CSUN's Commitment to You
CSUN is committed to achieving excellence through teaching, scholarship, learning, and inclusion. Our values include a respect for all people, building partnerships with the community, and encouraging innovation, experimentation, and creativity. CSUN strives to cultivate a community in which a diverse population can learn and work in an atmosphere of civility and respect. CSUN actively seeks candidates who make contributions to equity and inclusion in the pursuit of excellence for all members of…
the university community.
The University
One of the largest universities in the country, California State University, Northridge (CSUN) is an urban, comprehensive university that delivers award-winning undergraduate and graduate programs to over 36,000 students annually and counts over 425,000 alumni who fuel the region's economy. Since its founding in 1958, CSUN has made a significant and long-term impact on California, generating nearly $1.9 billion in economic impact and more than 12,000 jobs each year. California State University, Northridge is a designated Minority Serving and Hispanic Serving Institution (MSI/HSI) and a California Black Serving Institution (BSI), nationally and statewide recognized for advancing opportunity and promoting the success of Hispanic, Black, African American, and other historically underserved students. In 2025, Washington Monthly named the university the No. 1 master's university in the nation for contributions to the public good and ranked CSUN No. 2 Best Bang for the Buck in the West and No. 3 Best Colleges for Your Tuition and Tax Dollars. Also in 2025, the university earned a 4.5-star rating in Money's Best Colleges, ranked No. 3 for diversity among public universities and No. 8 in the nation for social mobility in The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse. In addition, CSUN placed No. 9 on the California Mobility Index for advancing economic and social mobility from the College Futures Foundation.
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
Required 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: CSUNStudentHousing@academicsearch.org
Nominations and expressions of interest can be directed to the search team, electronically and confidentially, at: CSUNStudentHousing@academicsearch.org
Confidential discussions about this opportunity may be arranged by contacting senior consultant Chris Buter at Chris.Butler@academicsearch.org.
Background check
This position is a sensitive position as designated by the CSU.
A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the status of candidates who apply for the position.
CANRA
The person holding this position will be considered a 'limited reporter' under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.
Conflict of Interest
This position is a "designated position" in the California State University's Conflict of Interest Code. The successful candidate accepting this position is required to file Conflict of Interest forms subject to the regulations of the Fair Political Practices Commission.
Please note: California State University, Northridge (CSUN) is not currently sponsoring staff or management positions for H-1B employment visas. Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the United States.
Equal Employment Opportunity
CSUN is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination on the basis of Age, Disability (physical or mental), Gender, Gender Identity (including Nonbinary or Transgender), Gender Expression, Genetic Information, Marital Status, Medical Condition, Nationality, Pregnancy or related conditions, Race or Ethnicity (including color, caste, or ancestry), Religion or Religious Creed, Sex (including Sex Stereotyping or Sex Characteristics), Sexual Orientation, and Veteran or Military Status. Our nondiscrimination policy is set forth in the Interim CSU Nondiscrimination Policy. Reasonable accommodations will be provided for applicants with disabilities who self-disclose by contacting Recruitment Services at 818-677-2101.
