Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Residence Life

METHODIST UNIVERSITY INC•Fayetteville, NC

7d•Onsite

About The Position

The Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Residence Life provides strategic leadership and administrative oversight for a comprehensive residential life and housing program serving more than 1,100 students. The Assistant Dean is responsible for fostering a vibrant residential community that promotes student learning, engagement, well-being, belonging, and holistic student development in alignment with the mission of the University. The Assistant Dean supervises a professional staff of three and a paraprofessional staff of thirty-seven providing leadership, mentorship, staff development, and performance management to support a student-centered residential experience. The Assistant Dean develops and advances a strategic vision for Residence Life that supports student success, retention, community standards, and co-curricular learning within a residential liberal arts environment. As a member of the Dean of Students leadership team, the Assistant Dean collaborates closely with campus partners including Academic Affairs, Student Conduct, Counseling Services, Campus Safety, Facilities, Enrollment Management, Athletics, Accessibility Services, and Student Engagement to support students holistically and strengthen residential student experience. The Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Residence Life oversees all aspects of housing operations, including occupancy management, room assignments, policy development, residential education initiatives, student staff recruitment and training, crisis response, and residential conduct processes. The Assistant Dean participates in and supports the administration of student conduct proceedings and serves as a key resource for complex student situations involving student well-being, behavioral intervention, conflict resolution, and parent/family communication. Additional Assistant Dean responsibilities may include: Serving as a Deputy Title IX Coordinator or student conduct administrator Co-chairing or participating in the CARE/Behavioral Intervention Team Assisting with divisional assessment, strategic planning, and retention initiatives Supporting New Student Orientation, move-in, and transition programs Supervising student support initiatives related to residential student success Assisting with emergency response and crisis management efforts Serving as an advisor and resource to students and families navigating university processes Supporting residential curriculum and student leadership development initiatives Collaborating on campus climate, belonging, and community-building efforts Participating in divisional on-call and after-hours response rotation Serving on university committees and special projects as assigned Assist daily in resolving complex student issues and concerns The Assistant Dean formulates and implements policies, procedures, and operational practices that ensure an effective, student-centered, and inclusive housing operation. The Assistant Dean also oversees departmental assessment practices, budget management, occupancy planning, and long-range operational planning designed to support institutional priorities and enhance the student experience.

Requirements

Master’s degree in Higher Education, College Student Personnel, Counseling, Educational Leadership, or a related field.
Progressive and significant supervisory and housing experience in higher education.
Demonstrated success leading residential life programs.
Supervising professional and paraprofessional staff.
Managing complex student issues.
Fostering inclusive residential communities within mission-driven or liberal arts institutions.
Progressive leadership experience in residence life, housing, and student affairs administration.
Significant supervisory experience, including professional staff development, performance management, and team leadership.
Strong relational and student-centered leadership skills.
Experience supporting student success, retention, and well-being initiatives.
Knowledge of student development theory and residential education practices.
Experience with crisis management, behavioral intervention, and student conduct administration.
Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively across campus divisions and departments.
Strong organizational, communication, and conflict resolution skills.
Experience with budget oversight, housing operations, occupancy management, and facilities coordination.
Commitment to staff development, mentoring, and inclusive excellence.
Experience using housing management systems, assessment practices, and data-informed decision making.
Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced, student-centered environment.
Demonstrated commitment to supporting a diverse and inclusive campus community.
Must reside within 20 miles of campus or establish residence within the approved geographic area to support participation in on-call responsibilities and emergency response needs.

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated success leading residential life programs, supervising professional and paraprofessional staff, managing complex student issues, and fostering inclusive residential communities within mission-driven or liberal arts institutions is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Provides strategic leadership and administrative oversight for a comprehensive residential life and housing program.
Fosters a vibrant residential community that promotes student learning, engagement, well-being, belonging, and holistic student development.
Supervises professional and paraprofessional staff, providing leadership, mentorship, staff development, and performance management.
Develops and advances a strategic vision for Residence Life that supports student success, retention, community standards, and co-curricular learning.
Collaborates with campus partners to support students holistically and strengthen the residential student experience.
Oversees all aspects of housing operations, including occupancy management, room assignments, policy development, residential education initiatives, student staff recruitment and training, crisis response, and residential conduct processes.
Participates in and supports the administration of student conduct proceedings.
Serves as a key resource for complex student situations involving student well-being, behavioral intervention, conflict resolution, and parent/family communication.
Serves as a Deputy Title IX Coordinator or student conduct administrator.
Co-chairs or participates in the CARE/Behavioral Intervention Team.
Assists with divisional assessment, strategic planning, and retention initiatives.
Supports New Student Orientation, move-in, and transition programs.
Supervises student support initiatives related to residential student success.
Assists with emergency response and crisis management efforts.
Serves as an advisor and resource to students and families navigating university processes.
Supports residential curriculum and student leadership development initiatives.
Collaborates on campus climate, belonging, and community-building efforts.
Participates in divisional on-call and after-hours response rotation.
Serves on university committees and special projects as assigned.
Assists daily in resolving complex student issues and concerns.
Formulates and implements policies, procedures, and operational practices that ensure an effective, student-centered, and inclusive housing operation.
Oversees departmental assessment practices, budget management, occupancy planning, and long-range operational planning.