Department: University Life
Classification: Professional Faculty
Job Category: Administrative or Professional Faculty
Job Type: Full-Time
Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)
Location: Fairfax, VA
Workplace Type: Hybrid Eligible
Sponsorship Eligibility: Not eligible for visa
sponsorship
Salary: Salary starting in the low 70K's, commensurate with
education and experience
Restricted: Yes
Criminal Background Check: Yes
About the Department:
Housing & Residence Life (HRL) is a self-supporting auxiliary
organization within the University Life unit of George Mason
University. HRL serves a highly diverse population of approximately
6,000+ students, the majority of which are undergraduates living in
traditional, suite and apartment-style residence halls on three
campuses within the vibrant Northern Virginia area.
HRL employs over 150 full-time and graduate staff members and over
250 undergraduate student staff members. HRL is committed to
providing a safe, well-maintained student-centered environment that
is innovative and all-inclusive of a global community. It is
dedicated to creating a home that enriches the experiences of our
students, staff and faculty.
About the Position:
The Assistant Director of Residence Life provides leadership for
residence halls, develops and implements HRL Learning Communities
(LCs), and is responsible for collaborative internal departmental
processes.
The Assistant Director has primary responsibility for the overall
management of a residential area housing approximately 1,500
undergraduate students. Responsibilities include supervision of
four (4) professional Community Directors and Coordinators,
oversight for all administrative functions within the assigned
area, and active support for departmental and divisional goals and
initiatives through various collaborative efforts.
The Assistant Director also develops and implements LC procedures
and operations, which include new and returning resident
recruitment efforts, first-year and upper-division student
assignments, collaborative efforts with academic and University
Life LC partners, and ongoing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
agreements for LCs.
Focus areas for internal processes include move-in/move-out,
closing, and Health and Safety Inspections for Residence life.
Reporting to the Associate Director of Residence Life, the position
is a live-on role that includes participation in the Assistant
Director duty rotation for the Fairfax Campus.
Responsibilities:
Supervision and Leadership
- Provides guidance, leadership, and direction to ensure
appropriate supervisory support to direct reports (Community
Directors, Coordinators, and Grad staff), quality supervision of
indirect reports (Grad staff and student staff), and team
accountability;
Establishes and communicates performance goals, expectations,
and deadlines for supervised staff to ensure alignment with
departmental priorities, university goals, and effective delivery
of residential programs and services;
Organizes workflow for Residence Life to ensure that employees
understand their duties or delegated tasks. Receives and addresses
complaints and other issues as applicable;
Provides ongoing supervision through regular one-on-one
meetings, coaching, goal-setting, and performance evaluations to
support staff development, accountability, and effective job
performance;
Hires, and trains new employees to ensure the department
maintains a qualified, knowledgeable, and effective workforce
capable of supporting departmental and university objectives;
Prepares and conducts timely performance evaluations,
and maintains accurate records of employee performance, feedback,
and disciplinary actions, ensuring adherence to legal and
university policies and procedures. Collaborates with UL divisional
partners/stakeholders to address performance concerns;
Provides leadership and oversight for a residential area on the
Fairfax Campus to ensure effective operations, student support, and
a positive residential experience; Responsible for the
implementation and execution of the student engagement model to
support and attain departmental, divisional, and University
goals;
Supports Residence Life staff in crisis response and student
intervention efforts in collaboration with the Housing and
Residence Life Care and Outreach team to ensure timely support for
student well-being and safety;
Participates in the Assistant Director on-call rotation with
other Assistant Directors in Housing & Residence Life to
provide support for emergencies and critical incidents involving
residential students and facilities;
Assists in planning and implementing training for Community
Directors/Coordinators, Graduate Assistants, and undergraduate
student staff to ensure staff are prepared to effectively support
students and carry out departmental responsibilities;
Leads Residence Life staff meetings and departmental
stakeholder meetings as needed to facilitate communication,
alignment of priorities, and effective operational coordination;
and
Communicates information between upper management and staff to
promote clarity, alignment, and effective implementation of
departmental priorities.
