Residential Life Program Manager

JOB DESCRIPTION SUMMARY

The Residential Life Program Manager provides leadership for residential education and community engagement initiatives that support student success within campus housing. This position oversees key components of the residential life program, including supervising professional staff, mentoring student leaders, and developing innovative programming that fosters a vibrant and inclusive residential community. The Program Manager leads recruitment and training efforts for Resident Assistants, contributes to crisis response through the on-call rotation, and collaborates with campus partners to implement a comprehensive residential curriculum. This role also supports the expansion of themed communities and Living Learning Communities to enhance student engagement, belonging, and retention. Through assessment and data-informed decision-making, the Residential Life Program Manager continuously evaluates and strengthens residential programming to support students’ academic persistence and overall development.

Responsibilities

• Direct supervision of two (2) Residence Life Coordinators (RLCs).
• Indirect supervision of twenty-six (26) Resident Assistants (RAs) and six (6) Community Directors, providing guidance and mentorship.
• Lead recruitment and training initiatives for RA training/selection and ongoing professional development.
• Serve in the on-call rotation and respond to student and facilities crises.
• Assist in the development of themed residential communities and Living Learning Communities (LLCs).
• Expand themed community offerings to enhance student engagement and retention, providing more robust programming initiatives.
• Collaborate with the Director of Student Engagement in the development and implementation of a comprehensive residential curriculum.
• Develop assessment tools to evaluate the effectiveness of residential programming and student engagement initiatives, allowing for more data-driven improvements to increase students’ persistence.
• Strengthen retention efforts by utilizing assessment data to refine and enhance themed communities, demonstrating their impact on student success and campus involvement.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• A bachelor's degree in higher education administration, Student Affairs, Counseling, or related field from an accredited institution of higher education.
• 4-6 years of experience in housing and residential life or residential education.
• In lieu of a degree, any appropriate combination of relevant education, experience, and/or certifications may be considered.

Preferred Qualifications

• A master’s degree in higher education administration, Student Affairs, Counseling, or related field from an accredited institution of higher education.
• 3-5 years of experience in housing and residential life or residential education.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both oral and written.
• Ability to motivate, mentor, and manage a team of staff and students, fostering a culture of accountability and continuous learning.
• Ability to handle multiple competing priorities, to set and meet deadlines.
• Strong decision-making skills to handle high-pressure situations, including medical emergencies, mental health crises, and conduct violations.
• Skills in effective and persuasive interpersonal communication skills to gather information, resolve problems, and assess situations.
• Ability to coordinate major projects.
• Understanding of theories of college students' intellectual, emotional, and social development to create impactful programming and engagement opportunities.
• Proficiency in assessment techniques to measure program success and student learning outcomes.
• Familiarity with housing software systems (StarRez).
• Experience with student conduct management platforms (Maxient).