Executive Director, Housing and Residential Education

Housing and Residential Education (HRE) cultivates individuals and communities through creating and fostering growth centered transitions and educational living environments. The department provides students with the tools to successfully integrate into and navigate college life. HRE embodies dynamic change and innovation within the core values of Diversity, Inclusion and Social Justice, Sustainability, and Student Development.

Position Summary

The University of Denver is looking for a visionary leader to direct the on-campus residential living and learning environment. The executive director oversees an undergraduate and graduate community of nearly 3,000 students living in 6 residence halls, 6 apartment buildings, the Transfer House and four (4) fraternity and sorority houses. The executive director provides strategic direction for the administrative, budgetary, facilities, co-curricular, and programmatic functions of the department; works collaboratively to set and realize strategic goals for growth, equips and supports students in meaningful community living, and develops and implements programs that support and enhance students development. The Executive Director brings the vision of both Housing and Residential Education together in a cohesive manner for the team to identify and operate as one department.

The Executive Director must have a strong understanding of, and commitment to, diversity, social justice, and the creation of inclusive work and living environments. The position requires close collaboration with numerous stakeholder groups including other student affairs units, academic affairs, facilities management, budget planning, risk management, and campus safety.

The position reports to the Vice Chancellor and is a key member of the student affairs leadership team. The executive director will play a strategic role in assisting SAIE and the University of Denver with implementing the 4-D (intellectual, professional, character, wellbeing) student experience

How many people report directly to this position? 2 FTE
How many people are in the department or organization that this position serves?
Students: 3,000+
Staff: 13 full-time staff; 10 graduate students; 120+ student staff (including resident assistants and desk managers/assistants)

What is the annual budget for the people and activity this position supervises? $31-plus million in annual revenue expectation, and $18 million in annual expense authority.
Note: supervision means hiring, firing, and promotion or incumbents recommendations are used for these decisions; responsibility for training; assigning work; and evaluating performance and conducting the annual performance review discussion with employees.

Essential Functions

• Provide Leadership, oversight, and strategic planning for a comprehensive residential experience including all residential education and housing operations and services (programming, staff selection and training, professional development, facilities, and assignments). Manage an annual operating budget of approximately $18 million, a staff of 130, including full-time staff, graduate/undergraduate students, and contract employees. (30%)
• Oversee the development, implementation, evaluation, and evolution of a comprehensive campus residential program, including implementation of the 4-D student experience. Evolve the program to better meet the needs of the student residential community. (20%)
• Collaborate closely with other SAIE units, academic affairs, facilities management, budget planning and forecasting, risk management, conference and event services, and Campus Safety regarding residential services. (15%)
• Provide leadership and direction, in conjunction with the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, Facilities and the Budget Office, for construction and project planning affiliated with the University of Denver building and capital master plans. (15%)
• Define key performance indicators and develop appropriate assessment procedures to evaluate the program through satisfaction, performance, needs, and learning outcomes-based assessment in order to drive continuous improvement. (10%)
• Oversee the communication and marketing of the residential experience to students, parents/families, and other stakeholders to meet business objectives. (5%)
• Provide timely and accurate reports, including occupancy, facilities condition, and financial reports that clearly reflect the programs performance. (5%)

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• This position involves meetings with students, parents and writing memos and reports. Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work with budgets, purchase orders, and general record keeping.
• Ability to create, implement and address assessments for the benefit of HRE and Student Engagment, and the University.
• Solid mathematical skills and general familiarity with accounting methods.
• Solid understanding of Microsoft Office products, including Excel, Access, and Word.
• Ability to analyze complex problems and arrive at innovative solutions.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables where only limited standardization exists.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• Computer literacy and experience with word processing (Microsoft Word), MS Excel spreadsheets, and MS Access databases.
• Strong communication and interpersonal competencies that demonstrate intelligence and integrity, and a commitment to exemplary customer service and sustainability.
• Strong operational experience and business acumen.
• Knowledge of relevant federal and state laws.
• Knowledge of legal issues and risk management practices.

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree in higher education administration or a related field.
• Minimum of 10 years of extensive and progressive experience in leading residence life and housing operations.
• Demonstrated record of building teams and collaborative partnerships with colleagues and key stakeholder groups.
• Experience designing programs for and with diverse student and employee populations, and a demonstrated commitment to equity and social justice.

Preferred Qualifications

• Doctorate or other terminal degree in higher education, business, higher education administration, or related field.
• Direct experience leading a campus residential housing operation, including understanding of the regulatory parameters of contemporary residential life and university housing practices.
• Direct project management experience, with a Project Management certification.
• Previous experience leading and implementing a campus housing facilities master plan.

Work Schedule
Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Evenings and weekends as needed.

Application Deadline
For best consideration, please submit your application materials by January 31, 2021.

Special Instructions
Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.

Salary Grade Number
The salary grade for the position is 15.

Salary Range
The salary range for this position is $120,000 - $135,000.

The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate’s sex or any other protected status.

Benefits
The University of Denver offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver.

Please include the following documents with your application:
1. Resume
2. Cover Letter

The University of Denver is committed to enhancing the diversity of its faculty and staff. We are an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of age, race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, military/ veteran status or any other status protected by law.

All offers of employment are based upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check.