Director of Residence Life
Job Summary
Temple University, Japan Campus is seeking a Director of Residence Life to provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for its student residences across the Tokyo area. The Director will manage the housing team, ensure the quality, safety, and development of student life, and handle crisis response. This is a full-time position requiring bilingual proficiency in English and Japanese.
Responsibilities
- Supervise and train the housing team including managers and assistants
- Ensure safety, security, and quality across all student residences
- Respond to and manage student crises, emergencies, and mental health concerns
- Organize community development events and student engagement programs
Required Skills
- Bachelor’s degree
- 5+ years of higher education or residence life experience
- Business-level proficiency in English and Japanese
- Strong computer and administrative skills
Job Details
[OVERVIEW OF POSITION]
Temple University, Japan Campus (TUJ) is expanding its student housing operations in response to the continued growth of its international student population. To support this expansion, TUJ is establishing a new Director of Residence Life position to provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for its student residences across the Tokyo area.
The Director of Residence Life will support the daily operations of the dorms, community programming, and administrative functions of TUJ occupied student residences. Reporting to the Assistant Dean of Student Services, the Director plays a pivotal leadership role in ensuring the quality, safety, and development of student life in TUJ Residences. The Director will lead the housing team including Assistant Director of Residence Life, Dorm Managers (DMs), Resident Assistants (RAs), and Community Builders (CBs). They will be responsible for leading the housing team, responding to housing related emergencies and crises, overseeing operations, and engaging with residential communities. The Director serves as a primary liaison between property management companies, TUJ facilities, and the O.S.S.E.
[PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES]
1) Residence Life Leadership & Operations
・Supervise the TUJ housing team, including hiring, training, and ongoing professional development for the Assistant Director of Residence Life, Dorm Managers, Resident Assistants, and Community Builders
・Ensure quality across all TUJ-managed residences by communicating and collaborating with property management companies on safety and security protocols and residence life initiatives
・Work with the university’s conduct office to manage community standards and student conduct within the residences
・Monitor and report on residence occupancy, maintenance needs, and student community engagement outcomes
・Assist with residence tours, orientation sessions, and visits from prospective students, families, and institutional partners
・Respond to and manage student crises and emergencies, including mental health concerns, conduct violations, and facilities incidents; make appropriate referrals to TUJ departments
・Maintain regular communication and collaboration with internal TUJ and Main Campus departments
・Perform additional duties as assigned by OSSE Leadership
2) Community Development and Student Engagement:
・Organize and lead the dorm teams’ execution of events, initiatives, and social engagement opportunities to enhance residential experience at the TUJ residences
・Design and implement sustainable programming at the dorms that encourages students’ personal growth and holistic development, facilitates communication between residents and the university, and help to detect struggling students so that early intervention and outreach can take place
・Support outreach and visibility of residence life activities across the TUJ community
・Solicit and collect feedback from residents regarding their experiences and preferences to enhance programs and services
Working Hours
37.5 Hours Per Week (9:00 to 17:30, Monday to Friday)
Occasional weekend work may be required. In such cases, compensatory time off will be granted.
[QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE]
・Bachelor’s degree
・5+ years of professional experience in a higher education or relevant residence life work experience
・Business-level proficiency in both verbal and written English and Japanese
・Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office applications (particularly Excel), with experience using CRM systems, student information systems, or other administrative databases
・Excellent organizational, problem-solving, and administrative skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment
・Demonstrated ability to evaluate and improve processes with an equity, inclusion, and student-centered approach
・Strong teamwork and collaborative mindset with demonstrated ability to work effectively across cultures
[PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE]
・Experience managing staff or leading a team
・Experience in student development or student leadership
English Level
Business Conversation Level (TOEIC 735-860)
Japanese Level
Fluent(JLPT Level 1 or N1)