Director of Residence Life & Housing

The Director of Residence Life & Housing is responsible for providing strategic leadership and oversight of the university’s residential communities, ensuring a vibrant, well-maintained, and student-centered living environment.

This position offers the option for live-on or live-off experience. The Director of Residence Life & Housing plays a critical role in developing residential engagement initiatives, coordinating housing operations, and managing residence hall facilities. The Director collaborates with Facilities, Housing Operations, and Student Engagement to enhance student success and retention through intentional residential experiences.

This role reports to the Assistant Vice President for Student Wellbeing & Housing and is a key member of the Student Affairs leadership team.

Essential Responsibilities

Residential Community Development & Student Engagement

• Lead community-building efforts in residence halls to foster a positive, inclusive living environment that enhances student retention and success.
• Oversee the supervision, training, and professional development of Resident Directors and Resident Assistants.
• Develop strategies to strengthen student engagement through residential programming, leadership development, and student-led initiatives.
• Partner with Student Engagement and Academic Affairs to integrate leadership, wellness, and social learning opportunities into the residential experience.

Housing Operations & Facilities Management

• Supervise the Housing Operations Manager, ensuring smooth housing assignments, occupancy management, and administrative functions.
• Oversee residential facilities planning and maintenance, collaborating closely with the Housing Maintenance Specialist and Facilities Management to ensure timely upkeep, preventative maintenance, and capital improvement projects.
• Develop and manage room turnover processes, residence hall enhancements, and space optimization initiatives to maintain high-quality residential environments.
• Assist in long-term facility planning, including renovation projects and capital request processes.

Crisis Response & Student Support

• Serve in the on-call rotation (Level 2) with Resident Directors, responding to after-hours emergencies and residential incidents as additional support is needed.
• Provide direct crisis management support in collaboration with Health & Counseling Services, Public Safety, and Student Conduct.
• Ensure that Resident Directors and student staff are trained and equipped to effectively support students in crisis and address residential concerns proactively.

Supervision & Leadership

• Directly supervise Resident Directors, the Housing Maintenance Specialist, and the Housing Operations Manager to ensure cohesive residential management and student support.
• Lead hiring, training, and performance evaluations for professional and student staff within Residence Life.
• Establish goals and assessment strategies to evaluate the effectiveness of Residence Life programs, policies, and student engagement initiatives.
• Serve as a representative for Residence Life on university committees related to housing, student retention, and engagement.

Collaboration with Student Conduct & Advocacy

• Ensure Resident Directors oversee conduct cases within their respective buildings, maintaining accountability at the community level.
• Handle higher-level residential conduct cases that impact the broader residential community.
• Escalate campus-wide violations or appeals to the AVP for Student Wellbeing & Housing, ensuring due process, compliance, and access to resources.