Residence Life Operations Specialist

Bethel University is a leader in Christ-centered higher education with approximately 4,700 students from 50 states and 32 countries enrolled in undergraduate, graduate, seminary, and adult education programs. Based in St. Paul, Minnesota, Bethel offers bachelor's and advanced degrees in nearly 100 fields. Educationally excellent classroom-based and online programs equip graduates to make exceptional contributions in life-long service to God and the world.

At Bethel University, the Residence Life Operations Specialist plays a critical role in shaping the student experience by ensuring housing and dining operations run smoothly from application to move-in and beyond. This position combines operational excellence, data management, financial administration, and exceptional customer service to support students and families during some of their most important transitions.

Bethel’s mission is to educate and equip students to lead lives of impact through transformative academics in a Christ-centered community. Bethel’s employee community plays a central role in developing our students as whole and holy persons. To carry out this mission, Bethel uses the foundation of our guiding documents, the Affirmation of Faith, Community Covenant, and Key Policies. Bethel expects all employees to actively participate in creating our Christ-centered community by agreeing with and abiding by our core beliefs in the Affirmation of Faith and supporting all other beliefs as Biblical, responsible, and thoughtful approaches while avoiding dissension and divisiveness. Employees teach and mentor students and help one another uphold our Community Covenant commitments.  As a result of these expectations, all University employees act as ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ by actively partnering with the University to carry out its mission and foster Bethel’s Christ-centered covenant community.

Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time. 

•  Design, maintain, and optimize user-friendly online housing applications and dining selection processes. Serve as the departmental expert and lead on our housing administration and the database. Collaborate with the Student Life Office Coordinator to keep the webpage up to date with all offerings.
• Facilitate a smooth and supportive housing and dining selection experience for all students, including specialized housing cycles, such as study abroad transitions, summer housing, and grad rentals.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for students and families navigating housing and dining policies, managing the central Housing inbox with care and efficiency.
• Lead the logistics for break housing, mid-year room moves, cancellations, room transfers, key inventories, and early arrivals.
• Partner closely with Facilities to ensure residence halls are pristine and ready for Fall move-in and collaborate with Conference and Event Services to coordinate summer rentals.

 Billing and Financial Administration - 15%

• Process student housing charges, check-out fines, damage fees, and cancellations accurately.
• Respond timely to complex billing inquiries from students and parents, making fair, policy-driven decisions regarding refunds and financial appeals.

•  Train Residence Life staff to use software for housing applications, generating reports, and interpreting data.
• Partner with the Student Life Office Coordinator to keep the department website modern, accurate, and accessible.
• Participate in cross-functional campus initiatives, staff meetings, and retention efforts to enhance the overall student experience.

This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as desktop and/or laptop computers, photocopiers and smartphones.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to adjust focus. The job requires extended periods of sitting and traversing the Bethel Campus on a regular basis. Reasonable accommodations may be made to ensure people are able to perform the essential functions.

The mental and physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an individual to successfully perform the essential functions of this position.

Typically, days and hours of work are Monday through Friday, with the expectation to work specific schedules and hours as identified and communicated by management. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required as job duties demand. This is a 40 hour per week, 12 months per year position.