Staff - Non Union

Job Category

M&P - Service Unit Director

Job Profile

SUD - Business Operations Mgmt, Level I

Job Title

Director, Student Housing and Community Services Okanagan

Department

Senior Leadership | Student Housing and Community Services

Compensation Range

$12,755.08 - $19,905.67 CAD Monthly

The Compensation Range is the span between the minimum and maximum base salary for a position. The midpoint of the range is approximately halfway between the minimum and the maximum and represents an employee that possesses full job knowledge, qualifications and experience for the position. In the normal course, employees will be hired, transferred or promoted between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range for a job.

Posting End Date

April 9, 2026

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

Job End Date

Ongoing

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

Job Description Summary
The Director, Student Housing and Community Services Okanagan is accountable to the Associate Vice President, SHCS and the Associate Vice President, Finance and Operations Okanagan for supporting the attainment of UBC’s mission by providing leadership, vision and direction to the University’s student housing, conference services, food services, bookstore, parking and childcare functions. Is also responsible for financial, budget and capital planning aspects within the areas of responsibility.

SHCS Business Operations at UBC Okanagan is comprised of six operational units: Student Housing, Food Services, Conferences and Accommodations, Bookstore, Parking and Child Care. This position oversees a total annual ancillary operating budget of approximately $32 million, the care and servicing of over 73,018 square meters of building area and the operations of 9 food outlets, 1 bookstore and 107,472 square meters of surface parking lots throughout campus.

Director, Student Housing and Community Services Okanagan is responsible for providing strategic leadership, vision and overall direction to a diverse group of University service units dedicated to providing the University community with products and services focused on the customer s needs and enhancing the UBC experience.

This position works closely with internal SHCS and central support units, such as HR, IT, Finance, MarCom, Occupational Health and Safety, Campus and Community Planning and Infrastructure Development to accomplish goals and advance the mission of the unit

Organizational Status
Works independently under the direction of the AVP, Student Housing and Community Services and AVP, Finance and Operations, Okanagan.

This position develops and maintains positive productive relationships with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders including Student and Community Services, the Okanagan Leadership Team (OLT), Associate Vice President Students (UBCO), Faculties and Academic Departments, Campus Planning and Development, and other UBC Vancouver departments.

Work Performed
General

• Formulates and leads the strategic plan and vision for the overall management of Student Housing, Conferences and Accommodations, Food Services, the Okanagan Bookstore, Parking Services and Child Care Services.

• Is accountable for the long-range planning initiatives, which coordinate with the goals and objectives of the campus and identify critical issues in the success of achieving these goals and objectives.

• Creates, manages and clearly articulates a five-year operations and financial plan for all units to ensure that they meet the ongoing needs of the University and maximize new business and service opportunities.

• Develops business plans and other reports for senior administration of the University.

• Develops and delivers strategic updates to the UBCO Leadership and, on occasion the University Board of Governors on activities within UBCO SHCS Business Operations.

• Is accountable for the overall financial sustainability of the unit and for creating, achieving and reporting annual financial forecasts and business plan goals.

• Assesses overall management effectiveness and leads continuous improvement initiatives throughout the departments, establishing appropriate management responsibilities and organizational structures and ensuring the departments and the services they provide are running effectively and efficiently.

• Strategically liaises with key partners, leading others toward the achievement of the department’s goals by effectively communicating the department’s vision, coordinating resources, advancing priorities, building commitment and ensuring effective execution on key integration projects.

• Recognizes and addresses personal and institutional assumptions and behaviours that create barriers to inclusion. Works in a collaborative and inclusive manner, fostering equitable experiences and a respectful environment for all staff and key stakeholders. Builds, manages and maintains high-quality and productive relationships across professional and cultural differences. Effectively communicates and interacts with empathy, understanding and with respect of diverse and divergent perspectives and behaviours.

• Develops and oversees the implementation of mechanisms, policies, procedures and programs for the departments within SHCS Business Operations.

