Assistant Director of Residential Engagement

POSITION TITLE: Assistant Director of Residential Engagement

DIVISION: Student Affairs

DEPARTMENT: Housing and Residential Education

CAT: 15

FLSA STATUS: Exempt

REPORTS TO: Assistant Dean / Director of Housing and Residential Education

SUPERVISES: Provides direct supervision of 3 - 4 Resident Directors and functional leadership and oversight for up to 50 student staff (Resident Assistants, Graduate Assistants, and Desk Assistants)

SUMMARY PURPOSE OF POSITION: The Assistant Director of Residential Engagement is a 12-month, live-in professional staff member who provides leadership for residential engagement initiatives within Housing & Residential Education. This position is responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive residential education model that fosters student engagement, belonging, and academic success, while aligning with the mission and goals of the department and the University. The Assistant Director directly supervises Resident Directors and provides oversight for student staff, leading the design and delivery of training, leadership development, and community development initiatives. The role oversees residentially based academic and co-curricular programs, including Living-Learning Communities (LLCs) and themed housing options such as Honors, Engineering, CVPA, and Nursing. Additionally, the Assistant Director leads the development, implementation, and assessment of strategies that enhance the residential student experience, with a primary focus on engagement operations within the residential education program.

In carrying out these responsibilities, the incumbent follows the University's best practices to build and/or support student academic success and retention and assist in meeting strategic objectives for persistence and timely graduation of all the student population.

EXAMPLES OF PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Leadership & Administration
* Co-manage departmental initiatives including the recruitment, selection, and training of Resident Director staff
* Contributes to the development, coordination, editing, and maintenance of departmental policies, procedures, operational manuals, and calendars
* Assist in the development and oversight of departmental reports, including the annual report

Supervision & Staff Development
* Provide direct supervision, including hiring, onboarding, training, evaluation, and performance management
* Develop, implement, and assess comprehensive training and leadership development programs for both professional and student staff
* Provide guidance on personnel-related matters, including performance concerns, conflict resolution, and professional development planning

Residential Education & Student Engagement
* Develop and implement a comprehensive Community Development Model that fosters student engagement, belonging, and personal development within residential communities
* Design and facilitate residentially based academic initiatives, including Living-Learning Communities (LLCs) and themed housing
* Oversee and advise student leadership structures, including the RA Council, ensuring effective communication and responsiveness to student needs
* Promote inclusive and supportive residential environments that enhance student experience and encourage connection to campus life
* Maintain high visibility and engagement with students and staff, addressing academic, social, and residential concerns

Operations & Program Management
* Co-manage housing operations including opening and closing of residence halls, early arrivals, occupancy transitions, and summer housing programs
* Coordinate and implement major departmental and university events, including orientation, admissions events, and annual traditions such as Corsair Olympics
* Oversee community management functions within housing systems, including StarRez
* Assist with purchasing and financial processes related to residential programming and operations
* Support facilities-related processes such as room inspections and damage billing
* Serve in the Administrator-on-Call (AOC) rotation responding to emergencies
* Perform other duties as assigned by the Assistant Dean, Director of Housing & Residential Education

Assessment, Reporting & Strategic Initiatives
* Develop and implement assessment strategies to evaluate residential student experience, with emphasis on Living-Learning Programs and student engagement outcomes
* Analyze data and prepare reports that communicate program effectiveness and inform decision-making.
* Recommend policy and program enhancements based on assessment findings
* Identify trends and recommend policy or programmatic changes to enhance retention and student success

Collaboration & Representation
* Collaborate with faculty, academic partners, and campus departments to support Living-Learning Programs
* Serve as liaison to institutional committees, including accommodation and student support initiatives
* Represent Housing & Residential Education in divisional and university-wide meetings
* Engage with students, families, and stakeholders to address concerns and enhance residential experience
* Support community standards process through collaboration with Community Standards staff and indirect oversight via supervised staff
* Performs other job-related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned and/or the job description changed periodically to reflect changing organization needs

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• EDUCATION:
  • Master's Degree in student personnel, counseling, higher education, or related field
• EXPERIENCE:
  • Demonstrated (over 3 years) experience working with students in a college residence life program
  • Previous experience (over 1 year) supervising, selecting, training, and managing residential education staff
  • Previous experience (over 1 year) designing and implementing residentially based academic initiatives
    and partnerships on campus
• OTHER:
  • Must be available to respond to situations that arise during holidays, weekends, or evenings
  • Occasional local travel to off-campus locations
  • Possession of a valid driver's license and eligibility to operate a motor vehicle
  • May be required to work in adverse weather conditions

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience working in a unionized environment
• Prior experience developing and delivering programs in activated living-learning communities
• Previous experience with StarRez housing management software
• Previous experience with Maxient student conduct software

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

• Excellent oral, written, and presentation skills, and working knowledge in community development and residential education, and specifically in residentially based academic programs
• Excellent interpersonal communication, planning and organizational skills are essential to the position, as well as excellent judgment, discretion, and confidentiality
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and to take initiative, and communicate effectively with the residential student population, faculty, and colleagues within Student Affairs
• Demonstrated ability to respond successfully to difficult problems or emergency situations including counseling and mediation skills
• Knowledge of student development theories and their applications in a residential setting including student staff models, and selection and training
• Ability to develop and implement residential programs, policies, and procedures
• Ability to manage budgets pertaining to residential programs
• Knowledge of residentially based community standards and conduct concerns within a higher education setting
• Demonstrated leadership skills
• Ability to operate a university-owned motor vehicle, as needed

SALARY: $77,162.00-$85,500

UMass Dartmouth offers exciting benefits such as:

• 75% Employer-Paid Health Insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Life Insurance
• Long Term Disability
• State Pension Retirement Plan
• Optional Retirement Savings Plans
• Tuition Credit (Employee, Spouse, & Dependents)
• Twelve (12) paid holidays
• Paid personal, vacation, and sick time
• And More!

Benefits for ESU Union: ESU

Applicants must be authorized for employment in the U.S. on a full-time basis. Employment-based visa sponsorship is not available.

To apply please submit a letter of interest, a current resume and the contact information for three professional references.

The deadline for early consideration of internal ESU applicants is April 17, 2026.

The review of internal and external applications will be ongoing until the position is filled.

The projected start date for this position is on or after July 1, 2026.