"Executive Director of Residence Life, Housing, and Dining"

Executive Director of Residence Life, Housing, and Dining

The Executive Director (ED) of Residence Life, Housing, and Dining provides visionary leadership and operational oversight for one of the University's most complex and mission-critical portfolios. Reporting to the Vice President of Student Affairs, the ED is responsible for creating an exceptional, inclusive, and student-centered on-campus living and dining experience that supports student success, belonging, and retention.

As a senior campus leader and member of the President's Extended Cabinet, the ED plays a key role in strategic enrollment management, student success initiatives, emergency management, and institutional planning. The position collaborates closely with Academic Affairs, Admissions, Facilities, Public Safety, Health and Wellness, and other campus partners to advance first- and second-year experiences, living-learning communities, crisis response, and holistic student development.

The ED provides direct leadership and supervision for a large, diverse staff of professional, graduate, and support personnel, oversees recruitment and development of student staff, and ensures compliance with university policies, Title IX obligations, and ACUHO-I ethical standards. The role also includes stewardship of a $52.1 million budget, long-range housing and dining master planning, facilities maintenance and renovation planning, vendor contract oversight, and continuous assessment and improvement of services.

The successful candidate will be a collaborative, student-focused leader who brings strong judgment, operational expertise, and a commitment to equity, wellness, and ethical practice. This role requires active engagement with students and families, participation in on-call and emergency response rotations, and a visible leadership presence across campus.

This is an exciting opportunity for a seasoned higher-education professional to shape the full residential experience and make a lasting impact on student success and campus life.

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree in Higher Education Administration, Student Affairs, College Student Personnel, Business Administration, or a related field
• Minimum of 7-10 years of progressively responsible experience in residence life, housing, dining services, or closely related functional areas within higher education
• Senior-level leadership experience supervising staff with responsibility for large, complex teams
• Experience collaborating effectively with Academic Affairs, Admissions, Facilities, Public Safety, and other campus partners to advance student success and enrollment goals
• Knowledge of student development theory, first-year and second-year experience initiatives, and residential learning environments
• Experience with crisis response, emergency management, and on-call leadership, including sound decision-making in high-pressure situations
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and student well-being, including experience recruiting, supervising, and supporting diverse staff and student populations
• Working knowledge of Title IX, student conduct processes, and relevant federal, state, and system-level regulations affecting residence life, housing, and dining
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills, with the ability to build trust and maintain effective relationships with students, families, faculty, staff, and external partners
• Commitment to ethical leadership and professional standards, including alignment with ACUHO-I Ethical Standards

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supervising professional staff direct supervision or incidental
• Experience with budget development and fiscal management, including oversight of operating budgets
• Ability to lead and manage housing and/or dining operations, including facilities coordination, vendor or contract management, and service delivery
• Experience with assessment and strategic planning