Executive Director, Student Housing and Residential Life

Job no: 559808
Work type: Management (MPP)
Location: Northridge
Categories: MPP, Administrative, At-Will, Full Time

About the Position of Executive Director, Student Housing and Residential Life

Reporting to the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs, Student Engagement and Wellbeing, the Executive Director for Student Housing and Residential Life provides leadership, vision, and management direction for Student Housing and Residential Life (SHRL). Serves as the chief housing officer of the University and oversees a comprehensive housing program designed to promote the University's learning and student success centered mission. The housing program currently has a capacity to serve approximately 3,740 residents, including 23 student residence halls (maximum capacity of 3,400 residents), 11 apartment buildings for families (maximum capacity of 340 residents in 114 apartments) and guest housing units. SHRL facilities also includes three community centers, a residential dining common, the Student Housing Administration Building, and 47 acres of grounds and outdoor recreational space.

As the chief administrator for the University's student housing program, the Executive Director is responsible for coordinating extensive strategic planning, goal setting and assessment initiatives; implementing best practices related to residential life programs and services, and ensuring equitable and inclusive residential community standards. Provides direction and oversight for budgeting and long-term financial forecasts; directs and oversees physical plant and facility operations; oversees facility improvement and major maintenance initiatives; engages facility planning and capital project collaborations in support of future housing growth; oversees conferencing and administrative operations; ensures effective marketing and retention efforts to maximize occupancy; and directs emergency preparedness, safety and security program needs, and crisis/emergency event response. In addition, the Executive Director is closely involved with divisional and university-wide strategic planning priorities.

The Executive Director provides leadership that ensures programs and services are aligned with the department's goals of positively impacting retention and graduation rates among a diverse residential student population. As such, the Executive Director ensures that academic, social, recreational, cultural and safety programs and services facilitate a welcoming, inclusive living environment conducive to student success, providing leadership and direction with regard to evaluation and assessment efforts directly relating to these outcomes.

The Executive Director is responsible for anticipating future housing trends and accommodating those trends programmatically as well as through the initiation of building and renovation programs. The Executive Director collaborates with the university's executive leadership, various campus departments, and the Chancellor's Office to oversee and contribute to the housing master plan including annual renovations and upgrades to existing buildings and planning and construction of new buildings. Review and advocacy for the housing program requires familiarity with the Americans with Disabilities Act and various regional, state, federal and system-wide regulatory codes.

The Executive Director is responsible for administering an annual budget nearing $37 million with various reserve funds. The position directly supervises 9 (6 leads) professional employees and has overall supervision responsibility for approximately 87 staff and 160 student employees in five operating units - Residential Life, Facilities Operations, Administrative Services, Financial Services and Human Resources, and Residential Computing Resources.

The Executive Director collaborates closely with Student Affairs Departments and other University stakeholders regarding academic, programmatic and student support services, including academic colleges/departments, the University Counseling Services, The University Corporation, Department of Police Services, Facilities Planning, Student Accounting and Cash Services, and University Budget Management. Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Equivalent to graduation from an accredited institution with a Master's degree in higher education administration, student personnel or a job-related field.
• Equivalent to six years of full-time, progressively responsible professional experience providing leadership and administration of student housing operations and residential life within a higher educational setting is required, including a minimum of three years in a management role.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities & Leadership

• Demonstrated success in motivating and leading large and diverse staff, including represented and non-represented employees.
• Demonstrated leadership in developing and delivering learning-centered programs that promote student success, developing and sustaining residential communities that value and promote diversity.
• Strong understanding of student development theory, community development and impact of housing on student retention and graduation.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully manage complex crisis situations involving multiple stakeholders.
• Demonstrated knowledge and ability to provide supervision and management of human resource functions within a collective bargaining environment.
• Highly developed and demonstrated understanding of student safety, emergency management and student behavior/conduct best practices.
• Demonstrated leadership with facilities maintenance, renovation, planning and design.
• Highly developed skills in budgeting and financial forecasting.
• Highly developed ability to develop successful partnerships with multiple on and off-campus stakeholders to develop and achieve a cohesive student housing vision.
• Strong understanding of technology and how advances can be implemented to improve work systems and productivity.
• Exceptional communication, interpersonal and supervisory skills.
• Ability to maintain a high level of discretion, confidentiality, and exercise sound judgment in all decisions.
• Highly developed strategic planning skills.
• Ability to identify operational strengths and challenges; initiate and implement plans, policies, and procedures to solve problems and take advantage of strengths/opportunities.

More information can be found in the institutional profile at https://www.academicsearch.org/open-searches-public/entry/25869/?search=25869

Pay, Benefits, & Work Schedule

Salary is commensurate with knowledge, skills, and experience. The University offers excellent fringe benefits. The anticipated

HIRING RANGE: $160,000 - $180,000 per year, dependent upon qualifications and experience.

Application Period

The position is open until filled but only applications received by Monday, October 12, 2026 can be assured full consideration. Review of applications will continue until position is filled.

In order to be considered in the initial review, applications must be submitted prior to the date listed above. Application submissions received after the initial review date will be reviewed at the discretion of the University.

Effective Date of Appointment: As soon as possible

How to Apply

The university is being assisted by Academic Search. Applications should consist of a substantive cover letter, a resume, and list of three professional references with full contact information. No references will be contacted without the explicit permission of the candidate. Applications can be confidentially submitted at: [email protected]

Nominations and expressions of interest can be directed to the search team, electronically and confidentially, at: [email protected]

Confidential discussions about this opportunity may be arranged by contacting senior consultant Chris Buter at [email protected].

Advertised: Aug 27 2026 Pacific Daylight Time
Applications close:

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