Senior Manager, Residential Operations

USC Housing, a division of USC Auxiliary Services, is committed to providing an exceptional residential experience for students, faculty, and staff across more than 50 properties both on and off campus. From first-year student housing to dynamic residential communities like the USC Village, we create environments where residents feel safe, supported, and part of the Trojan Family.

We are seeking a Senior Manager, Residential Operations , to lead operations at the USC Village and other assigned residential communities. This is a highly visible leadership role responsible for delivering a best-in-class residential experience while leading large, diverse teams in a fast-paced, 24/7 environment.

The Opportu nity

This is more than a housing operations role—it’s an opportunity to lead one of the most prominent residential communities at USC.

As Senior Manager, you will oversee daily operations at the USC Village, a flagship residential and retail community with over 660 units housing primarily first-year and sophomore students. In addition to residential operations, you will play a key role in supporting the retail environment, partnering with external property management and campus stakeholders.

You will lead through others—guiding managers, supporting frontline staff, and fostering a culture of accountability, respect, and service excellence.

Success in this role requires a leader who is proactive, emotionally intelligent, and highly organized—someone who can navigate complex employee relations, balance competing priorities, and anticipate needs before they arise.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for USC Housing communities, including the USC Village and other assigned properties

• Lead, coach, and develop managers and large frontline teams, including union staff, with a focus on employee engagement, performance, and accountability

• Foster a positive work environment by proactively addressing employee relations issues, resolving conflicts, and supporting staff development

• Oversee all aspects of building services operations, including custodial services, light maintenance, inspections, and readiness for occupancy

• Ensure timely and high-quality completion of work orders, leveraging systems and data to monitor performance and improve efficiency

• Manage large-scale operational cycles, including student move-in and move-out, summer conference programs, and deep-cleaning initiatives

• Conduct daily walkthroughs of facilities to proactively identify issues and maintain a “white glove” residential experience

• Partner with cross-functional stakeholders including Facilities Planning & Management, Residential Education, Customer Service, and external vendors

• Support retail operations within USC Village in collaboration with property management partners

• Plan and manage budgets, including staffing, supplies, equipment, and inventory

• Lead sustainability efforts aligned with USC’s zero-waste and environmental goals

• Ensure compliance with university policies, safety standards, and regulatory requirements

• Serve as an on-call leader for emergency response, including after-hours and weekend incidents as needed

• Performs other related duties as assigned or requested. The university reserves the right to add or change duties at any time.

What Success Looks Like

• Strong staff engagement, improved morale, and a culture of respect and accountability

• Effective coaching and alignment of managers with different leadership styles

• Seamless execution of move-in and move-out operations across hundreds of units

• Proactive, high-touch service delivery that anticipates and resolves issues quickly

• Strategic thinking that balances immediate operational needs with long-term planning

Minimum Requirements

Education: Bachelor’s Degree. Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education.

Experience: 5 years of relevant management experience, including experience leading managers. Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum work experience.

Expertise:

• Management level experience in a university Auxiliary Services section.

• Valid CA driver's license required. Position will participate in the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Pull Notice System. A copy of DMV record will be required as a final condition of employment. For more information, please visit the policy website.

Preferred Requirements

• Master’s Degree

• USC Auxiliary Services management level experience.

In addition, the successful candidate must also demonstrate, through ideas, words, and actions, a strong commitment to USC’s Unifying Values of integrity, excellence, community, well-being, open communication, and accountability.

Work Environment & Expectations

• Onsite role based at USC

• Generally, Monday–Friday schedule with 24/7 on-call responsibility for emergencies

• Required availability during critical periods, including student move-in (August–September) and move-out (May)

• Ability to respond onsite as needed for urgent operational issues

The Trojan Family Rewards

USC offers a comprehensive benefits package that supports employees and their families, including:

• Robust healthcare options

• Retirement plans with employer contributions

• Tuition benefits for employees and their dependents

These programs are designed to support long-term well-being, financial security, and continued growth.

You’ll also become part of the Trojan Network—a strong, connected community that supports long-term career growth and opens doors to opportunities both within USC and beyond.

The annual base salary range for this position is $95,229.79 – $98,000. When determining an offer, the University of Southern California considers factors such as the scope and responsibilities of the role, the candidate’s experience, education, training, key skills, internal peer alignment, applicable laws, contractual requirements, grant funding, and market conditions.

Minimum Education: Bachelor’s Degree. Minimum Experience: 5 years of experience. Minimum Field of Expertise: Management experience in housing, residential, and/or University environment. Ability to lead, train, coach, counsel, and evaluate employees. Demonstrated written and oral communication skills. Knowledge of applicable federal, state, local, and University laws and policies. Budget development and control experience. Valid CA driver's license required. Position will participate in the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Pull Notice System. A copy of DMV record will be required as a final condition of employment. For more information please visit the policy website. In addition, the successful candidate must also demonstrate, through ideas, words and actions, a strong commitment toUSC’s Unifying Valuesof integrity, excellence, diversity, equity and inclusion, well-being, open communication and accountability.