Assistant Director for Residence Life

Dickinson; Carlisle (Cumberland County); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA seeks an Assistant Director for Residence Life. This live-in, 12-month position supports a residential community of 500–700 students and helps cultivate an engaging, inclusive living-learning environment.

Reporting to the Associate Director of Campus Life for Residence Life & Housing, the role provides direct supervision, training, and evaluation of 1–2 community advisors and 18–22 resident advisors, develops programming, and collaborates with campus partners to

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Counseling, Higher Education Administration, or related field.
• Experience in Residence Life and Housing preferred.
• Experience with eRezLife is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct supervision, training, and evaluation of 1–2 community advisors and 18–22 resident advisors.
• Develop and implement programming aligned with the residential curriculum.
• Coordinate and oversee housing operations, safety, and crisis response.
• Collaborate with campus partners to support student success and community development.

Skills

Customer service

Conflict resolution

Communication

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Counseling, Higher Education Administration, or related field

Tools

eRezLife

Job description

## Assistant Director for Residence LifeApplylocations: Holland Union Building HUBtime type: Full timeposted on: Posted Yesterdayjob requisition id: JR100501**Posting Details**Dickinson College is a premier four-year residential liberal arts institution chartered in 1783 and widely recognized as a leader in global and sustainability education. Dickinson College is located in Carlisle, named a “most livable city” by Forbes and is minutes from the state capital of Harrisburg. The campus is connected to a vibrant downtown that offers eclectic dining, shopping and entertainment options. Within a two-hour drive are Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, D.C.; New York City is three hours away.Dickinson College offers full-time employees a broad range of benefits, including a comprehensive medical insurance plan, life insurance, flexible spending accounts, generous time off, parental leave, homebuyer assistance, and tuition benefits for eligible employees and dependent children under the age of 24. Upon eligibility, the College contributes 8% of an employee’s base salary to a retirement account with an additional .5% matching contribution; all money paid by the college into the employee’s retirement plan is immediately and fully vested in the employee.Below you will find the details for the position, including any supplementary documentation and questions you should review before applying for the opening. To apply for the position, please click the "Apply" for this job link button above.**Position Department**Residence Life**Job Summary/Basic Function**## Position SummaryConsistent with the college’s mission of providing a useful education for engaged citizens, the Assistant Director will play an integral role in the residential experience, developing and implementing community initiatives and overseeing an environment that supports students in the complexities of living together. The incumbent works with the fellow staff to create a vision for community development within a liberal arts setting that intentionally supports an engaging academic and intellectual environment for students beyond the classroom walls. This live-in position creates and facilitates distinctive conditions and programs throughout the residential experience that intentionally foster community, promote curiosity, and seek engagement from its members so that they are able to thrive throughout their experience. The Assistant Director reports to the Associate Director of Campus Life for Residence Life & Housing. ## Essential Functions* Provide leadership and oversight for a four-year residential community of approximately 500–700 students by fostering an inclusive, safe, and engaging living environment that supports student success and development. Maintain a visible presence through regular student engagement, which includes but not limited to, building walkthroughs, office hours, and community initiatives. Respond to student concerns by providing support, facilitating conflict resolution, coordinating room changes, making appropriate referrals, and collaborating with campus partners. Develop and implement programming aligned with the residential curriculum to promote student learning and community engagement. Maintain accurate records, monitor residential facilities with community advisors and resident advisors to address maintenance and safety concerns, and serve as a liaison among students, faculty, staff, and families to support effective residence life and housing operations. 30%* Provide direct supervision, training, and evaluation of 1–2 community advisors (head resident advisors) and 18–22 resident advisors or 8 house and apartment managers through regular individual meetings, weekly staff meetings, and oversight of residential curriculum implementation. Manage administrative processes, purchasing, and budget reconciliation to support student staff programming and approved work-related purchases while ensuring compliance with departmental and institutional policies. 20%* Serve as chair for one or more Residence Life and Housing committees, including Student Staff Selection, Student Staff Training, and Programmatic Curriculum, providing leadership in the planning, implementation, and assessment of departmental initiatives. Oversee one or more departmental focus areas, such as the First-Year Experience, Upper-Class Experience, or Housing Operations by developing strategies, coordinating initiatives, and collaborating with campus partners to advance departmental goals and enhance the residential student experience. 20%* Develop and maintain collaborative partnerships with campus departments, community organizations, and external stakeholders to coordinate programs and services that enhance the residential experience. Collaborate with campus partners, including Public Safety, Facilities Management, and CASE, to support the effective operation of residential facilities, oversee residential key management, and ensure timely resolution of operational needs. Support and participate in Campus Life initiatives and maintain Residence Life and Housing website content to provide accurate and timely information to students and the campus community. 10%* Provide 24/7 on-call crisis response and administrative support for the residential campus by participating in a four-person professional staff on-call rotation, serving as the college's Administrator on-call, and maintaining a required 30-minute response time while on-call. Assess and respond to student emergencies and critical incidents within the residential community, implementing appropriate crisis response protocols and collaborating with campus partners to ensure the safety, well-being, and support of students and the campus community. 