• Sets the direction for the management of human resources issues within the Leadership Team of SHCS Okanagan, including labour relations, recruitment, orientation, training, performance evaluation, discipline and dismissal.

• Utilizes best practices in Human Resources across the portfolio, ensures a high quality of personnel in each of the units through effective staff selection, communicating clear operating procedures and expectations, appraisal, promotion, succession planning, and retention programs.

• Provides overall leadership and direction to team members and fosters the development of management practices and a positive, caring work culture with a focus on continuous improvement in the relationships with customers.

• Ensures all employees work in a correct, safe manner, and are trained in regard to all necessary safety and environmental regulations, standards, practices and procedures. Ensures safety practices are in compliance with applicable WorkSafeBC regulations, UBC Student Housing and Community Services policy and UBC policy.

• Identifies & develops strong relationships and networks across the University including with the UBCO Executive, Deans, Unit Heads, Faculty, UBC Properties Trust, UBCSUO, Alumni Association and Board of Governors.

• Identifies, develops and maintains effective relationships with vendors, publishers, other institutions, government and organizations with an interest in furthering the goals and interests of the University.

• Performs other duties as required.

Student Housing

• Leads and oversees capital growth plans and on-going maintenance of capital assets, including project oversight, determining the unit types and amenities required.
• Strategically leads and directs student housing at UBC Okanagan ensuring student service standards, systems and financial targets.
• Leads the provision of a living environment for students that is consistent with University goals and standards and is conducive to social and developmental needs.
• Ensures occupancy is effectively managed to meet strategic enrollment and recruitment initiatives, including providing oversight on managing the student housing waitlist.
• Leads and directs residence life practices and oversees the provision of a quality residence life program that supports student health, wellbeing and success.
• Leads and oversees the development of an effective client survey, ensuring it is in place to evaluate the service provided the areas of responsibility are meeting or exceeding customer expectation. Takes action to improve on departments performance as needed.

Conferences and Accommodations

• Strategically leads and directs the operations and is responsible for optimizing yield management to support the financial pro formas.
• Leads and cultivates an active sales focus to drive summer use of campus and maximize revenue potential in the summer months.
• Maintains up to date knowledge on the conference and accommodation industry to remain competitive in the field.

Bookstore

• Works closely with the Director, UBC Bookstore, provided strategic direction and operational effectiveness associated with the operations of the UBC Bookstore at UBCO.
• Maintains an up-to-date knowledge of retail trends in the college store marketplace, especially related to the evolving coursebook industry, and adjusts the stores operations to meet the changing needs.

Food Services

• Provides leadership that is accountable for the ongoing operations and management of Food Services at UBC Okanagan and ensures that management activities are consistent with the mission, philosophy, culture and goals of SHCS and the University.

• Provides oversight and approves Meal Plan pricing rates, all departmental budgets, and selling prices for the Okanagan campus.

• Champions principles of health, well-being, and nutrition.

• Provides direction to ensure provision of diverse, high quality menu offerings, including a focus on healthy and sustainable options.

• Leads and approves all new operations and renovation projects for the Okanagan campus for Food Services in cooperation with UBCO Infrastructure Development. Works closely with off-campus consultants and/or designers in order to ensure market demands are being met.

• Develops and approves partnerships and/or franchise agreements with off-campus food operators and departmental suppliers, including contracts and other service agreements as required.

• Proactively monitors changing food trends to ensure that the provision of food to the Okanagan campus community meets current and future demands.

• Ensures all health, safety and regulatory requirements are maintained.

• Represents the Department and/or the University in its relations with both external and internal organizations, government representatives, associations, departments, agencies and committees and handles escalated problems or complaints.

• Develops and maintains relationships with key clients, faculty, industry partners and contacts in relevant associations.

Parking Services

• Leads, develops, and directs the implementation of the parking master plan for the Okanagan campus.

