"Residence Life Director"

Job Details

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Position Title: Residence Life Director

Job Category: Limited

Employment Type: Regular

Job Profile: Residence Life Director

Job Duties:

The Director of Residence Life has administrative responsibility for the Department of Residence Life at the University of Wisconsin La Crosse. The Director reports to the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and serves as a member of the Student Affairs Directors Leadership Team to ensure that residence life services are effectively aligned with the institution and division missions.

The Director ensures a high-quality living and learning environment for over 3,200 students in the 10 residence halls, an effective planning and assessment program, staff training/development program, physical facilities and operations program, communication, judicial process, and fiscal management.

This is a full-time, 12-month position, which includes a State of Wisconsin benefits package.

The Division of Student Affairs’ role is to enhance and support students learning experience here at UWL. We work closely with faculty, staff, community members, alumni and most importantly, students to provide quality programs and services which promote learning, leadership, involvement, service and the celebration of diversity. The Division includes a number of departments: Campus Child Center, Counseling and Testing, Student Health Center, Recreational Sports, Residence Life, Student Life, University Centers, and the Vice Chancellor & Dean of Students office. The staff of the Division is truly student-centered and concerned about the holistic development of the student.

The review of applications starts on October 19, 2025. Applications received on or before October 19th are prioritized and review will continue until the position(s) is/are filled. Initial interviews will be conducted virtually, with shortlisted candidates invited to campus.

UW-La Crosse does not offer H-1B or other work authorization visa sponsorship for this position. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire and maintain work authorization throughout the employment term. If you have questions regarding this, please contact Human Resources at 608-785-8013.

Key Job Responsibilities:

Values, Assessment, and Planning

• Lead strategic organizational change initiatives by integrating best practices and fostering a culture of continuous improvement across all functional areas; Provide intentional vision and guidance for the department and its personnel which incorporates appropriate student development concepts.
• Coordinate long-range planning for the Residence Life program.
• Establish a positive working relationship with staff at all levels that helps to instill a concept of team.
• Maintain effective assessment measures, including surveys of residents, to determine departmental effectiveness of meeting stated goals and objectives and opportunities for improvement.
• Conduct regular meeting and planning sessions with department staff.
• Ensure that Residence Life is an integral and complimentary program to other campus programs and services.
• Actively participate in division and University meetings as appropriate.
• Other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Administration, Fiscal and Budget Management

• Serve as a member of the management team in Student Affairs as a member of staff to the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs.
• Cultivate strong, collaborative partnerships with students, staff, faculty, senior administrators, shared governance bodies, and local community stakeholders. Serve as the campus subject matter expert on student housing.
• Provide strategic leadership, vision, and daily management for a comprehensive housing operation including residence life, business operations, maintenance/facilities, and conference services.
• Assess the present and future issues and concerns of Residence Life (fiscal, physical, personnel, policy, etc.) on a regular basis.
• Maintain a database and reporting system that projects future annual needs regarding hall ratios and capabilities, and enables the management of occupancy.
• Ensure administration of Residence Life application, contract, and assignment processes.
• Coordinate the preparation and distribution of literature, advertisements, and public relations materials for Residence Life.
• Develop, interpret, and revise departmental policies and procedures.
• Support the maintenance of the off-campus housing database.
• Develop end of year documents, including the annual report and executive summaries.
• Direct a $16 +million annual self-supporting operating budget, including revenue forecasting, rate projections, housing and conference rate development, and long-range financial planning.
• Guide capital planning and major facilities projects, including ongoing multi-phase renovation projects to address infrastructure needs and enhance the student living experience; Oversee feasibility studies and planning for future housing construction.

Communication, Student and Staff Development

• Establish an effective communication system for student and staff input to be integrated into the Residence Life program.
• Establish effective communication with persons and agencies interacting with Residence Life. This includes current and prospective students, student government, parents, staff, faculty, UW System, vendors and the general public.
• Ability to engage in articulate verbal communication, to deliver messages that connect to topics, to respond spontaneously to a variety of constituents, and engage in meaningful discourse with students, faculty, staff, parents and families, and community members.
• Demonstrate a commitment to supporting the success of all students.
• Communicate relevant information to the residence hall community, departmental staff, campus partners, and institutional leadership in a clear, timely, and comprehensive manner.
• Maintain a consistent presence in the residence halls to evaluate the residential experience and remain aware of the physical environment, ensuring spaces are supportive, safe, and conducive to student success.
• Solicit student voice and perspective and student governance recommendations in making decisions that directly affect residence hall students and their living environment.
• Serve as hiring authority for all recruitment processes within the department.
• On-board, train, supervise and evaluate staff; Directly supervise 4 full-time staff; In-directly supervise 150+ full-time, part-time and/or student employees.
• Develop living environments to enhance the academic mission of UWL through creating welcoming communities, supporting experiential learning, and building meaningful relationships.
• Provide a learning environment and related co-curricular programs, based in student development theory, which challenge, stimulate, and broaden students’ knowledge and interests.
• Advocate for and protect the rights of residence hall students.
• Ensure due process through equitable and fair student conduct process which centers personal growth/student development while deterring inappropriate behavior.
• Oversee the use of on-line conduct system and training of staff to adjudicate lower level conduct issues.
• Maintain membership within state and national associations to stay connected to best practices within the field of practice; Provide leadership opportunities for students and staff to be involved through student governance, residence life and university committees and state, regional, and national associations to enhance the quality of student life.

Department: Residence Life

Compensation: $98,000 / Year

Required Qualifications:

• M.A. or M.S. in Student Affairs, Student Development, Counseling, or closely related field.
• A minimum of five years of work in residence life or related areas.
• A minimum of three years of post-master’s experience supervising professional staff.
• Demonstrated understanding and experience with budgeting and financial management.
• Demonstrated understanding and experience with facility management and planning.
• Demonstrated commitment and understanding of higher education and the role of student affairs.
• An exhibited commitment to student development and higher education required.
• Strong communication and presentation skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Doctorate degree in Student Affairs, Higher Education, Leadership or related field.
• Ten years post master’s experience in residence life or related areas.
• Five years of supervisory experience and department leadership.
• Demonstrated ability to engage in articulate verbal communication, to deliver messages that connect to topics, to respond spontaneously to a variety of constituents, and engage in meaningful discourse with students, faculty, staff, parents and families, and community members.
• Demonstrated experience with student conduct and Title IX.
• Significant involvement with a wide range of students, communities, and families of all racial/ethnic, cultural, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, ability/disability, and religious backgrounds.
• Financial oversight of a departmental or significant budget of six figures or higher.
• Demonstrated values in collaboration and creative partnerships.
• Commitment to student learning and engagement.
• Demonstrated support of planning and assessment.

How to Apply:

Required application documents:

• CV
• Cover Letter

Contact Information:

Kyle Burke kburke2@uwlax.edu