Assistant Director for Residential Life

Colgate University; New York (NY); On-site; USD 65,000 - 69,000; Full time

Job summary

Colgate University is seeking an Assistant Director for Residential Life to oversee junior and senior housing, including thematic housing and Greek Chapter houses. This full-time, live-on position requires strong collaboration with campus partners and a student-centered approach.

The role supervises student staff, manages housing processes and records using housing software, and coordinates crisis response as part of a commitment to a vibrant residential experience for Colgate's undergraduates.

Qualifications

• Strong written and verbal communication with diverse campus stakeholders.
• Ability to build collegial relationships across campus departments.
• Experience or familiarity with housing software (StarRez) preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and oversee the junior and senior housing experience.
• Manage housing processes, including annual housing selection and related operations.
• Supervise student staff and provide ongoing development.
• Coordinate with campus partners and lead crisis response as needed.
• Oversee facilities and building management for residence halls and housing units.

Skills

Student development

Collaboration

Communication

Education

Master's degree in higher education

Tools

StarRez housing software

Job description

Department StatementThe assistant director for residential life is responsible for the management of junior and senior housing (including thematic housing and Greek Chapter houses), coordinating effective residential housing processes, stewarding financial resources, and providing clear communications within a liberal arts, undergraduate-focused, residential campus. Colgate University students, faculty, and staff are highly collaborative and intellectually engaged with a genuine interest in working together to create and sustain a vibrant student residential experience. The successful candidate for this position will demonstrate their ability to excel through their capacity for building and maintaining collegial relationships, operating with a student-centered focus, engaging in creative problem-solving, providing strong attention to detail, and possessing strong skills in the use of housing software. This position is a hands‑on educator with a keen interest in operationalizing a residential experience aligned with the developmental interests and needs of junior and senior undergraduates.Colgate UniversityAssistant Director for Residential LifeRequisition Number: 2026S068PostingFull Time/Part Time: Full TimeDivision: Dean of the CollegeDepartment: Residential LifeWage/Salary Range: $65,000 - $68,500Department Statement The assistant director for residential life is responsible for the management of junior and senior housing (including thematic housing and Greek Chapter houses), coordinating effective residential housing processes, stewarding financial resources, and providing clear communications within a liberal arts, undergraduate-focused, residential campus. Colgate University students, faculty, and staff are highly collaborative and intellectually engaged with a genuine interest in working together to create and sustain a vibrant student residential experience. The successful candidate for this position will demonstrate their ability to excel through their capacity for building and maintaining collegial relationships, operating with a student-centered focus, engaging in creative problem-solving, providing strong attention to detail, and possessing strong skills in the use of housing software. This position is a hands‑on educator with a keen interest in operationalizing a residential experience aligned with the developmental interests and needs of junior and senior undergraduates.
The primary responsibilities of this position include the development and oversight of the junior and senior residential experience, assisting with the management of housing processes, including annual housing selection, the private off‑campus housing lottery, and semester break and recess housing (including late stays and early arrival housing). Additional functional areas include key operations, damage billing, furniture inventory, and room management. Work with apartment communities and fraternity/sorority communities is also part of this position.
This position requires strong communication capacity and skills, as it often engages with students and families. The assistant director will build and maintain collaborative relationships with colleagues across campus, including with Campus Safety, Fire Safety, Facilities, Fraternity and Sorority Advising, Student Involvement, Student Disability Services, Information Technology Services, Summer Programs, Communications, and the Office of the Dean of the College.
The position directly supervises student staff in junior and senior housing, and reviews systems and processes to maximize student ownership of their residential communities. The Assistant Director reports to the Associate Director of Lower Campus and Operations. This position will also oversee the lower campus residence halls, thematic houses, and/or fraternity and sorority chapter houses.
This position is a required live‑on position. As a visible member of the lower campus community, the incumbent will connect with residential students in the area, develop an awareness of the benefits and challenges of living in the junior and senior community, attend occasional evening and weekend events sponsored by the interest communities, occasionally dine with junior and senior students, and provide on‑site crisis response when needed. Colgate places student agency at the forefront of the college experience, so an interest in helping students create their residential communities is expected. Regular engagement with campus events, programs, lectures, and athletic events is not only helpful for understanding the life of the campus, it helps the Assistant Director connect with students outside of the residential communities and deepen relationships with them.Accountabilities The Assistant Director is a full‑time, live‑on position, primarily responsible for the effective and efficient execution of strategies and programs that enrich the junior and senior residential experience at Colgate. This position works closely with the Residential Life Leadership Team and campus partners to build an engaging junior and senior experience that will prepare students for life after college.
Specific ResponsibilitiesJunior and Senior Experience & Community Development

• Collaborate with the Associate Director to develop, implement, and assess strategies and activities that are connected to broader divisional and institutional priorities and that maximize student agency as they develop their own residential experience. Actively engage and maintain high visibility within junior, senior, lower campus, and thematic housing areas to establish positive relationships, convey expectations, and foster student agency and accountability.
• Apply student development and learning community theories to build theme and interest community partnerships, collaborating with students, student organizations, departments, and faculty.
• Translate the departmental philosophy, mission, and strategic goals into actionable practices that support the growth, maturity, and intellectual development of residential students.
• Proactively address community issues to foster a supportive environment that promotes a sense of belonging and inclusion for all students.

