Director of Residence Services and Student Support in London

About the Opportunity

Department: Student Life

Location: London Campus

Term: Full-time; permanent

Salary: Up to £80,000 per annum

Benefits: The university supports staff maintaining a good work/life balance, offers flexible working and parental leave opportunities, an Employee Assistance Programme which provides free, confidential advice on both home and work concerns as well as optional private medical insurance, season ticket loans and being part of the cycle to work scheme.

Reports to: Senior Director for Student Life and Dean of Student in Boston

Start: 1 August 2026

The role involves dual reporting to the Senior Director for Student Life in London and the Dean of Student in Boston. The Director of Residence Services and Student Support holds co-equal accountability for two distinct but interrelated functions:

• Residential operations serving approximately 1,000 mobility programme students living across multiple residence halls.
• Student support services extending to the full London campus student population, including undergraduate, postgraduate, degree apprenticeship, and mobility programme students regardless of whether they live in university accommodation.

The Director supervises the Head of Residence Services and the Head of Student Support. This role requires strategic collaboration across Student Engagement, Academics in London, and Student Life throughout the Network to create a seamless student experience in line with Northeastern’s goals. The Director ensures operational excellence in mobility housing services alongside strategic oversight of a robust, proactive, and campus-wide student support function. The Director is also responsible for staff development, fiscal management, assessment activities, and serving as part of the on-call rotation for escalated incidents.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• 30% — Residential Experience and Community Development: Provide strategic leadership for the residential experience function across the London student population, delivered through the Head of Residence Services. Set strategic priorities, hold the Head accountable for operational delivery, and act as the senior escalation point for complex or high-risk operational matters.
• 30% — Student Support, Wellness, and Case Management: Provide strategic leadership for the student support function across the full London student population, delivered through the Head of Student Support. Set strategic priorities, hold the Head accountable for operational delivery, and support the DSL and relevant professionals in complex or high-risk cases.
• 20% — Management, Supervision, and Training: Provide leadership, supervision, and training for the Head of Residence Services and Head of Student Support, along with their teams. Develop and monitor departmental goals, objectives, policies, and procedures guiding employee performance.
• 10% — Housing Operations and Management: Oversee the full remit of housing operations, which operates across two distinct areas: direct management of residential operations for mobility programme students and housing advisory and referral services for the wider student population.
• 10% — Collaboration and Strategic Partnerships: Create and sustain productive relationships with colleagues across Student Life and other divisions in Boston and London. Collaborate across departments to increase efficiency, enhance the student experience, and create integrated approaches to student support and engagement.

Person specification criteria:

• Master's degree in Student Personnel Administration, Higher Education, Education Administration, or related field.
• A minimum of 5–7 years of progressively responsible supervisory and managerial experience in Residence Life, Student Support, or a combination of both.
• Experience leading or overseeing student support services in a higher education setting.
• Experience with UK, American, and/or international higher education contexts.
• Strategic thinking and planning skills; strong oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Proficiency in the development and management of budgets, knowledge of housing operations, student development theory, crisis response, case management, and staff development.
• Demonstrated ability to lead organisational growth and foster cross-departmental collaboration.

Additional Information:

Application Process: Participation in the equal opportunities section is encouraged, but voluntary. Applications should include a covering letter of no more than one page that addresses the criteria for the role and a full curriculum vitae. The panel will be shortlisting for this position on a rolling basis.

About the University: Northeastern University London (NU London) is a prestigious higher education institution based in the heart of London and is part of Northeastern University’s global campus network. NU London offers academically challenging educational programmes designed to inspire innovative thinking, encourage interdisciplinary study, and provide global experiences.

Choose NU London: The University supports staff maintaining a good work/life balance, your health and wellness are of utmost importance to us, and our offerings encompass: 25 days annual leave, plus 8 bank holidays and winter break holidays, access to personalised Continuous Professional Development (CPD) plans and opportunities, support with private medical insurance, eye test reimbursement, cycle scheme vouchers, and 24/7 employee assistance/support via our Employee Assistance Programme.

Applications are welcome from all sections of the community and will be judged on merit alone. We welcome applications from all underrepresented groups, including the Global Majority. Candidates must be able to demonstrate their eligibility to work in the UK in accordance with the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006.