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Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States
Onsite
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, OCCUPANCY MANAGEMENT
Reporting to the Associate Director for Occupancy Management, the Assistant Director for Occupancy Management plays an integral role in strategic planning for retention and occupancy management. With minimal direction, the Assistant Director takes initiative in challenging circumstances, solves problems where solutions are not readily apparent, interprets established departmental, divisional, and university guidelines and policies, and prioritizes work while meeting changing student needs.
GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THIS POSITION INCLUDE:
• Provide oversight of assignments and occupancy processes and procedures
•Supervise two Assignments Managers and support student staff who process housing records.
• Coordinate with university partners, including Athletics, Global Engagement, Disability Services, ITS, and the Graduate School
• Analyze occupancy and housing trends, support room selection and allocation planning, maintain application change-management processes, and develop reports and dashboards for the department and campus partners.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEADERSHIP:
Strengthen Occupancy Planning and Processes
Residential Life shapes yearly room-selection timelines and room-allocation decisions by analyzing historical data and estimates for returning and transfer students. The Assistant Director has the opportunity to identify trends and recommend improvements to administrative policies, processes, and occupancy practices.
Support Reliable Systems, Reporting, and Partnerships
By working with ITS and campus partners, it is a top priority to maintain effective StarRez processes and provide useful reports, dashboards, and correspondence to departmental leadership. The Assistant Director has to opportunity to build collaborative relationships that support student recruitment, retention, and service and contribute to the conditions that matter for student success through operational excellence.
ATTRIBUTES OF THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE:
• An experienced occupancy and assignment professional who can manage staff, lead comprehensive efforts, and formulate practical solutions.
• An independent, action-oriented decision-maker who exercises sound judgment across a range of responsibilities.
• A collaborative partner who cultivates productive relationships within the department and across campus.
• A strong communicator with excellent human-relations, customer-service, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• A detail-oriented user of StarRez and other enterprise databases, with proficiency in Microsoft Word and spreadsheet software.
ABOUT THE DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS PRIORITIES:
In LSU Student Affairs, we create conditions that matter for student success. This priority guides how we approach our work, make decisions, and serve our students, their families, and our campus community. We pursue quality in all that we do. Students and staff deserve our best, every day, in every way. We consistently search for ways to always look to make it easy for students to succeed, whether by simplifying processes or removing barriers. We are LSU-centric as we think strategically and make decisions that advance LSU’s mission, priorities, and students. We lead with curiosity, explore possibilities, and remain open to better ideas, which means we always start with maybe. Finally, we prioritize relationships.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Strategic Partnerships and Systems Leadership (25%): Provides leadership in developing and maintaining strategic partnerships with university departments and campus stakeholders to advance student recruitment, retention, housing accessibility, and the overall student experience. Evaluates departmental technology and administrative system needs and collaborates with the Director of Information Systems and Security to recommend system enhancements, process improvements, and resource priorities. Provides leadership in resolving complex student housing concerns, including complaints, roommate conflicts, and escalated assignment matters, in collaboration with Residence Education and other university partners. Directs collaboration with Information Technology Services (ITS) to optimize the functionality, integration, and utilization of the StarRez housing management system. Oversees the development and implementation of reporting tools, dashboards, data management practices, and communications that support departmental operations, divisional priorities, institutional reporting, and strategic decision-making.
Operational Administration, Data Analysis, and Process Improvement (25%): Oversees the collection, validation, analysis, and reporting of housing assignment and occupancy data from multiple institutional sources, ensuring the accuracy, integrity, and timely dissemination of information, including Date of Record reporting. Evaluates housing assignment operations, occupancy trends, application activity, and administrative processes to identify operational risks, forecast demand, and develop recommendations that improve efficiency, service delivery, and space utilization. Establishes and monitors data auditing practices and performance measures to inform policy development, resource allocation, and operational planning. Directs application change management practices, including the development and maintenance of documentation, procedural standards, and implementation controls to ensure consistency, accountability, and continuity of operations.
Strategic Planning and Housing Allocation Management (20%): Leads the strategic planning and administration of housing assignment and room selection processes for returning and transfer students. Establishes annual upper-class room selection timelines and operational priorities in collaboration with the Associate Director of Occupancy Management and other key stakeholders. Develops and evaluates housing allocation models using historical occupancy data, enrollment projections, returning student trends, transfer student estimates, and anticipated housing demand to inform strategic decisions regarding room inventory, space allocation, and occupancy management. Exercises independent judgment in developing recommendations and implementing allocation strategies that balance institutional priorities, student preferences, housing capacity, and operational requirements. Leads the development, review, and implementation of administrative policies, procedures, and process improvements to strengthen consistency, accountability, and effectiveness across housing assignment operations.
