Associate Director, Residence Life

Metropolitan State University of Denver•Denver, CO

6d•Onsite

About The Position

Metropolitan State University of Denver is launching its first on-campus residential community, a 550-bed living environment that will transform the student experience at a historically commuter institution. The Associate Director of Residence Life for Residential Education & Student Experience is a full-time, 12-month professional who provides vision, leadership, and strategic direction for the residential education program. Reporting to the Executive Director of Housing & Residence Life, the Associate Director is responsible for developing a strong residential experience model, implementing learning outcomes, coordinating student support structures, supervising professional staff, and ensuring that the residential community is a welcoming, connected, and developmental environment for MSU Denver students. The Associate Director provides primary leadership and oversight for the residential curriculum, academic and student success initiatives, crisis response structures, case management collaboration, and student engagement strategies. This position supervises Residence Directors (RDs) and Assistant RDs and oversees the Resident Assistant (RA) program, including training, development, and performance expectations. The Associate Director collaborates closely with the Assistant Director of Housing Operations & Business Services, the university’s CARE/Student Support teams, counseling services, academic partners, and the university’s O&M partner to ensure a seamless and student-centered residential program.

Requirements

Master’s degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs, Counseling, or related field preferred
4+ years of full-time professional experience in residence life or residential education
Experience supervising full-time residential life staff
Experience developing or implementing residential curriculum, learning outcomes, or structured student engagement models
Experience with student conduct processes and documentation systems (e.g., Maxient or similar)
Experience managing student crises or case management in a residential or student-facing setting
Ability to participate in an on-call rotation, including evenings and weekends
Experience supporting or engaging diverse student populations through programs, services, or residential initiatives
Successful applicants will ensure their resumes clearly demonstrate that their work experience describes how they meet ALL required qualifications.

Nice To Haves

Experience launching or significantly expanding a residence life program or residential community
Experience working at an urban, commuter, or access-focused institution
Experience using assessment or data to design, evaluate, or improve residential programs or student engagement
Experience partnering with housing operations, facilities, or third-party O&M providers
Experience with housing or assignments systems

Responsibilities

Provide vision, leadership, and direction for MSU Denver’s first-ever residential learning and engagement model, including the development of learning outcomes, curricular frameworks, and programmatic priorities.
Establish a cohesive residential experience that supports belonging, community development, leadership engagement, academic success, and holistic student wellbeing.
Develop and assess a residential curriculum or engagement framework that reflects MSU Denver’s diverse student population, including first-generation, transfer, traditional-age, and non-traditional students.
Lead initiatives that integrate academic partners, student success units, and campus programs into the residential experience.
Ensure that residential programs and community practices are aligned with institutional goals for retention, success, equity, and student engagement.
Serve as a campus leader in developing residence life protocols for crisis response, behavioral concerns, wellness checks, and after-hours incidents.
Coordinate closely with the CARE Team, Counseling Services, Conduct, Accessibility Services, and other student support offices to implement individualized care plans, follow-up strategies, and proactive outreach.
Train staff in conflict resolution, de-escalation, and student support best practices.
Maintain high standards of documentation and communication, including use of Maxient or similar systems.
Participate in an on-call rotation and provide leadership-level consultation during emergencies or high-priority incidents.
Supervise Residence Directors and Assistant Residence Directors and indirectly oversee the RA program.
Provide consistent coaching, performance management, and professional development for direct reports.
Oversee the RA experience including hiring processes, training, ongoing development, community engagement expectations, and accountability.
Develop and facilitate professional staff training, continuing education, and cross-campus partnership learning opportunities.
Promote a positive, inclusive, and growth-oriented team culture.
Oversee community development practices that foster positive peer interactions, strong community standards, and a sense of belonging.
Ensure RA teams are effectively supporting residents through programming, 1:1s, and regular engagement practices.
Provide leadership for hall council, peer leadership programs, and other residential student leadership structures.
Serve as a conduct hearing officer for mid-level cases and ensure consistent follow-up and restorative, educational outcomes.
Partner with Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and identity-based programs to enhance engagement and educational experiences.
Collaborate with the Assistant Director of Housing Operations & Business Services and the O&M partner to align residential education needs with building operations, safety, and facilities support.
Support opening, closing, move-in/move-out, summer operations, and major departmental initiatives.
Contribute to the development of policies, manuals, protocols, and operating procedures for MSU Denver’s new residential program.
Participate in planning for future expansion of residential offerings and long-term departmental growth.
Serve as a member of the department’s leadership team, contributing to strategy, policy development, and decision-making.
Lead residential education assessment initiatives, including evaluation of learning outcomes, engagement patterns, student satisfaction, and staff development indicators.
Use data and assessment to refine strategies, improve programs, and inform planning.
Represent the department on campus committees, working groups, and partnership initiatives.