"Director of Residence Life"

Job Details

Job Posting: JR101449 Director of Residence Life (Open)

Department: Dean of Students, PM

Position Type: Regular

Open Date: 10-26-2025

Salary: $95,000 - $105,000

Job Description

The Residence Life program at Bowie State University serves the needs of approximately 1700 residents. We are committed to supporting the academic mission of the University by attempting to provide residents with a positive and interactive living/learning environment.

The Director for Residence Life is primarily responsible for maintaining and advancing the department’s mission by enhancing the depth of resident development inherent in all aspects of resident and staff initiatives, including residence education and resident leadership opportunities. The Director is responsible for managing the recruitment, selection, training, and evaluation of Resident Directors (RDs) and Graduate Student Assistants (GSAs) with indirect supervision of the Resident Assistants (RAs), Computer Lab Assistants (CLAs), Desk Assistants (DAs) and Resident Assistants (RAs).

Reporting directly to the Dean of Students, the Director works closely with staff to maintain programmatic standards and provide excellent customer service to residents in each residence hall. Additionally, the Director will work closely with the Enrollment Management and Student Affairs team (EMSA) to create and maintain policies and procedures related to all aspects of building operations and student well-being. The Director is also involved in fiscal oversight and the development of a long-term maintenance plan for the residence halls.

QUALIFICATIONS

At a minimum, the Director must possess a Master’s degree in Student Affairs, College Student Personnel Administration, Counseling, or a related field and a minimum of five years of progressive experience supervising professional hall staff and central office involvement. The Director must also possess and demonstrate strong organizational, administrative, and communication skills and a working understanding and practical application of resident development theory. This is a 12-month, live-out position.

RESPONSIBILITIES

a. Setting the overall direction and goals for the department, which should always be resident focused and consistent with the University’s concept of “shared governance”. Responsible for resident satisfaction assessments.

b. Address staff and resident concerns with the highest level of customer service.

c. Coordinate the recruitment and selection of professional staff.

d. Directly train, supervise, and evaluate full-time professional Resident Directors. Indirectly supervise paraprofessional staff and Summer Conference Workers.

e. Provide opportunities for professional growth and development for professional and paraprofessional staff.

f. Serve as a resource to RDs in the areas of programming, staff training/development, budget management, supervision, and accountability.

g. Compile information to complete weekly, monthly, semester, and annual reports with data from housing, program efforts, student conduct, and other pertinent areas.

h. Coordinate the RD/GSA on-call schedule. Oversee RDs in their development of an RA-building on-call schedule each semester.

i. Work with RA and RD committee chairs to plan training and development for all live-in staff (Pre-service, fall training, monthly in-service, mid-year, and summer) for all paraprofessional staff.

j. Coordinate the RA evaluation process each semester and maintain the employee records.

k. Oversee the implementation of all hall programming efforts utilizing the department’s programming model and standards. Encourage staff to work collaboratively with faculty and staff to provide programs and activities.

l. Monitor RA and RD personnel procedures to ensure consistency and fairness. Generates all RA probation and termination letters. Sign all probation and termination letters for community assistants

m. In coordination with the Director of Student Conduct & Community Standards, monitor Resident Director case management to ensure appropriate and timely adjudication of student policy violations.

n. Coordinate annual training for Resident Directors on the student conduct management software, judicial case management, and hearing procedures in collaboration with the Director of Student Conduct & Community Standards.

o. Serve as the second level hearing officer for higher level, separable, residence hall policy violations

p. Coordinate the revisions and modifications to all manuals, other training materials, and department publications, such as the traditional hall contract and resident handbook.

q. Assist with the management of the campus public-private apartment residential community. Meet bi-monthly with partners to maintain a positive working relationship.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE. SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Demonstrated experience in student services, especially in university housing, and a working knowledge of higher education administration.

Must have excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to establish and maintain a good rapport with faculty, residents, and staff. The successful candidate must be creative and possess demonstrated skills in conflict resolution, multicultural program development, leadership development and training, special event coordination, group advising, organizational management, needs assessment, and critical thinking.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• This is a 12-month live-out position. No housing will be provided.
• Evenings, weekends and during break periods is required.
• Must be flexible in work hours to include some evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• This role is considered an “Essential Employee” which may require the incumbent to work on-campus during emergencies and campus closures.

Additional Job Information

Benefits include medical, dental, prescription, long-term disability, accidental death and dismemberment insurance and life insurance; paid time for paid sick leave, annual leave, and personal leave; 12 paid holidays per year, tuition remission; employer-funded pension and supplemental retirement accounts.