Associate Director, Student Support

Employer: Stanford University

Location: Vice Provost for Student Affairs, Stanford, California, United States

Employment Type: Full Time

Institution Type: Four-Year Institution

Job Details

JOB PURPOSE
The Associate Director for Student Support plays a vital leadership role within Stanford’s Office of Residential Education. This position oversees key student support functions within the undergraduate residential system, including case management, student leader performance, and crisis response. The Associate Director supervises professional and student staff and partners closely with campus stakeholders to foster a safe, inclusive, and supportive residential learning environment.

CORE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Leadership and Supervision (30%): Supervise and provide strategic guidance to a team that includes Resident Directors (RDs) and the Assistant Director for Student Leader Engagement. Oversee recruitment, hiring, training, and performance management for professional and student leader staff (RAs, ETAs). Foster a culture of accountability, learning, and care across staff and student leaders.
• Student Support and Case Management (25%): Serve as a lead member of the ResEd Student Support Team, participating in case review meetings and supporting high-need students in residential contexts. Provide training and consultation to RDs, student leaders, and Resident Fellows (RFs) on managing student concerns and responding to wellness, behavioral, and community challenges. Manage complex and escalated cases, often requiring independent judgment, coordination across campus resources, and communication with senior leadership.
• Partnerships and Collaboration (15%): Maintain and enhance key partnerships with Residential & Dining Enterprises (R&DE), Fraternity & Sorority Life (FSL), Resident Fellows (RFs), and campus wellness resources (e.g., SUPER). Represent Residential Education in cross-departmental meetings and university-wide initiatives related to student support and well-being.
• Policy Implementation and Conflict Resolution (10%): Interpret and enforce university and residential policies including the Residence Agreement and Student Leader Appointment Agreements. Lead restorative and educational interventions with student leaders or houses in response to behavioral or community concerns. Oversee student leader appointments, probation processes, and corrective actions, including terminations when necessary.
• Training, Selection, and Recruitment (10%): Lead components of the student leader recruitment, selection, and training cycle. Coordinate and deliver training modules related to wellness, crisis response, inclusion, and leadership development.
• Program Strategy and Long-Range Planning (10%): Collaborate on long-range planning for student support initiatives within Residential Education. Contribute to budget development and forecasting related to student leader programming and support operations.

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Education & Experience Required: Bachelor's degree and five years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Experience in higher education residential life or student affairs strongly preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Advanced communication skills with the ability to engage diverse audiences, including students, faculty, and senior administrators. Demonstrated ability to manage complex student cases and implement educational and restorative practices. Experience supervising staff and leading teams through periods of change. Strong organizational, analytical, and decision-making skills. Proficiency with student support systems and Microsoft Office Suite.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Frequently sit, perform desk-based computer tasks. Occasionally stand, walk, twist, use fine manipulation, grasp, use a telephone, write by hand, sort and file paperwork, lift objects up to 10 pounds.

WORK STANDARDS: Demonstrates the ability to work well with colleagues and clients and external organizations. Promotes a culture of safety and compliance with all university policies and procedures. Comply with all university policies, including confidentiality, fiscal accountability, and adherence to safety practices. Contribute to a culture of care, inclusion, and collaboration within Residential Education and Student Affairs. This is a hybrid position with at least 3 days onsite.

The expected pay range for this position is $129,271 - $137,000 annual. Stanford University provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for a position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location and external market pay for comparable jobs. At Stanford University, base pay represents only one aspect of the comprehensive rewards package. The Cardinal at Work website (https://cardinalatwork.stanford.edu/benefits-rewards) provides detailed information on Stanford’s extensive range of benefits and rewards offered to employees. Specifics about the rewards package for this position may be discussed during the hiring process.

How to Apply: We invite you to apply for this position, please submit your résumé and a one-page cover letter along with your online application.