Assistant Director of Residence Life

About the role

The Department of Residence at Iowa State University is seeking a collaborative and student-centered professional to serve as the Assistant Director of Residence Life. In this leadership role, the successful candidate will provide strategic oversight of residential communities, support student success and well-being, and foster safe, inclusive, and engaging living environments that promote learning and personal development. The Department of Residence at Iowa State University is committed to advancing student success by providing supportive, welcoming, and inclusive living and learning communities. Through its residence halls and apartment communities, the department fosters student engagement, personal growth, leadership development, and academic achievement while creating a safe and vibrant residential experience for all students. The Department of Residence partners with students, families, faculty, and staff to cultivate communities where students can learn, connect, and thrive.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership, supervision, and mentorship to professional staff, including Hall Directors and Apartment Directors.
• Oversee staff recruitment, onboarding, training, performance management, coaching, and professional development.
• Oversee key residential operations, including occupancy management, summer and break housing programs, and coordination with campus partners to ensure effective administration of assigned communities.
• Advance departmental priorities and initiatives, support staff development efforts, respond to complex student concerns and crisis situations, and contribute to strategic planning and operational decision-making.
• Utilize assessment data, operational metrics, and stakeholder feedback to inform continuous improvement efforts and enhance the residential student experience.
• Manage complex student and staff situations, build collaborative relationships with campus and external partners, and effectively balance operational responsibilities with a strong commitment to student success, engagement, and belonging.

Requirements

• Master’s degree
• 2 years of related experience

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs, or related field
• Significant professional experience in university housing or residence life
• Demonstrated experience supervising professional staff and leading teams

Benefits

• Comprehensive health and work-life benefits, including medical and dental
• Retirement benefits including defined benefit and defined contribution plans
• Generous vacation, holiday, and sick time and leave plans
• Onsite childcare (Ames, Iowa)
• Life insurance and long-term disability
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Various voluntary benefits and discounts
• Employee Assistance Program
• Wellbeing program
• WorkFlex options for some positions (flexibility on when, where, and how you do your work)

Schedule

• Appointment Type: Regular with Term Appointment (Fixed Term)
• Time Type: Full time