Director – Resident Life & Housing Operations

the CIA•Hyde Park, NY

1d•$80,000 - $90,000

About The Position

The Director – Residence Life and Housing Operations plays a pivotal role in enhancing residential experience for approximately 1,800 students, fostering a vibrant living-learning environment that supports academic excellence, personal growth, and professional development. The Director provides leadership in programmatic and community-building initiatives, oversees five professional staff, and ensures a supportive and inclusive residential community. The Director provides strategic leadership and programmatic oversight for residential experience and works closely with the Housing Operations to ensure assignments, room changes, or occupancy management are supported and aligned with residence life priorities, while maintaining a primary focus on student development, community standards, and staff leadership.

Requirements

Master’s degree in Student Affairs, Higher Education Administration, or a related field.
A minimum of five (5) years of experience in a leadership role within Student Affairs.
Minimum of two (2) years of experience work in residential life/housing experience.
Demonstrated success in supervising and developing professional staff.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Strong computer experience, which must include abilities to work effectively with MS Office suite products, i.e. Word, Excel, PowerPoint.
Ability to use sound judgment and discretion in handling sensitive issues with confidentiality and discretion.
Working knowledge of the philosophy of student development theory.
Ability to work in a team-oriented division at a small college environment.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills with a commitment to fostering an inclusive community.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and thrive in a dynamic environment.
Ability to work nights and weekends as required by business needs.
Ability to work a flexible schedule when required, including rotating on-call evenings and weekends.
Regular work required the ability to use a computer for extended periods of time, sometimes in excess of eight (8) hours per day.

Nice To Haves

Experience at a specialized or small college, particularly in culinary, hospitality, or professional education.
Experience with StarRez, the college's housing record system and/or familiarity with housing management software and residence life assessment tools.
Knowledge of best practices in diversity, equity, and inclusion in a residential context.
Knowledge of best practices for living-learning communities.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic direction for the residence life program, ensuring alignment with the CIA’s mission and core values.
Supervise, develop, and evaluate four Resident Directors and one Area Coordinator to maintain a high-functioning and cohesive team.
Collaborate with the Housing Operations to support housing-related operational processes.
Oversee the recruitment, selection, training, and development of Resident Assistants (RAs), cultivating student leaders who can build strong residential communities.
Create and implement residential programs that foster community, personal development, and professional growth.
Serve as a resource and advocate for residential students, ensuring their needs and concerns are addressed promptly and effectively.
Participate in the on-call rotation with other Deans, providing leadership and support during emergencies.
Work with the Office of Student Conduct to address student conduct issues within the residence halls.
Monitor the housing system (StarRez) to ensure an accurate account of student information and housing assignments.
Review room changes in StarRez and assist Residence Life staff members in aligning with the room change process twice a semester.
Coordinate the opening and closing of residence halls each semester, ensuring efficient and effective processes.
Partner with facilities and other campus departments to maintain safe, clean, and well-functioning residential spaces.
Develop and lead training initiatives for residence life staff to enhance skills in community development, conflict resolution, and crisis management.
Promote ongoing professional development opportunities to ensure staff remain current on best practices in residence life and higher education.
Any and all other duties as assigned.