Assistant Director of Occupancy Management and Information Technology

The Department of Housing and Residence Life at Winston-Salem State University is excited to invite applications for the position of Assistant Director of Occupancy Management and Information Technology. This is a dynamic opportunity to join a collaborative team dedicated to enhancing the residential experience through strategic leadership and innovative technology solutions.

This role is a key leadership position within Housing and Residence Life, responsible for overseeing all aspects of occupancy planning, housing assignments, and data-driven decision-making through effective use of technology, primarily the StarRez Housing Management System. This role serves as the primary system administrator for StarRez and provides technical, analytical, and strategic support to ensure seamless housing experience for students and staff.

The Assistant Director collaborates with university departments, including Information Technology, Institutional Research, Enrollment Management, and Facilities, to align housing operations with institutional goals. This position supervises occupancy workflows, ensures accurate and timely reporting, and leads process improvement initiatives leveraging housing data and system capabilities.

Key Responsibilities:

Occupancy Management & Housing Assignments

• Develop, manage, and monitor all housing assignment processes for academic year, summer, and break housing using StarRez.
• Oversee room selection, waitlist management, roommate matching, and reassignment processes.
• Analyze occupancy trends, forecast housing demand, and provide recommendations for space utilization and expansion planning.
• Collaborate with Admissions, Orientation, and Residence Life to coordinate timely student placements.
• Maintain data accuracy for housing assignments, billing, and student records across systems (e.g., Banner).

StarRez System Administration

• Serve as the primary administrator and subject matter expert for the StarRez platform.
• Design, configure, and maintain StarRez portals, workflows, forms, reports, templates, and automated processes.
• Lead StarRez-related projects including system upgrades, module integrations, and implementation of new functionalities.
• Provide training, documentation, and support for staff and end-users related to StarRez use.
• Ensure data integrity and system security protocols in coordination with campus IT and StarRez support.

Technology and Data Integration

• Act as the departmental liaison to campus IT and external vendors regarding housing systems and integrations.
• Support the integration and data flow between StarRez and university systems (e.g., Banner, Single Sign-On, payment systems).
• Use data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) to create reports and dashboards for senior leadership and operational needs.
• Provide statistical and analytical reports related to occupancy, assignments, retention, and housing trends.

Strategic Planning and Assessment

• Support strategic initiatives through occupancy analysis, space management, and system development.
• Participate in departmental and divisional assessment efforts by developing and analyzing surveys and reports related to housing satisfaction and utilization.
• Contribute to policy development and process improvements to enhance the residential experience.

Supervision and Collaboration

• Supervise the Coordinator(s) for Housing Assignments involved in housing operations, assignments, or data entry.
• Serve on departmental and university-wide committees related to technology, data management, and strategic planning.
• Collaborate with Facilities, Residence Life, Campus Police, and Business Services to ensure coordinated support for student housing.

Position Information

Position Number: 166004
Working Position Title: Assistant Director of Occupancy Management and Information Technology
Building and Room No.: 301 CF Thompson Center, 601 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, Winston-Salem, NC 27110
Appointment Type: Permanent Full-Time

Requirements and Preferences

Department Required Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Systems, Higher Education, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Minimum of 3–5 years of progressive experience in university housing or student affairs, with at least 2 years of direct experience using and administering StarRez.
• Strong technical skills including SQL queries, Excel, and data analysis/reporting tools.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to interpret and communicate complex data to diverse audiences.
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills.
• Demonstrated experience managing housing assignments, occupancy planning, or student housing systems.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Strong customer services skills in working with different populations.

Preferred Years Experience, Skills, Training, Education:

• Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration, Information Technology, or related discipline.
• Experience with Ellucian Banner, Single Sign-On systems, and enterprise software integrations.
• Experience managing system implementations or upgrades, including project coordination and end-user training.
• Familiarity with FERPA, data privacy standards, and university housing policies.
• Knowledge of North Carolina information systems (e.g., Banner, StarRez, RMS Mercury).
• Knowledge of federal and state law in housing (e.g., Americans with Disabilities Act, Fair Housing Act).
• Experience in housing assignment-related work including housing applications and contracts.
• Experience working in a computerized Housing Management System environment.
• Familiarity with Maxient student conduct software.

Required License or Certification: Has or able to obtain a valid NC driver’s license.