Assistant Director, Housing Operations and Technology - Residential Life & Experience (Fixed-Term for 3 years)

UAE nationals are encouraged to apply 

New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) seeks to appoint a Assistant Director, Housing Operations and Technology reporting to Head of Residential Life, Assistant Dean of Students. 

The Assistant Director of Housing Operations and Technology is responsible for providing leadership, strategic direction, and implementation of undergraduate housing operations that support a vibrant, residential college system serving 1,800+ students. This position oversees one professional staff member— the Residential College Operations Manager— and is instrumental in shaping a residential platform that integrates operations, technology, and student services into a seamless, student-centered experience.

The Assistant Director supports all operational functions, including room assignments, occupancy management, break and summer housing, technology systems, and furniture and facilities inventory. In addition, the role builds key partnerships across campus, supports divisional initiatives, and contributes to a culture of assessment, equity, and innovation within the Residential Life team.

Key Responsibiities: 

Supervision, Leadership & Strategic Oversight

• Provide direct supervision and professional development to one Residential College Operations Manager, fostering a high-performing, student-centered housing operations team
• Lead weekly one-on-ones, team trainings, and cross-functional collaborations to ensure clarity, accountability, and growth
• Partner with the Assistant Dean of Students to design and deliver onboarding and ongoing training for professional staff, reinforcing strategic departmental goals. Represent Residential Life on the Summer Working Group, Student Affairs Committees, and other university-wide committees, providing leadership and insight on housing logistics and operational innovation

Housing Operations & Campus Partnerships

• Serve as the primary lead for all undergraduate housing operations for 1,800+ beds across four Residential Colleges, including check-in/check-out, mid-semester transitions, and break/summer housing
• Direct all operational aspects of the Housing Application lifecycle and coordinate efficient housing transitions in partnership with Facilities, Public Safety, Student Finance, and Global Education
• Manage occupancy processes, including assignments, contract management, student housing charges, fines, and roommate changes, using StarRez and other data systems
• Liaise with NYU-New York Housing and broader NYU partners to ensure compliance, alignment, and best practices

Technology, Project & Data Systems Management

• Serve as the department’s technology lead for housing operations, overseeing data-driven project management and system implementation
• Maintain and improve operational platforms such as StarRez, Monday.com, and Hiver in collaboration with ISG. Develop and manage housing operations workflows, digital forms, and dashboards
• Oversee website updates and housing-related marketing content, ensuring accurate, student-facing communications
• Collaborate with the Assistant Dean of Students on data collection, assessment tools, and reporting to inform continuous improvement

Housing Logistics & Non-Term Operations

• Manage non-term housing operations, including early arrivals, semester breaks, and summer housing assignments
• Coordinate semester break housing applications, approvals, and access. Lead summer housing processes, including updating contracts, room assignments, move-in/move-out logistics, and billing
• Oversee furniture inventory and damage billing procedures for student and staff spaces. Lead the on-campus residential storage program and serve as a key liaison to Facilities partners

Billing, Budgeting & Business Process Management

• Serve as the housing operations budget manager and primary administrator of student billing and fines
• Ensure accurate, timely posting of housing charges and fines to student accounts through StarRez and coordination with Student Finance
• Review and reconcile financial records to ensure compliance with university policies
• Support the Assistant Dean with strategic budget forecasting for the Annual Planning Report (APR). Develop and monitor internal controls related to inventory, procurement, and billing processes
• Contribute to departmental assessment efforts by developing surveys, analyzing data, and preparing evaluation reports that support informed decision-making

Crisis Management, On-Call, & Student Support

• Participate in a 24/7 professional staff on-call rotation to respond to campus emergencies, student crises, and urgent housing concerns in accordance with university protocols
• Provide leadership in addressing facility issues, urgent housing transitions, and emergency relocations
• Collaborate with Public Safety, Health & Wellness, and the Residential Life team to ensure timely support and coordinated responses to student needs
• Serve as a resource to staff and students during critical incidents, debrief incidents, and help assess response protocols for continuous improvement

Required Education: 

• Bachelor's Degree in a related field 

Preferred Education: 

• Master's Degree in higher education administration, business, counseling, or related field

Required Experience: 

• 5+ years full time, progressive experience in a residential/housing office environment or equivalent educational experience
• Candidates should have effective experience in administrative and managerial experience in the field of Student Affairs

• Display exceptional customer service skills and written communication skills; maintain and exercise sound judgment and discretion in handling confidential information

• Demonstrate cultural sensitivity and work effectively with multiple diverse populations. Experience and commitment to working with an international community is essential

• Demonstrated problem-solving abilities, especially in situations requiring quick action and resolution

• Relational leader with exceptional interpersonal skills, clarity of thought and professional poise

• Ability to lead a team confidently and efficiently
• Critical challenges/unique knowledge & skills
• Experience working with  students and student groups
• Ability to stay proactive and self-motivated, balance multiple priorities, and remain flexible to projects and tasks that may arise

About NYUAD

NYU Abu Dhabi is a degree-granting research university with a fully integrated liberal arts and science undergraduate program in the Arts, Sciences, Social Sciences, Humanities, and Engineering. NYU Abu Dhabi, NYU New York, and NYU Shanghai, form the backbone of NYU’s global network university, an interconnected network of portal campuses and academic centers across six continents that enable seamless international mobility of students and faculty in their pursuit of academic and scholarly activity. This global university represents a transformative shift in higher education, one in which the intellectual and creative endeavors of academia are shaped and examined through an international and multicultural perspective. As a major intellectual hub at the crossroads of the Arab world, NYUAD serves as a center for scholarly thought, advanced research, knowledge creation, and sharing, through its academic, research, and creative activities.