Assistant Director of Residential Life

About the Role

Reporting directly to the Director of Residential Life, the Associate Director serves as an integral member of the department's senior leadership team and provides oversight for a residential community of approximately 1,600 first-year students. This highly visible, in-person position offers the opportunity to influence students' personal growth, academic success, and sense of belonging throughout their transition to college life.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and enhance the residential experience for first-year students through innovative programming, engagement initiatives, and student development opportunities
• Develop, implement, and assess a comprehensive Residential Curriculum that supports learning, community building, and student success
• Foster meaningful partnerships with campus departments including CARE, Health & Wellness, Student Conduct & Community Standards, Facilities, Campus Life, Religious Life, and academic partners
• Create and implement policies and programs that promote belonging, inclusion, responsible citizenship, and community engagement
• Supervise, mentor, and train professional and student staff members, empowering them to support students effectively
• Oversee key operational processes, including room changes and residential administrative functions
• Serve as a resource for students navigating personal, behavioral, and community concerns
• Respond to crisis situations and provide leadership in addressing complex student needs
• Support student accountability and growth through conduct administration and educational interventions
• Hire, train, develop, supervise, and evaluate 3-5 full-time professional Residence Hall Directors
• Provide leadership for the assigned residential community, ensuring a positive and inclusive experience for students
• Assist with Housing operational processes such as Room Change Process and other operational needs
• Design and implement training and development programs for faculty affiliates and staff working with Living Learning Communities (LLCs) as the lead representative for Residential Life
• Manage budgets for the assigned area, ensuring effective use of resources
• Establish and maintain performance expectations for all staff members
• Indirectly oversee over 50 paraprofessional staff members (Resident Assistants) and ensure their professional development and accountability
• Assist in developing and implementing Office of Residential Life (ORL) goals, policies, and procedures
• Ensure staff members are knowledgeable about essential residence hall procedures, policies, and practices
• Participate in the recruitment and selection of both professional and paraprofessional staff members
• Track Residential Curriculum programs and activities and be responsible for assessment and reporting
• Stay updated on trends and research related to residential students and their experiences to implement high-impact practices
• Develop learning goals and educational plans tailored to meet the needs of residential students
• Engage in New Student Orientations, Admissions Days, Open Houses, and other events to support the recruitment of new students and their families
• Plan, implement, and evaluate training programs for both professional and paraprofessional staff
• Develop, review, revise, and distribute staff manuals for Residence Hall Directors (RHDs) and Resident Assistants (RAs), in collaboration with Assistant Director colleagues
• Assist with promotions and marketing efforts for the residential experience
• Collaborate with campus and faculty partners to enhance student support and development best practices
• Participate in the Administrator on-call duty rotation with Senior Staff, including evenings, weekends, and holidays
• Investigate, mediate, and resolve student and parent concerns related to residential life
• Serve on department, divisional, and university-wide committees as assigned
• Partner with the Office of Facilities to oversee the maintenance and improvement of assigned residential facilities
• Participate in professional development through seminars, workshops, conferences, and regional associations
• Serve as an essential employee during weather or other emergencies, which may require coming to campus when the University is closed
• Assume other responsibilities as assigned, including but not limited to summer assignments
• Manage the move-in and move-out operations for Residential Life and Housing Education

Requirements

• Master's degree is required
• A minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in a residential life capacity
• Proven track record providing leadership, guidance, or functional supervision to colleagues or peers, with strong administrative skills and the ability to support team success
• Demonstrated experience managing complex, detail-oriented processes and leading interdepartmental committees and initiatives that support operational effectiveness and departmental priorities
• Effective interpersonal, counseling, and presentation/public speaking skills
• Strong customer service orientation, clear communication abilities, advanced writing skills, and adeptness at both independent and collaborative work
• Innovative problem-solving capabilities
• Proficiency in collaborating with stakeholders, fostering positive relationships with parents, faculty, staff, and community members
• Demonstrated experience in program creation and execution
• Independent decision-making prowess
• Dedication to promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and a sense of belonging
• Proficiency in using MS Office programs (Word, Excel, and Publisher), Adobe Suite, Social Media, and web-based marketing tools
• Willingness to work flexible hours, including nights, weekends, and holiday coverage
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively with individuals from varied backgrounds

Physical Demands

• Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently to move objects
• Required to travel from building to building and between multiple campuses
• Will have 'on-call' responsibilities which require walking up and down stairs, performing rounds in and outside of the buildings, and responding quickly and in person to emergencies