Director of Residence Life
American UniversityAbout the role
American University is a student-centered research institution located in Washington, DC, with highly-ranked schools and colleges, internationally-renowned faculty, and a reputation for creating meaningful change in the world. Learn more about American University
Department:
Housing & Residence LifeTime Type:
Full time
Job Type:
FLSA Status:
ExemptWork Modality:
Hybrid 01 (On Campus 3-4 Days/Week)Union:
ExcludedJob Description:
Summary:
The Director of Residence Life provides strategic and operational leadership for the Residence Life unit within Housing and Residence Life (HRL), overseeing all aspects of the residential student experience for a community of more than 4,000 students living in on-campus residence halls and university apartments. This position plays a critical role in fostering student learning, engagement, and well-being through the development and implementation of a contemporary residential curriculum grounded in student development theory.
The Director provides oversight for community standards, crisis response, behavior intervention, policy creation, and conflict resolution, while promoting a living-learning environment that supports academic and personal growth.
This position leads a team of professional and student staff, supervising 2 Associate Directors, 2 Assistant Directors, and indirectly supervising 9 community Directors, 1 Coordinator, and more than 150 student leaders.
In addition to managing a budget more than $1 million, the Director represents HRL in university-wide committees, initiatives, and cross-functional areas with campus partners in student affairs, academic affairs, and public safety. The Director serves in the senior administrator on-call rotation and plays a key role in maintaining a safe and student-centered residential experience aligned with the mission and strategic priorities of the university.
Essential Functions:
1.) Residence Life Supervision and Leadership
Support a thriving and robust Residence Life program with oversight of 13 Residence Halls, and a budget more than 1 million dollars.
Directly supervise, develop, and evaluate 2 Associate Directors, 2 Assistant Directors, and indirectly supervising 9 community Directors and more than 150 student leaders.
Respond to inquiries from students, staff, and families. Provide leadership for complex student concerns through problem identification, complex issues through problem identification and resolution, policy interpretation, and conflict mediation.
Coordinate departmental and/or divisional response to students in crisis, behavioral issues, student wellness, general student safety, and roommate conflicts.
Oversee student conduct processes in collaboration with Dean of Students and Office of Student Accountability & Restorative Practices, including informal resolution, adjudication, and sanction implementation. Maintain accurate records and ensure compliance with applicable university policies and federal regulations.
Lead hiring, onboarding, training, and professional development of HRL staff. Conduct annual performance evaluations and implement staff retention and growth strategies.
Represent HRL and the Executive Director, Housing and Residence Life on university committees and work groups.
Promote leadership development within the team through mentorship, leadership pathways, and succession planning efforts aligned with departmental and institutional priorities.
2.) Program Development, Assessment, Education, and Engagement
Develop and implement a robust student development and engagement model that integrates academic and co-curricular program support for residential students.
Design and assess tools to evaluate residential curriculum initiatives, staff performance, residential community programming, judicial and behavioral
Apply for this role
Generate a tailored application kit with a matched cover letter, interview prep, and CV highlights — in under 60 seconds.
Apply Now →Generate Application KitFree account required — sign up in 30s