Administration
- Provides leadership and administrative support for all
operations within the assigned residential area to ensure effective
management, operational consistency, and alignment with
departmental goals;
- Collaborates with the Associate Director of Residence Life to
support departmental and University Life assessment efforts in
partnership with the HRL Assessment Analyst to inform goals,
improve services, and advance student success;
- Coordinates major departmental operations, including semester
openings and closings, summer transitions, early arrivals, and
break housing, to support efficient execution of residential
processes and ensure a positive student experience;
- Ensures timely follow-up on maintenance and facilities needs
and projects within residential buildings to maintain safe,
functional, and well-maintained living environments;
- Collaborates with Residential Services and Community Directors
to ensure accurate occupancy records and resolves assignment
discrepancies within assigned halls;
- Oversees purchases, vendor contracts, and budget reconciliation
within the assigned residential area to ensure fiscal accuracy and
responsible financial management;
- Ensures accurate damage billing and key/access management
procedures in collaboration with Residential Services and
Facilities staff to maintain security, accountability, and
operational consistency; and
- Ensures appropriate case management, follow-up, and student
support in consultation with the Housing and Residence Life Care
and Outreach and Community Standards teams to support student
well-being, accountability, and coordinated care.
Collaborations and Partnerships
- Develops and maintains effective working relationships with all
Housing and Residence Life staff to promote collaboration, ensure
effective communication, and support departmental goals;
- Assists the Residential Services staff with student-focused
marketing and communication to increase student awareness and
understanding of Housing Selection and other assignment-related
process;
- Serves on departmental and University Life committees to
support and enhance the academic success and co-curricular
experience of residential students;
- Implements Housing and Residence Life initiatives, including
the student engagement model, to support student learning and
engagement in assigned communities;
- Coordinates University Life and university-wide student success
and retention initiatives in residence halls to support student
resilience and academic success; and
- Serves as a University conduct hearing officer for escalated
student incidents as needed to ensure fair resolution and to
support student accountability and development.
Residence Life Programming
- Provides oversight and leadership for all aspects of the
Learning Communities (LCs) program within Housing & Residence
Life, including the development of new LCs, the growth and
maintenance of existing communities, and the management and renewal
of Learning Communities Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) to ensure
program consistency, support intentional residential learning
experiences, and advance student engagement and success;
- Provides leadership and guidance to Community Directors and
other Assistant Directors who have responsibility for residence
halls containing LCs to ensure alignment with departmental goals
and expectations;
- Develops and maintains effective relationships with all
Learning Community (LC) partners by facilitating monthly meetings
and ensuring consistent communication to promote collaboration,
alignment, and the effective delivery of LC programs;
- Responsible for all aspects of new and returning LC Resident
Assistant recruitment, selection, placement, and training
initiatives to ensure a well-prepared staff that effectively
supports Learning Community programming and student success;
- Works collaboratively with appropriate HRL staff and LC
stakeholders to determine and update both individual and
departmental LC needs on an ongoing basis through assessment for
continued success;
- In partnership with the HRL Residential Services Team,
responsible for Learning Community (LC) occupancy management,
including placement, room assignments, and room changes, to ensure
accurate housing coordination and support intentional community
development;
- Coordinates all Learning Community (LC) application processes,
including application updates, content, timelines, and
communication to students and stakeholders to ensure a clear,
accessible, and efficient application experience that supports
student participation and program enrollment; and
- Serves as the Residence Life representative in collaborative
planning and oversight of internal processes such as move-in,
move-out, closing, and Health and Safety Inspections with HRL
partners to ensure efficient operations, consistent execution, and
a safe, well-coordinated residential experience for students.
