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Director of Residence Life

American University
Anderson Hall, United States, United Statesfull_timeVerifiedPosted 30 Aug 2025
💰 $120,000/yr($110,000/yr$120,000/yr)

About 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 Life

Time Type:

Full time


Job Type:

Regular

FLSA Status:

Exempt

Work Modality:

Hybrid 01 (On Campus 3-4 Days/Week)

Union:

Excluded

Job 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

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Company

American University

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