Personnel Management and Staff Development (20%): Provides direct supervision, leadership, and performance management for two Assignments Managers, including recruitment and selection, goal setting, workload distribution, professional development, performance evaluation, and accountability for departmental outcomes. Provides indirect oversight and establishes expectations for student employees responsible for processing housing records to ensure accuracy, productivity, confidentiality, and compliance with established procedures. Develops and implements staff training programs, operational standards, and quality assurance practices to promote consistent application of housing assignment policies and procedures. Serves as a senior departmental resource for complex housing assignment matters, providing guidance to prospective and current students, parents, faculty, staff, and university partners. Fosters a collaborative, service-oriented environment focused on continuous improvement, staff development, and effective resolution of operational challenges.
Other Responsibilities (10%): Represent the department at university sponsored programs such as Spring Invitational, Explore LSU, etc. Chair and/or participate in various inter and intra department committees. Coordinate departmental projects as requested. Other duties as assigned by the Associate Director, Director or Executive Director of Residential Life. This includes but is not limited to: efforts that support broad division/institution efforts including at least 40 hours per year spent helping divisional initiatives such as Move-In Day, Welcome Week, Family Weekend, Career Expo, Disability Services Finals Testing, other special projects etc.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
• Three years of Assignment and Occupancy Management experience or related field.
LSU values skills, experience, and expertise. Candidates who have relevant experience in key job responsibilities are encouraged to apply— a degree is not required as long as the candidate meets the required years of experience specified in the job description.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
• Master’s degree.
• Five years of experience.
• Experience working in housing assignments.
• Experience with StarRez and Workday systems.
• Experience managing competing priorities.
• Strong attention to detail.
APPLICATIONS:
Applications will be accepted online on the LSU Careers website. The search committee will begin reviewing applications immediately and continue to accept applications and nominations until the position is filled. Requested application materials include a letter of interest; curriculum vitae or resume; and the names, telephone numbers, and e-mail addresses of at least three professional references. One of the professional references needs to be your most recent supervisor. Salary will be competitive and commensurate with qualifications. An offer of employment is contingent on a satisfactory pre-employment background check.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS/EXPECTATIONS:
• Ability and willingness to work some evening and weekend hours.
• This position is not Emergency Essential. It may be asked to work during an official closure, but is otherwise not required to report to the physical campus during a closure when its absence does not present a risk to campus safety, resources, or well-being, per FASOP HR-01.
As with all LSU employees, this position has an obligation to assist students in acquiring necessary services. Students seeking assistance with emotional, behavioral, or mental-health concerns should be referred to the appropriate service within the Student Health Center. If a student appears to be a danger to themselves or others, the employee should immediately contact the Care Team, the Dean of Students, or the appropriate law-enforcement agency. Outside the rights provided under FERPA, the employee should not create an impression of client or patient confidentiality.
Skills Needed:
Adaptability, Collaboration, Communication, Leadership, Policy Development, Project Management, Resource Management, Risk Mitigation
Preferred Skills:
Background Check - An offer of employment is contingent on a satisfactory pre-employment background check.
Benefits - LSU offers outstanding benefits to eligible employees and their dependents including health, life, dental, and vision insurance; flexible spending accounts; retirement options; various leave options; paid holidays; wellness benefits; tuition exemption for qualified positions; training and development opportunities; employee discounts; and more!
Positions approved to work outside the State of Louisiana shall be employed through Louisiana State University’s partner, nextSource Workforce Solutions, for Employer of Record Services including but not limited to employment, benefits, payroll, and tax compliance. Positions employed through Employer of Record Services will be offered benefits and retirement as applicable through their provider and will not be eligible for State of Louisiana benefits and retirement.
All candidates must have valid U.S. work authorization at the time of hire and maintain that valid work authorization throughout employment. Changes in laws, regulations, or government policies may impact the university’s ability to employ individuals in certain positions.
For questions or concerns related to updating your application with attachments (e.g., resumes, RS:17 documents), date of birth, or reactivating applications, please contact the LSU Human Resources Management Office at 225-578-8200 or email HR@lsu.edu. For questions or concerns regarding the status of your application or salary ranges, please contact the department using the information provided in the Special Instructions section of this job posting.
