Director of Residence Life

The Director of Residence Life is a dynamic, experienced, and team-oriented professional in a twelve-month salaried position reporting directly to the Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs, with additional reporting responsibilities to the Vice President for Finance for operational matters. This role provides leadership for the day-to-day operations residence life and campus housing, including an 835-bed apartment-style community and a 489-bed suite-style freshman community.

The Director serves as the primary leader for housing professional staff and resident assistants, overseeing community development, marketing, application and reapplication processes, move-in and move-out operations, and health and safety initiatives. The Director is responsible for setting departmental goals aligned with the Division of Student Affairs and the institution and for ensuring staff success through supervision and support.

This position requires strong problem-solving skills and sound judgment in addressing student conduct and conflict resolution matters. The Director serves as an appeal officer as outlined in the Residence Hall Handbook and supports fair and consistent outcomes in student housing concerns.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

• Serve as a member of the Student Affairs Leadership Team.
• Act as a liaison with campus partners including Student Accounts, Police, IT, Admissions, Financial Aid, Dining Services, and others.
• Develop and manage departmental budgets and long-term financial planning.
• Oversee hiring, onboarding, training, and supervision of professional staff and student employees
• Provide continuous, 24/7 leadership in crisis response and coordinate communication with key stakeholders.
• Manage housing operations, including StarRez processes and USG-required reporting.
• Interpret and enforce housing policies, procedures, and regulations.
• Adjudicate student conduct cases and manage housing appeals.
• Assist AVP for Student Affairs with student engagement support, communication, and conflict resolution.
• Oversee conduct processes using Maxient and serve as a student conduct officer, investigator, or hearing panelist.
• Assist and coordinate with Residential Facilities and Operations Manager to conduct facility and safety inspections of residence halls and grounds.
• Coordinate educational and social programming that supports student development.
• Serve on institutional committees and the CARE Team.
• Participate in on-call rotation for residential emergencies.
• Support additional initiatives including grant projects and the campus food pantry.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Knowledge and Skills Required

• Knowledge of residence life and housing best practices.
• Budget development and financial management expertise.
• Supervisory and leadership skills.
• Understanding of student conduct and student development theory.
• Strong decision-making and problem-solving abilities.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Commitment to student development and success.
• Proficiency with relevant software systems.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's degree in a related field from an accredited institution.
• Minimum of three years of supervisory experience.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse populations both collaboratively and independently.
• Valid driver's license with acceptable driving record.
• Availability for evenings and weekends as required.
• Must reside within a 15-minute drive of campus.

Preferred Qualifications

• At least three years of experience in student affairs or higher education preferred.
• Familiarity with University System of Georgia policies preferred.
• Experience with housing operations and business functions strongly preferred.