"Assistant/Associate Director of Residence Life"

Position Summary

Grinnell College is seeking a dynamic and collaborative leader to join our Student Affairs team as the Assistant/Associate Director of Residence Life.This role is all about shaping a vibrant residential experience where students feel a sense of belonging, engage deeply with their communities, and grow through meaningful learning outside the classroom.

As the Assistant/Associate Director, you will:

• Lead and mentor a talented team of live-in professional staff and a large, dedicated student staff.
• Champion our residential curriculum, with a focus on inclusive community building, civic engagement, and restorative practices.
• Partner with colleagues across campus to foster student success and well-being.
• Support our student conduct processes, ensuring they are rooted in fairness, accountability, and care.

Because this is a highly relational and responsive role with on-call responsibilities, the Associate Director is required to live within 20 minutes of Grinnell city limits.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead with vision and care: Provide direct supervision, coaching, and support to professional Residence Life Coordinators and indirect supervision to student staff. Help the team grow by setting clear expectations while amplifying individual strengths.
• Shape the student experience: Oversee student staff recruitment, selection, training, and the design and implementation of the residential curriculum.
• Collaborate across campus: Represent Residence Life on institutional committees, forging partnerships that advance departmental and divisional goals.
• Be part of the leadership team: Work closely with the Assistant Dean of Residence Life and Student Conduct and the Assistant Director for Housing Operations to set and achieve the strategic vision for the on-campus residential experience.
• Respond and support: Address student needs directly and mobilize staff to support care responses. Assist in student conduct processes, maintaining Maxient records, and meeting with students before and after hearings.
• Engage in on-call rotation: Serve weekly as part of the “Dean on Call” rotation, providing guidance and assistance to staff responding to student issues.

About Grinnell College

Since its founding in 1846, Grinnell has become one of the nation's premier liberal arts colleges, enrolling 1,700 students from all 50 states and from as many international countries. Grinnell's rigorous academic program emphasizes excellence in education for students in the liberal arts; the college offers the B.A. degree in a range of departments across the humanities, arts, sciences, and social studies. Grinnell has a strong tradition of social responsibility and action, and self-governance and personal responsibility are key components of campus life. More information about Grinnell College is available at www.grinnell.edu.