Residence Life Associate Director

Universities of Wisconsin • La Crosse, WI

4d • $68,500

About The Position

The Associate Director of Residence Life for Staffing, Training and Development is a member of the Management Team within Residence Life, reporting to the Director of Residence Life. In addition to primary job responsibilities, Associate Directors provide overall leadership, coordination, collaboration and direction for all Residence Life initiatives, services, and operations. Associate Directors contribute to the vision, mission and guiding principles through participation in strategic planning, department goal setting, and determining priorities. Associate Directors also have shared responsibility for the support and development of all full-time staff within the department. The review of applications starts on May 1, 2026. Applications received on or before May 1st are prioritized and review will continue until the position(s) is/are filled. Initial interviews will be conducted virtually, with shortlisted candidates invited to campus. UW-La Crosse does not offer H-1B or other work authorization visa sponsorship for this position. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire and maintain work authorization throughout the employment term. If you have questions regarding this, please contact Human Resources at 608-785-8013.

Requirements

• Master's Degree in Student Affairs, Counseling or related field
• Minimum of 3 years post Masters full time experience in Residence Life
• Commitment to college student belonging and engagement
• Excellent written communication skills
• Ability to work independently and in a team or group setting

Nice To Haves

• Five (5) years or more of progressive responsibilities in full-time experiences
• Experience supervising graduate or full-time staff
• Excellent oral communication and ability to train others
• Demonstrated collaboration with campus partnerships
• Attention to detail with strong organizational skills and ability to multi-task
• Ability to effectively manage stressful situations such as responding to urgent or emergency situations

Responsibilities

• Assist the Director as liaison from Residence Life to campus or external stakeholder groups.
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with campus partners.
• Provide oversight and assist in decision making for the departmental budget and spending procedures.
• Collaborate with Management Team in making strategic decisions for each area within Residence Life.
• Represent Residence Life in events hosted by campus partners, such as Student Affairs, Admissions, Athletics, and International Education and Engagement.
• Commit to ongoing developmental opportunities to stay informed of best practices, initiatives, and meeting the needs of our residential student populations.
• Serve as the first response support for campus emergencies involving residence hall students and/or facilities.
• Plan, implement, and evaluate residence hall opening, closing, and break procedures.
• Create, update, and maintain accurate policies and procedures in collaboration with Management Team and campus partners.
• Supervise professional live-in staff including Complex Directors, Hall Directors and Graduate Hall Directors.
• Work with professional live-in staff regarding their primary job responsibilities which includes: Student Staff Supervision and Development, Community and Educational Development, Residence Hall Management (facilities, front desk coordination, occupancy), Student Conduct and Well-being, Leadership Development and Advising
• Oversee the coordination of the student staff hiring processes for Assistant Hall Directors, Resident Assistants, and Desk Assistants.
• Guide and support the onboarding, training, development, and accountability of student staff.
• Co-teach UWL 260, the 2 credit required Student Staff class for new Resident Assistants.
• Direct and evaluate residence life initiatives to ensure alignment with academic initiatives and strategic plans.
• Establish collaborative working relationships with campus partners including the Student Life Office, Counseling and Testing, the Campus Assessment Response and Evaluation (CARE) Team, and University Police; maintaining a high level of communication and consultation involving behavior of students.
• Provide support and direction after-hours for staff serving on duty.
• Coordinate hiring and onboarding processes for professional live-in staff including Complex Directors, Hall Directors, and Graduate Hall Directors.
• Coordinate ongoing training and professional development of professional live-in staff.
• Providing a wide range of opportunities for further growth and career progression.
• Coordinate evaluation process for professional live-in staff as well as oversee any job action and hiring actions.

Benefits

• Paid vacation for 12-month positions.
• Excellent flexible health insurance with low co-pays and good coverage.
• Paid holidays and paid sick days.
• After 5 years of employment, you become vested in our retirement system which ensures income post-career.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director