Assistant Director of Residence Life

Iowa State University•Ames, IA

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Residence at Iowa State University is seeking a collaborative and student-centered professional to serve as the Assistant Director of Residence Life. In this leadership role, the successful candidate will provide strategic oversight of residential communities, support student success and well-being, and foster safe, inclusive, and engaging living environments that promote learning and personal development. The Assistant Director provides leadership, supervision, and mentorship to professional staff, including Hall Directors and Apartment Directors. Responsibilities include staff recruitment, onboarding, training, performance management, coaching, and professional development. This position oversees key residential operations, including occupancy management, summer and break housing programs, and coordination with campus partners to ensure effective administration of assigned communities. Working closely with colleagues across the university, the Assistant Director advances departmental priorities and initiatives, supports staff development efforts, responds to complex student concerns and crisis situations, and contributes to strategic planning and operational decision-making. The position also utilizes assessment data, operational metrics, and stakeholder feedback to inform continuous improvement efforts and enhance the residential student experience. The ideal candidate will bring experience supervising and developing staff, leading programs and initiatives, and using assessment and data-informed practices to drive continuous improvement. They will demonstrate the ability to manage complex student and staff situations, build collaborative relationships with campus and external partners, and effectively balance operational responsibilities with a strong commitment to student success, engagement, and belonging. This position offers an excellent opportunity for a skilled higher education professional who is passionate about student development, team leadership, problem-solving, and creating vibrant residential communities that support student engagement, belonging, and success.

Requirements

Master’s degree and 2 years of related experience
Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship. Immigration sponsorship is not available for this position.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs, or related field
Significant professional experience in university housing or residence life
Demonstrated experience supervising professional staff and leading teams.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic oversight of residential communities.
Support student success and well-being.
Foster safe, inclusive, and engaging living environments that promote learning and personal development.
Provide leadership, supervision, and mentorship to professional staff, including Hall Directors and Apartment Directors.
Oversee staff recruitment, onboarding, training, performance management, coaching, and professional development.
Oversee key residential operations, including occupancy management, summer and break housing programs, and coordination with campus partners.
Advance departmental priorities and initiatives.
Support staff development efforts.
Respond to complex student concerns and crisis situations.
Contribute to strategic planning and operational decision-making.
Utilize assessment data, operational metrics, and stakeholder feedback to inform continuous improvement efforts and enhance the residential student experience.