Director of Student Housing & Personal Support Services

The Director of Student Housing & Personal Support Services reports directly to the Dean of Student Engagement & Retention, and will serve students by providing the operational and educational success of the South Puget Sound Community College student residential housing program, off-campus housing, the emergency housing program, and connect students with housing programs, services, and options in the local community.

South Puget Sound Community College is committed to increasing its cultural diversity with an emphasis on equity and inclusion among its professional staff. A firm understanding of anti-racist policy development coupled with the skills to eliminate barriers that harm underrepresented people is a college requirement. The students that we serve come from a variety of backgrounds. On average, 43% of SPSCC students are people of color. We strongly encourage members of the underrepresented groups, veterans, and bi- or multi-lingual individuals to apply for this position to help meet the needs of our diverse students and service district.

And if that isn't enough? We also offer:

• A healthy work/life balance for our employees with the opportunity for flexible work schedules and remote work depending on position and college needs
• Fine dining in the Percival Room, offering vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free choices as part of our Culinary Arts and Baking & Pastry Arts programs
• The Clipper Coffee Corner serves Batdorf & Bronson coffee and a selection of delicious food items from our baking/culinary students
• A brand-new Health & Wellness Center
• FREE Bus service every 15 minutes to downtown Olympia and beyond
• FREE parking on our campuses – permits are not required
• On-campus child care
• Percival Creek, which runs beneath our campus footbridge, provides year-round beauty and views of Chinook, Coho, and chum salmon pass through each fall
• Many walking paths that are marked and on nicely paved sidewalks
• SPSCC promotes wellness with a variety of different workshops and events on campus
• Lots of activities with our Artist & Lecture series, which are FREE for staff and faculty
• Many community events in the Kenneth J. Minnaert Center for the Arts
• Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)that offer an opportunity for SPSCC employees to gather and connect around issues that define them personally, and which affect their work at the College and their professional development. Current Employee Resource Groups include:
• Staff and Faculty of Color (SFOC) ERG - an employee network which strives to create an intentional and relational foundation for community and trust building across different groups through shared values.
• The LGBTQIA+ ERG creates a space for LGBTQIA+ staff and faculty at the college to share resources, build support and community, and work towards greater equity and accessibility.

What You'll Do

The Director of Student Housing & Personal Support Services is responsible for the coordination, planning, and student housing opportunities that reduce barriers and foster support that results in the retention and completion of students experiencing housing needs. Exercising discretion and independent judgment, this position is responsible for the development and evaluation of student housing objectives, implementation of college policies and procedures, and emergency housing initiatives.

A flexible work schedule is required, as the position will require evening and weekend work.

Responsibilities and duties of the Director of Student Housing & Personal Support Services include, but are not limited to, the following:

Essential Function: Business & Administrative Operations

• Provide leadership to the Student Housing programs to meet the needs of students within the framework of federal regulations, college policy, and available financial resources, including assessment for system improvement and staffing needs.
• Ensure accurate and efficient procedures are followed to charge, collect, and track rental fees, fines, and other student payments.
• Maintain strong relationships with external service vendors and internal partners.
• Provide outstanding service to students, families, and community members.
• In collaboration with the Director of Campus Safety, coordinate security support services, emergency response procedures, and fire drills for student housing programs.
• Support data collection for the annual security report.
• Provide for ongoing and annual assessment of program strategic planning.
• Coordinate the purchasing of items for Student Housing related needs.
• Create, maintain and inventory housing supplies, forms, documents, and equipment.
• Build and maintain relationships with faculty, staff, and students in a professional and courteous manner. Maintain good working relationships with other college departments and personnel. Work as a collaborative team member on a wide variety of tasks and projects. Maintain appropriate program confidentiality for programs and services.
• Serve as a college representative to external community agencies and relevant local, regional, and national audiences to stay informed on and articulate best practices in the field as requested. Maintain strong relationships with external service vendors to sustain positive community relations with campus partners.
• Assumes other duties as assigned by the Dean of Student Engagement and Retention.

Essential Function: Residential Education

• Recruit, hire, train, and supervise the student Resident Advisors and housing program student-employees. Conduct interviews, selection, and processing of hiring paperwork. Will provide student-employee training related to departmental and college processes, procedures and expectations. Provide support and monitor the work of student employee job performance.
• Serve as the student conduct officer for the student housing programs using the campus student judicial management system.
• In partnership with the Director of Student Life, analyze and address student needs for educational and social programs to be implemented by Resident Advisor Staff.
• Counsel students in crisis and make appropriate referrals as needed.
• Effectively serve as a member of the campus Behavioral Intervention Team.

Essential Function: Occupancy Management

• Lead, coordinate and implement student housing program occupancy management; will oversee and approve room assignments and occupancy changes as needed.
• Process applications for student residency, manage the apartment waitlist process; will initiate the background check process for student tenants.
• Conduct quarterly apartment inspections; conduct supplemental health & safety inspections as needed.
• Provide housing program open house events, information sessions, and orientations.
• Coordinate apartment move-in and move-out procedures.
• Collaborate with International Student Services, Athletics, and other campus offices to plan for arrivals.
• Collect apartment maintenance concerns from residents and manage work order requests.
• Create and distribute housing publications and marketing materials, update the student housing website, and ensure all housing program informational materials are current and reflective of program offerings.
• Create communication plans for housing programs.
• Maintain a confidential and secure apartment key inventory system. Responsible for apartment key distribution, key return, lock changes, and replacements.