Departmental and Divisional Responsibilities
- Supports divisional planning initiatives and other special
projects assigned. Actively participates in UL divisional meetings,
initiatives, and in-person events to stay connected with divisional
and institutional priorities, and to foster a cross-unit
collaboration. Participates in professional development workshops
and training sessions for staff across the division to promote
continuous learning and skill enhancement;
- Stays informed about best practices, research, and emerging
trends in higher education and student support services to ensure
Housing & Residence Life (HRL) remains innovative and
responsive to the evolving needs of the student body;
- Supports divisional initiatives and other special projects as
assigned, actively participating at in-person events and volunteer
opportunities to represent Housing & Residence Life (HRL) and
UL effectively to the campus community;
- Assumes occasional evening, weekend, and on-call
responsibilities, including participation in events and response to
emergencies, to ensure continuous support for residential
operations and the safety and well-being of students;
- Actively supports and complies with university policies,
departmental regulations, vision, and goals to ensure alignment,
effective communication, and consistent implementation of
institutional priorities; and
- Serves on departmental, divisional, and University-wide
committees and workstreams and completes additional projects and
tasks as assigned by the Associate Directors and Director of
Residence Life to support institutional priorities and operational
needs.
Required Qualifications:
- Master’s degree in related field or equivalent combination of
education and experience;
- Professional experience typically obtained in 3+ years in
residence life and/or residential services; 2 years of graduate
level experience may be substituted for 1 year of professional
experience;
- Experience supervising professional and/or student employees,
including performance management and staff development;
- Experience supporting students through complex concerns,
behavioral issues, crisis situations, and other student-related
matters requiring sound judgment and effective
decision-making;
- Experience collaborating with campus partners to support
student success, educational initiatives, and departmental
goals;
- Demonstrated ability to provide ongoing feedback, coaching, and
guidance to support employee performance and development;
- Ability to monitor budget activity and expenditures to ensure
accuracy, compliance, and alignment with approved budgets;
- Demonstrated interpersonal, oral, and written communication
skills with the ability to communicate and engage effectively
with varying audiences of constituents and departmental
stakeholders;
- Ability to coordinate large scale operations and multiple
operational processes simultaneously; and
- Other attributes that demonstrate a commitment to supporting
student success, engagement, and retention.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience developing, implementing, or managing
Living-Learning Communities (LLCs), Learning Communities (LCs), or
other curricular and co-curricular educational initiatives;
- Experience coordinating student recruitment, housing
assignments, occupancy management, or retention initiatives;
- Experience developing and managing collaborative partnerships
with academic departments and other campus stakeholders, including
responsibility for shared goals, communication, and operational
processes related to student success initiatives, living-learning
communities, or other educational programming;
- Knowledge of residence life and housing operations, including
occupancy management, residential education, student conduct
processes, and residence hall administration;
- Knowledge of learning communities (LCs) and residential
education models;
- Knowledge of student support and crisis response practices,
including the ability to recognize concerns and connect students
with appropriate resources; and
- Ability to assess programs, analyze data, and use results to
inform decision-making and continuous improvement efforts.
Instructions to Applicants:
For full consideration, applicants must apply for
Assistant
Director of Residence Life at
https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the online
application to include three professional references with contact
information, and provide, resume and cover letter for review.
Posting Open Date: September 21, 2026
For Full Consideration, Apply by: October 5, 2026
Open Until Filled: Yes
Mason Ad Statement
George Mason University is a nationally ranked R1 research
university committed to creating a more just, free, and prosperous
world. With 40,000 enrolled students, George Mason is the largest
and most diverse public research university in Virginia, offering
degree programs at the master's, doctoral, and professional level,
along with certificates and credentials.
George Mason fosters an All Together Different environment for
students, faculty, and staff, driven by our core beliefs. We
believe in inclusivity over exclusivity; we believe in advancing
our mission by being willing to take risks, not avoiding them; and
we believe our best work is possible when we apply our diversity of
origin, identity, circumstance, and thought.
Equity Statement
George Mason University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action
employer, committed to promoting inclusion and equity in its
community. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for
employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual
orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or
veteran status, or any characteristic protected by law.
Campus Safety Information
Mason’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is available at
http://police.gmu.edu/annual-security-report/