• Strategically leads and directs budget growth and strategies that maximize business opportunities to ensure physical assets are maintained and future needs are addressed and support the UBC Okanagan Campus Plan.

• Delegates and sets priorities to ensure all required capital and routine maintenance, operations are carried out in full compliance with operational protocols, building codes and regulations.

• Promotes and implements sustainable options and choices whenever possible in support of the Campus’s Climate Action Plans.

Child Care Services

• Leads, develops, and directs the implementation of an in-house operated child care master plan for the Okanagan campus.

• Strategically leads and directs the child care budget

• Ensures the physical assets are maintained and future needs are addressed that support the UBC Okanagan Campus Plan.

• Liaises with Provincial Government on provincially-led child care programs to ensure UBCO and families receive the best value for the service; this includes capital funding, rate subsidy and staff recruitment and retention programs.

• Liaises with all regulatory bodies associated with child care delivery and ensures all health, safety and regulatory requirements are maintained.

Service Quality

• Ensures the provision of timely and effective support to the University relative to Student Housing and Community Services.
• Maintains a strong service orientation in the Department by ensuring that open and effective two-way communications exist between Student Housing and Community Services and affected parties including students, their parents, staff, faculty and Administration.
• Ensures an effective client survey is in place to evaluate the service provided by Student Housing and Community Services.
• Upon analysis of the evaluation information from the client surveys, takes corrective action to improve on departments’ performance.

Consequence of Error/Judgement
The position is critical to the success of the University in that it is responsible for the delivery of student housing, hospitality, retail and support services as well as the planning, design, construction, operation, maintenance, renewal and renovation of facilities and grounds within the portfolio’s purview. The Director must apply judgment, tact and discretion due to the broad and extensive implications for the success of the portfolio in the areas of strategic, operational, financial, human resources and risk management. Decisions of the Director impact the operations and reputation of the University. The consequence of poor decisions could result in adverse health, safety and wellbeing impacts of the campus community, significant reputational issues, legal consequences, human resource consequences and economic hardship for the institution.

Supervision Received
Director, Student Housing and Community Services Okanagan has a dual report to the Associate Vice Presidents of SHCS and Finance and Operations, Okanagan.

Supervision Given
Responsible for hiring, training, coaching, evaluating and terminating management staff. Provides direction to staff by establishing work objectives and reviewing work as required. The position has 5 managers and 5 associate directors as direct reports which oversee an addition 17 managers. The position indirectly supervises a minimum of 270 union staff members and more than 85 student employees.

Minimum Qualifications

• Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own

• Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications
Experience in retail sales or operations management. Strong communication skills to effectively represent issues and options to the campus community. Experience in preparing and presenting information at the Board and Executive level to assist in decision-making. Demonstrated ability to lead and motivate staff using coaching and empowerment. Strong interpersonal and oral and written communication skills, emphasizing listening, and negotiating; bargaining, compromising, and conciliation; ability to summarize needs, determine priorities and necessities. Demonstrated leadership and organizational abilities; mature judgment, ability to make decisions under time constraints, managing risk and uncertainty, multi-tasking, and ability to set priorities. Knowledge and skills in financial planning, project management, and marketing activities including analysis of customer transactions and the incorporation of new marketing and communications vehicles (social networking, web capabilities). Advanced level computer skills, specifically with MS Windows programs.

About Us

The University of British Columbia is a global centre for research and teaching, consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities globally. A large part of what makes us unique is the community of engaged students, faculty, and staff who are collectively committed to shaping a better world.

Recognized as a leading employer in British Columbia and Canada, UBC supports inspired students, faculty and staff on their journey of discovery, and challenges them to realize their greatest potential. New ideas, changing infrastructure, innovative technology, and fresh approaches are opening up possibilities for the future of research, teaching, and work. Are you ready to embrace the future together?

Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, and/or Indigenous person.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

If you have any accommodation or accessibility needs during the job application process, please contact the Centre for Workplace Accessibility at

workplace.accessibility@ubc.ca

.