Assistant Director for Residence Life

The Assistant Director for Residence Life assists the Director for Residence Life and the Executive Director with the development of a student learning and living environment within KU Housing & Residence Life. As a member of the leadership team, the Assistant Director participates in policy and procedure development, student learning and development, residential curriculum support, customer service, student assistance, and overall program development.

Specifically, the Assistant Director is assigned mid-level management responsibilities for the supervision and oversight of 2-4 full-time employees in residential areas housing 1500-3000 students. The Assistant Director plays a key role in developing and supporting learning in residential communities and responding to the needs of supervisees.

The Assistant Director is part of the Residence Life team and shares responsibility for leading critical processes for the on-campus housing experience. Focus areas that the Assistant Director may lead include staff recruitment and development, policy and procedure development, and leadership programs. The Assistant Director team will work together to develop a collaborative experience for staff and students. The Assistant Director will be tasked with developing collaborative efforts to advance varying KU strategic plans and goals.

KU Housing & Residence Life houses approximately 5500 students on the Lawrence campus in residence halls, apartments, and cooperative houses known as scholarship halls.

40% - Staff Supervision and Area Management

• Directly supervises, trains, and evaluates 2-4 complex directors or hall coordinators in an area of 1500-3000 residents. Provides indirect supervision to other staff in the area, including graduate assistants and undergraduate paraprofessional staff.
• Manages the human resources functions for the supervisory area, including hiring and personnel action. Implements area staff development and training opportunities.
• Leads and coordinates area and all staff meetings.
• Ensures the development of a student learning environment and academically focused communities from a curricular foundation in area of responsibility.
• Collaborates with other KU Housing & Residence Life colleagues (occupancy management, facilities, finance) in providing oversight and direction for high level service to both students and staff.
• Assists other senior level staff with the development of short- and long-term facility repair, renovation, and construction plans.
• Collaborates with internal and external colleagues to ensure that student learning is emphasized and appropriate skills are developed to reach the learning goals of a residential curricular model.
• Provides direction and support to various residence life committees or workgroups.
• Ensure that residence life staff members have the support and necessary training to facilitate and lead in-hall processes around campus-wide events such as move-in, hall closing, prospective student visit days, etc.

30% - Student Conduct & Support, Crisis Management

• Serves as the first point of contact for the supervision area in discipline/conduct related cases and crisis response. Provides training, resources, expertise, and directives to all staff in the handling of discipline and crisis response.
• Develops, oversees, and implements practices for the handling of Residence Life discipline/conduct and crisis response cases.
• Provides support for housing interim suspension and relocation process.
• Knows and understands the Student Code of Conduct, FERPA, Title IV, Title IX, NCAA, Clery, State and Local laws, and University and Housing & Residence Life procedure.
• Serves as a University Level Hearing Officer.
• Assures all high-level situations are handled appropriately and in a timely manner. Appropriately communicates all discipline and conduct situations to upper administration.
• Provides response and support to parents, students, and residents with elevated concerns about their residential experiences in their supervision area.
• Serves as a member of the Assistant Director On-Call team for all on-campus housing facilities and approximately 5500 students.

30% - Service, Advising and General Administration

• Manages all responsibilities for assigned functional areas that could include, but are not limited to, staff recruitment and development, policy and procedure development, or leadership programs.
• Oversees budgets and appropriate spending of hall budgets area of responsibility.
• Assists with designated departmental responsibilities or special projects as assigned. Coordinates assigned responsibilities with appropriate University offices and staff.
• Facilitate communications to area staff from other areas in Housing & Residence Life and other university units, including facility updates and problems, housing occupancy issues, health and safety concerns, and student outreach follow-up.
• As needed, serves as a lead advisor for a departmental student organization (Association of University Residence Halls, The National Residence Hall Honorary or All Scholarship Hall Council.)
• Makes decisions based upon data and assessment.
• Oversee residential responsibilities of summer housing and conferences including staff and student support and supervision.
• Represents Housing & Residence Life at recruitment and orientations events.
• Serve as a team member and liaison with other Assistant Directors and others within Housing & Residence Life and the larger university community.
• Acts on behalf of Director of Residence Life as assigned or appropriate.
• Participates in local, state, regional, and national conferences, and other professional development opportunities.
• Serves on Division of Student Affairs and University level committees as appropriate.
• Other duties as assigned.

In addition to the online application, the following documents are required to be considered for this position:

• Cover letter describing how you meet the required and preferred qualifications.
• Resume
• List of three (3) professional references

Only complete applications will be considered.

Application review begins Monday July 21, 2025. For consideration, please apply no later than Sunday July 20, 2025.

carrie.fitzwater@ku.edu

$65,000 commensurate with experience

Monday July 21, 2025

Monday August 25, 2025