Associate Director, Community Connections and Engagement

Michigan Housing is an actively engaged unit within Student Life Auxiliary Services, serving approximately 14,000 students, including 11,400 undergraduates and 2,400 graduate and professional students and their families. The portfolio includes 24 residential facilities on North and Central Campus in Ann Arbor, including Wolverine Village (opened Fall 2026), and supports residential experiences for 30 students on the Marygrove campus in Detroit. Michigan Housing partners with Michigan Dining to serve approximately 4 million meals per year and collaborates across Student Life to create diverse, learning-centered residential communities.

About the role

The Associate Director leads the Community Connections and Engagement Department in fostering vibrant, inclusive residential communities where students feel a strong sense of belonging. This role oversees strategic initiatives, programs, and support resources for all residents, enhancing the residential experience and promoting inclusive community development.

Responsibilities

• Michigan Housing Residential Climate and Student Engagement Work (40%)
  • Provide strategic leadership for student engagement initiatives, including first-year engagement and the Diversity Peer Educator program.
  • Direct departmental responses to identity-related and residential climate concerns, ensuring alignment with policies, procedures, and applicable laws.
  • Serve in an on-call leadership capacity for identity-related and residential climate incidents, including crisis support.
  • Lead the residential climate team in supporting students and staff impacted by identity, bias, or community conflict; coordinate community-wide responses and restorative interventions.
  • Provide expertise and consultation on inclusive residential practices, advancing belonging and engagement across residential communities.
  • Oversee initiatives promoting inclusive residential environments, including gender-inclusive housing and identity-conscious community support.
  • Provide functional oversight for staff on inclusion, belonging, residential climate, and student engagement.
  • Consult with campus partners (e.g., Office of General Counsel, ECRT Title VI Team) on residential climate policies and response strategies.
  • Develop partnerships with campus departments and community organizations to support student engagement and inclusive community-building.
• Staff Development, Training, Education, and Culture Work (40%)
  • Design, implement, and assess staff-facing programs and educational initiatives to strengthen belonging and the residential experience.
  • Develop and facilitate curriculum-based workshops and trainings for professional, bargained, and student staff across Student Life and Michigan Housing.
  • Expand training offerings to align with Student Life’s strategic goals, values, and inclusive excellence priorities.
  • Lead inclusive excellence frameworks, supervision practices, and community engagement strategies for staff development.
  • Facilitate the Foundations of Inclusion for Professional Staff course, emphasizing inclusive communities and residential climate response.
  • Provide training and consultation on inclusive community development, conflict response, and staff engagement strategies.
  • Assist with recruitment, selection, onboarding, and ongoing development of professional staff.
  • Lead and participate in cross-functional teams to strengthen organizational culture and advance inclusive practices.
  • Evaluate and enhance systems for tracking staff engagement, training participation, and program impact.
• Michigan Housing Leadership (20%)
  • Serve on the Michigan Housing leadership team, providing strategic direction for inclusive residential learning communities.
  • Lead visioning, implementation, and assessment of Community Connections and Engagement initiatives for 14,000 residents, 96 professional staff, and 700 student staff.
  • Partner with the Director to develop departmental vision, goals, and annual budgeting aligned with Michigan Housing and Student Life priorities.
  • Guide program managers in curriculum design, staff engagement, and community-building initiatives.
  • Chair or participate in inclusion-related committees and special projects focused on staff development and strategic priorities.
  • Serve in an on-call rotation for campus climate incidents and residential community concerns.
  • Perform other duties as assigned by Michigan Housing Unit Leadership.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in Higher Education, Sociology, Psychology, Social Work, or a related field.
• Five years of full-time post-Master’s experience in a college/university setting or similar role, with progressively increasing responsibility.
• Experience supervising students and leading programs.
• Two years of direct or functional supervision of professional staff.
• Experience facilitating topics of inclusion and leading programming for diverse audiences.
• Experience developing and implementing initiatives focused on creating inclusive environments.
• Familiarity with Restorative Justice principles.
• Experience working with diverse constituent groups, including students, staff, and faculty.

Schedule

• Evening, weekend, and holiday hours required.
• Travel within campus units required.
• Hybrid work potential: up to 2 days remote per week (subject to department discretion and annual review).

Working Conditions

• Able to stand and walk for extended periods.
• Lift and transport objects weighing 25–30 lbs.
• Move quickly throughout residential communities as needed.

Pay

Salary varies depending on qualifications, experience, and education. Selected candidates starting between 4/1/2026 and 9/1/2026 will not be eligible for the university FY26-27 salary/merit plan unless otherwise notified.

Benefits

• Co-management of the Community Connections and Engagement Department budget (~$750,000).
• Authorization to work in the U.S. is required; visa sponsorship is not provided.