10%* Coordinate and oversee the opening and closing of residential facilities by collaborating with student staff to prepare buildings for occupancy, including the completion and management of Room Condition Reports. Supervise closing processes to ensure spaces are inspected, damages are accurately documented and assessed, and health and safety inspections are completed prior to residence hall break closings in compliance with institutional policies and standards. 10% ## Other Duties and Responsibilities* This position is a 12-month live-in position.* Assist with Campus Life special event planning and coordination.* Participate in departmental, divisional, or college committees as appointed.* Participate in the student conduct resolution process by facilitating the informal resolution process and administrative hearings for assigned cases as needed.* Other duties as determined or assigned. ## Supervisory Responsibilities* Not responsible for supervising others. ## Requirements* Bachelor’s degree in Counseling, Higher Education Administration, or related field, required.* A valid driver’s license for the operation of a company-owned, rented or leased vehicle.* Pennsylvania Act 153 Clearance consisting of the Pennsylvania Criminal History Record Information Check, Pennsylvania Child Abuse Certification, and Federal Criminal History Record Information Check pursuant to Pennsylvania law and Dickinson College policy.* Experience in Residence Life and Housing, specifically within first-year programming, hall support, etc., is preferred, but not required.* Experience working with eRezLife is preferred.* Strong customer service skills to deal with situations tactfully and promptly.* Flexible hours including nights and weekend commitments.* Ability to routinely access student residence halls and other campus facilities, including walking throughout buildings and climbing and descending stairs in the course of performing job responsibilities, with or without a reasonable accommodation. ## Work Experience* 1-3 years ## Independence of Action* Results are defined and existing practices are used as guidelines to determine specific work methods and carries out work activities independently; supervisor/manager is available to resolve problems. ## Equipment Used* Standard office equipment. ## Physical and Environmental Demands* Ability to routinely access student residence halls and other campus facilities, including walking throughout buildings and climbing and descending stairs in the course of performing job responsibilities, with or without a reasonable accommodation.* Office environment.**EEO/Diversity Statement:**The College is committed to building a representative and diverse faculty, staff, and student body. We encourage applications from all qualified persons.### About UsDickinson College is a premier four-year residential liberal arts institution chartered in 1783 and widely recognized as a leader in global and sustainability education. Dickinson College is located in Carlisle, named a “most livable city” by Forbes and minutes from the state capital of Harrisburg. The campus is connected to a vibrant downtown that offers eclectic dining, shopping and entertainment options. Within a two-hour drive are Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, D.C.; New York City is three hours away. We invite you to take a virtual tour of our campus and explore our Careers at Dickinson College video.### Our BenefitsDickinson College offers full time employees a broad range of Benefits including a comprehensive medical insurance plan, life insurance, flexible spending accounts, generous time off, parental leave, homebuyer assistance, and tuition benefits for eligible employees and dependent children under the age of 24. Upon eligibility, the College contributes 8% of an employee’s base salary to a retirement account with an additional .5% matching contribution; all money paid by the college into the employee’s retirement plan is immediately and fully vested in the employee.### Dickinson's Commitment to InclusivityDickinson welcomes those who are seeking to be part of an intellectual and social community that values justice, free inquiry, diversity, and equal opportunity. It is a fundamental policy of the college to respect pluralism, civility and mutual understanding within its community. The college does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, age, veteran status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation or any other protected class.We encourage applications from all qualified persons. Individuals with disablities who require an accommodation to complete the employment process should contact Human Resource Services at [phone], [e-mail] or by visiting our offices Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (ET).### Employment InformationYou must submit your application for each position for which you would like to be considered. All applications must be submitted electronically by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on the closing date indicated. If you have accepted any position at Dickinson College, there are key pieces of documentation that are needed to complete the hiring process. Be sure to review the list of acceptable Form I-9 documents, List of Acceptable Documents. We must physically verify the original of each document provided and we must obtain a copy of those required documents. Employees must complete the Form I-9 to document verification of their identity and employment authorization.Employment with Dickinson College is contingent upon satisfactory completion of a background check, which may include a criminal background check, reference checks, verification of work history, and verification of any required academic credentials, licenses, and/or certifications, with results acceptable to Dickinson College to ensure a safe learning and work environment for our students, staff, and faculty. A criminal conviction will not automatically disqualify an applicant from employment. Background check information will be used in a confidential, non-discriminatory manner consistent with state and federal law.### Annual SecurityFederal legislation requires institutions of higher education to inform prospective members of our community about its most recent crime/incident statistics, crime prevention and security programs and activities, policies concerning the reporting of crime, and related information in accordance with the Campus Security Act, commonly referred to as the Clery Act. You can obtain this information by contacting the Department of Public Safety, Dickinson College, 400 W. North St - Rear, Carlisle, PA 17013 or call (717)-245-1349.