Job Details

State Title: Associate Director

Bargaining Unit: Non-Unit

Employment Type: 35 hours per week/Full-time

External salary: $80,000 - $90,000

About TCNJ

Founded in 1855, TCNJ offers a highly personalized and collaborative liberal arts education with over 7,400 undergraduates and 700 graduate students. The college is consistently ranked among the top comprehensive colleges in the nation, offering small classes, a 13:1 student-faculty ratio, and an immersive living-learning experience. With a 4-year graduation rate ranked #1 in New Jersey and #9 among U.S. public institutions, TCNJ is a model for public higher education.

Position Overview:

The FYE Associate Director of Residential Education serves as a key leader within the Department of Residential Education and Housing, providing comprehensive oversight for the educational, safety, and community development efforts within a residential population of over 3,500-4,000 students. Reporting to the Executive Director of Residential Education, Housing, & Dining, this position oversees the operational and developmental functions of a dynamic residential program, including after-hours duty and crisis response, student conduct, residential care outreach, and initiatives that promote student health, wellness, and safety in alignment with campus-wide policies, fire safety standards, and federal guidance.

This role provides direct supervision to 3-4 masters-level Residence Directors, offering mentorship and leadership in the day-to-day management of residential communities, staff development, and program implementation. The First-Year Area Associate Director plays a central role in implementing the residential curriculum and providing a comprehensive training program that addresses all departmental policies, procedures, and applicable local and national regulations for student staff.

As a live-off position, the Associate Director is expected to serve in the senior-level duty rotation with three other professionals, providing critical leadership during after-hours and crisis situations. Crisis management responsibilities include supporting students in distress; engaging with families, senior leadership, and campus police when appropriate; responding to significant building safety or facilities issues; and demonstrating sound judgment and effective problem-solving under pressure.

During periods of vacancy at the Residence Director level, the Associate Director provides hands-on leadership and direct oversight of a residential area and its student staff team, ensuring continuity of support and supervision.

This position actively collaborates with campus partners to create environments that foster learning, belonging, and student success through intentional educational programming, effective crisis planning, alignment with the Colleges strategic plan, and evidence-based practices.

Responsibilities:

• Supervision & Staff Development The Associate Director hires, trains, supervises, and evaluates 4 masters-level professionals Residence Directors, while providing indirect oversight for 200+ student staff, including Community Advisors (CAs), Student Managers/Resident Officers (SMROs), Desk Assistants, Mailroom staff, and other residential support personnel. This role ensures that all hiring, training, and evaluation processes align with Affirmative Action procedures and institutional standards.
• Health & Wellness for Students The Associate Director plays a key role in promoting the safety, well-being, and mental health of 3,500–4,000 residential students and campus guests. As a live-off position, the Associate Director serves in the after-hours senior-level duty rotation, responding to high-level mental health concerns, significant safety issues, and building emergencies that may require the relocation of dozens to hundreds of students.
• Educational Initiatives The Associate Director administers and supports the implementation of department-wide co-curricular residential education experiences for approximately 4,000 students across first-year and upperclass areas.
• Student Personnel Administration Provide centralized leadership and support for Residential Education's student staff training and onboarding of nearly 300 undergraduate staff across five positions.
• Residential Student Behavior (leads) Provide leadership and oversight for the application of the Student Code of Conduct within the residential program, ensuring a consistent, educational, and developmental approach.

Qualifications:

Required:

• Master's Degree in Student Personnel, Higher Education, Counseling or a related academic discipline appropriate to the promotion of student development.
• Demonstrated experience of 2-3 years supervising professional and/or graduate-level staff.
• Demonstrated experience serving in an after-hours duty rotation and effectively responding to student crises.
• Previous experience with setting and evaluating learning outcomes or designing and implementing a residential curriculum.
• Has 2-5 years of professional experience in residential education, residence life, or housing at a college or university.