Essential Function: Emergency Student Housing Programs

• Provide support for students with housing-related needs; will assess areas of need, formulate, and execute intervention plans to minimize or resolve housing barriers.
• Partner with the Basic Needs Navigator to plan and implement a basic needs support plan for each student housing request to provide direct service and resource support for housing stability to include, but not limited to financial assistance, housing, food, childcare, and other basic needs that impede student success.
• Provide regular audits of housing needs requests. Document all student interactions, support provided, timelines of services, ongoing student needs, and other documentation.
• Oversee the Supporting Students Experiencing Homelessness (SSEH) grant program. Responsibilities include, but not limited to, accurate and timely grant report completion, CTC link codes application, and other required tasks for compliance and participation. Will manage the basic needs application case management plans, documentation, housing accommodations, and all services provided via this program.
• Provide for occupancy management planning, coordination, and procedures needed for the Basic Needs Housing apartment program.
• Coordinate regular meetings with each student within the Basic Needs housing program.
• Assist students with crisis management regarding access and guidance to emergency shelter, short-term housing, and sustainable housing plans. Direct students to housing referrals and appropriate resources.
• Serve as Designated Support Staff role to the Passport to College Program. Will serve as the liaison to former foster youth and homeless youth students and provide services permissible within the Passport Program and SSEH grant. Ensure clerical tasks are complete to ensure Passport Program compliance and participation.
• Provide appropriate resource referrals to students, staff, and faculty to campus and community partners for housing assistance.

Essential Function: Personal Support Center & Food Pantry

• Provide leadership to the Personal Support Center to ensure basic needs support programs and services are meeting student needs within the framework of federal regulations, college policy and financial resources, to include assessment for system improvement and programmatic growth.
• Supervise and manage the Food Pantry operations, staff, scheduling, functions, and serve as the liaison to the Thurston County Food Bank.
• Oversee the Personal Support Center and Food Pantry inventory tracking of supplies, forms, documents, and equipment for each program.
• Develop systems, partnerships, and resources to ensure student resources are available in the Food Pantry to meet student needs.
• Responsible for quarterly data analysis of all Personal Support Center and Food Pantry programs, quarterly reporting timelines are met with SBCTC and community partners, and quarterly data review to make informed decisions for program needs.
• Supervise & direct the selection and hiring process for food pantry student and non-student employees, assess and evaluate job performance, expectations and disciplinary action and termination as necessary.
• Assist in the development of workshops, resource seminars, and other educational opportunities for student housing needs and resource awareness.
• Develop and maintain positive working relationships with community resources, as well as SPSCC faculty and staff to provide housing and basic needs resources for students.
• Work closely with the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Center, Student Life, Financial Aid, Counseling, and other campus partners to collaborate on supporting students.
• Will represent Student Engagement at a variety of activities such as orientation programs, presentations, and other outreach on behalf of housing and basic needs services.
• Serve on campus committees as requested.

Qualifications You Possess

Minimum Qualifications:

• Masters Degree in Leadership, Higher Education, Student Development, or a related field.
• Two or more years of professional experience in student residence hall administration, student leadership development, or related experience supervising college student housing programs.
• Professional experience in a supervisory or management role.
• Knowledge and experience working with students, student leaders, campus residence life/housing programs, and student programs.
• Knowledge and experience working with college students in addressing basic needs, such as housing and food insecurity.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including making presentations.
• Demonstrate ability to collaborate well with others and function as a team member.
• Experience supervising and training staff and student employees.
• Experience working with and supporting the needs of diverse student populations.
• Advanced knowledge of software applications, specifically the MS Office suite, Word, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Ability to create and maintain positive working relationships with diverse staff, faculty, and administrators across the college.

Desirable Qualifications:

• Three or more years of residence hall management experience in higher education or property management.
• Demonstrates commitment to a philosophy of promoting student success.

To Apply

Applications must be completed online and include the following attachments:

• Cover letter addressed to the Screening Committee highlighting your ability to perform the responsibilities and competencies described in the job posting.
• Current resume/CV showing all educational and professional experience which demonstrates how you meet the minimum and any preferred qualifications.
• Unofficial transcripts

Top candidates will be notified directly to interview for this position. Selection will be based on the applicant's knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties listed in this job posting as identified in the materials requested above. Applications with comments directing the reader to see attachments will be considered incomplete.

Veterans Preference

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and are wishing to claim Veterans Preference should redact their personally identifiable information from a copy of their United States Department of Veterans Affairs honorable discharge documentation and email to sbutler-hill@spscc.eduwith the job number for which they are applying in the subject line.

Background Check Condition of Employment

Employment with the college is contingent upon the successful completion of a comprehensive background check. Any adverse information will be considered on a case-by-case basis and does not automatically preclude a candidate from employment.

South Puget Sound Community College values diversity and is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Educator