Manager, Student Housing Initiatives

OCAD University acknowledges the ancestral territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Haudenosaunee, the Anishinaabeg and the Huron-Wendat, who are the original owners and custodians of the land on which we work, stand and create.

OCAD University , Canada’s largest and oldest art and design university, is a vibrant community of bold, curious and compassionate artists, designers and scholars who are imagining and creating a joyful, equitable and sustainable world. The University is an internationally renowned hub for art, design, digital media, research, innovation and creativity, and arts administration. It embraces collaborative and interdisciplinary approaches to change-making through art, design-thinking curriculum and research, making OCAD U a local, regional, national and global leader in art and design.

It is an exciting time to join the OCAD U community. The University is at a key stage in its institutional transformation, with the implementation of its Academic and Strategic Plan and guiding principles—driving positive impact, decolonization, indigenization, and equity, environmental sustainability, emerging as a vibrant hub, student-centered approaches, innovation in learning, teaching, and research, and financial stewardship.

Reporting to the Associate Registrar, Financial Aid & Awards, the Manager, Student Housing Initiatives will lead the development and implementation OCAD University’s student housing programs, including University administered residence room spaces, and additional resources for students choosing to seek their own accommodation arrangements.

The Manager will build administrative processes for residence application and administration, with a commitment to a high level of customer service and a positive and supportive processes for participating students.

This is an opportunity for a candidate who is excited to build programs from the ground up, to support a vibrant and diverse student community, and to build resources for domestic and international students navigating the Toronto housing market.

SUMMARY OF RESPONSIBILITIES:

• In collaboration with the Manager, Financial Aid & Awards, develop the student application process, including communications, selection criteria, and payment schedules
• Set up all operational requirements as required by our housing partners, including:
  • Student room placement
  • Student billing and collections, in collaboration with Student Accounts
  • Administration of sublet and summer room allotments
  • Regular communication with housing partner administration
• Monitor service level agreements to ensure compliance
• Where necessary, provide coordination of issues management for students living in residence with diverse needs and backgrounds
• Develop a conflict resolution process to help address and resolve conflicts between students living in residence
• Develop and implement processes to address mid-year room vacancies
• Investigate and develop new partnerships with other residence service providers
• Establish a permanent housing office pending the outcome of housing development partnerships currently under consideration
• Develop a suite of resources for domestic and international students seeking long term student housing
• Lead and supervise support staff, including hiring and orientation, setting goals and objectives, monitoring progress, evaluating employee performance, coaching, and supporting professional development
• Develop reports on occupancy and usage
• Formulate recommendations to support the sustainability of the student housing program

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Post-secondary degree or equivalent combination of education and experience, with a minimum of five (5) years of progressive administrative experience, including two (2) years of supervisory experience in a post-secondary educational environment.
• Experience in managing applications, administration, and programming in a post-secondary residence community
• Familiarity with OCAD University is an asset
• Proven interpersonal leadership and project management skills
• Experience in program development, design and assessment required; evidence of innovative thinking in program design and delivery
• Demonstrated ability in exercising tact, sound judgement and confidentiality
• Demonstrated commitment to the principles of equity and diversity, and proven ability to deal effectively with a diverse population, including students, faculty, administrators, counsellors and support staff
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, create sound and efficient administrative processes and build collaborative working relationships
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills, and the ability to manage competing priorities in a busy environment
• Excellent customer service skills in providing detailed information and support to various stakeholders
• Commitment to student safety and well-being

Compensation: Commensurate with experience, plus benefits*.

* The successful incumbent has the option of pay in lieu or enrollment in benefits. 

Hours of Work:  Monday to Friday, 35 hours per week. This is a two (2) year temporary contract. The incumbent in this role will be expected to report to work on campus.

Application Deadline:

Applications should include:

An updated resume.

A cover letter.

Please upload both components as one PDF. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please name your upload:  FirstName_LastName-Job Code

The review of applications will begin immediately and continue until Friday, March 5, 2024.  

As   an institution committed to art, design, digital media and related scholarship, OCAD University recognizes the profound and essential value that diversity brings to the creation, reception and circulation of creative practices and discourse.  OCAD University understands that valuing diverse creative practices and forms of knowledge are essential to and enrich the institution’s core mission and vision as an art and design university with a local and global scope.

 As an employer committed to employment equity, we encourage applications from members of equity-seeking communities including women, racialized and Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, and persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities/expressions.

We encourage members of designated equity-seeking groups to self-identify within the voluntary Applicant Questionnaire .

In order to alleviate the under-representation of racialized and Indigenous administrators, priority in hiring will be given to qualified racialized and Indigenous persons who self-identify as such in the application process. This initiative is a special program under the Ontario Human Rights Code .

   OCAD University is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier free experience to applicants with accessibility needs. Requests for accommodation can be made at any stage during the recruitment process. Please  contact  People & Culture for more information or refer to  OCAD U’s Policy of Accommodation in Employment for Persons with Disabilities  .

 All qualified persons are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority. While we thank all candidates for their interest, only those short-listed will be contacted.