus community environment that promotes student safety and campus involvement, and addresses University Strategic Framework and department goals for academic success, personal growth and development, community involvement, and respect for all students.
• Provides advice and recommendations to other Residential Living staff to assist with residence hall management.
• Manages department website by creating and editing engaging, relevant, and current content for students, coordinating with staff for regular updates.
• Coordinates other training and staffing events as assigned by the Director.
• Performs additional job-related duties as assigned or as appropriate.

Non-Essential Functions:
• Serves on various university and Student Life committees to represent the Residential Living Office and support University and Departmental activities.

Required Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s degree and work experience in college or university housing.
• Demonstrated knowledge of organizational development, group dynamics, strategies for change, and principles of community.
• Displayed effective interpersonal and group communication and leadership skills.
• Evidence of positive operative project and program management with the ability to implement and evaluate comprehensive projects and programs.
• Experience working in an office setting, creating and maintaining systems and processes.
• Proven ability to work effectively with numbers (budgets/spreadsheets) and attention to detail.

Physical Requirements:
• Some evening and weekend hours are required to attend and support events.

Preferred Qualifications:
• Master’s degree in Business Administration, Student Personnel and/or Development, or related fields.
• One year of college or university housing experience.
• Familiarity with Ellucian Banner, Housing Cloud, or another housing software program.

Exempt, Full-time, Mon-Fri, 8am-5pm   
Background Check Required