Staff Supervision & Development

• Recruit, hire, train, supervise, and evaluate a team of student staff in accordance with department expectations, goals, and established procedures.
• Facilitate weekly staff meetings, 1:1 check‑ins, and ongoing professional development or in‑service activities for student staff.
• Apply student development theory and professional best practices when supervising staff and advising departmental student committees.
• Model professional behavior appropriate for an educator living in and among students.

Housing Processes, Records, & Technology Management

• Effectively utilize housing software and technical solutions to manage on‑campus housing assignments, status changes, waitlists, room changes (in partnership with the Associate Director), and related records.
• Manage administrative housing data sets and workflows, including key management, room condition reporting, and the tracking of seasonal processes (e.g., early arrivals, late stays, and break housing).
• Maintain strict confidentiality of student records and ensure data maintenance aligns with University, division, and department guidelines.

Communications & Front‑Line Operations

• Collaborate closely with University Communications to draft, edit, and execute regular, high‑quality email correspondence tailored to all residential students.
• Develop clear, concise, and engaging communications for major residential processes, ensuring complex instructions are delivered in a warm, welcoming, and accessible manner.
• Maintain a high standard of editorial excellence across all platforms to ensure student‑facing messaging is accurate, timely, and aligned with departmental standards.
• Cascade key information regarding policies, conduct, administrative matters, and campus events to student staff and residents.
• Serve as a welcoming, informative presence for campus partners, students, and families, including providing coverage for the central office on a rotating basis and resolving parent concerns with care and support.

Facilities & Building Management

• Monitor and coordinate the day‑to‑day administrative and operational functions of multiple residence halls, thematic houses, and chapter houses (including occupancy, maintenance, technology, and furniture inventory).
• Manage residence hall opening, closing, and break procedures across all areas.
• Partner with Facilities to document and address maintenance needs, ensuring reported damages and facility problems are resolved promptly.
• Oversee weekly facility and safety inspection processes conducted by student staff, executing appropriate follow‑up.
• Coordinate the department‑wide damage billing process, including inspections, documentation, and final closing procedures.

Advising, Crisis Management, & Emergency Response

• Provide crisis intervention, documentation, and necessary follow‑up in accordance with campus protocols, collaborating with Campus Safety, the Counseling and Psychological Services, the Dean's Office, and other campus resources.
• Support student staff during counseling or crises, serving as their primary referral resource.
• Participate in the scheduled professional staff on‑call duty rotation to provide comprehensive campus crisis response.
• Manage student behavior and resolve conflicts by responding to incidents, meeting with students, and applying appropriate sanctions as detailed in the University Student Handbook.

Administrative, Financial, & Institutional Effectiveness

• Apply strong time management, problem‑solving, and planning skills to seamlessly execute on‑site logistics, programs, and processes.
• Meet functional accountabilities while staying within assigned departmental budget constraints.
• Build and maintain highly collaborative working relationships with colleagues across the Residential Life team, Dean of the College division, facilities, faculty, and the broader University community.
• Meet regularly with the supervisor to review departmental goals, establish individual benchmarks, assess progress, and solve systemic problems.
• Apply basic assessment techniques to measure programmatic effectiveness and drive continuous improvement.
• Participate in University committees as deemed appropriate by the supervisor or Residential Life Leadership Team.
• Fulfill responsibilities as a designated Campus Security Authority (CSA) by accurately reporting allegations of Clery Act crimes to the Campus Safety Department.
• Execute other duties as assigned.

Professional Experience/Qualifications Ideal candidates will have well‑developed:

• Written and verbal communication skills and be capable of creating and maintaining productive and collegial working relationships with a diverse group of faculty, staff, students, and visitors.
• Knowledge of student development and/or human development theory and practice.

Ideal Candidates Will Bring

• Must be available to work occasional evenings and weekends as required.
• Must be self‑motivated and able to manage multiple projects, programs, and student challenges simultaneously with an appropriate sense of urgency.
• A minimum of two years of relevant work experience is required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with faculty within the context of a learning community or similar program is highly desired.
• Experience working with housing software, especially StarRez, and reporting is preferred.
• Experience working with thematic housing, Greek organizations, and chapter housing is preferred.

Education A Master's degree in higher education or a related field is required. Those with a combination of a Bachelor's degree and experience from which comparable skills are gained may be considered.Other Information This position will require occasional evening and/or weekend hours. This position will require participation in the residential life on‑call rotation. This position requires living on‑campus. Room and partial board are also required and included in the compensation package.
Work visa sponsorship is not available for this position.Work Schedule Job Open Date: 10/02/2026
Job Close Date Open Until Filled No
The University recognizes that equal employment opportunity can only be achieved through demonstrated leadership. It is the Policy of the University to recruit, employ, retain, promote, and train employees on the basis of skills and experience, capacity to do the job, and valid job qualifications without regard to any characteristics protected by applicable local, state or federal laws.
CAMPUS CRIME REPORTING AND STATISTICS The Department of Campus Safety will provide upon request a copy of Colgate's Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. This report includes statistics as reported to the United States Department of Education for the previous three years concerning reported: 1. crimes that occurred on‑campus; in certain off‑campus buildings or property owned or controlled by Colgate University; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus and 2. fires that occurred in student housing facilities. The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security and fire safety, such as policies concerning sexual assault, life safety systems, and other related matters. You may access the report from the Clery Compliance web page at: https://www.colgate.edu/about/offices-centers-institutes/dean-college/campus-safety-staff/clery-compliance. Printed copies of this report may be obtained upon request from the Department of Campus Safety via e-mail at [e-mail].