Assistant Director of Residence Life

Lehigh University; Bethlehem (Northampton County); On-site; USD 42,000 - 46,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition benefits for staff and family

Comprehensive health coverage

Retirement contributions

Job summary

Lehigh University is seeking an Assistant Director of Residence Life to oversee a residential area, mentor Gryphon staff, and implement a campus-wide residential curriculum. This live-in role combines leadership, programming, and student development within the Office of Residence Life.

Salary range reflects a Grade 7 position with 40 hours per week and on-campus duties. The incumbent will supervise student staff, build inclusive communities, manage budgets, and participate in recruitment and

Qualifications

• Master's Degree in Higher Education/Student Affairs or equivalent.
• 1–3 years of related work experience.
• Experience supervising undergraduate or graduate student staff in a residential setting.
• Sound judgement in crisis response and on-call situations.
• Commitment to fostering inclusive residential communities aligned with Lehigh’s values.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities.
• A collaborative, team-based approach to working within a structured department.
• Flexibility for evening and weekend responsibilities.
• Willingness to live on campus.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct supervision and development to Gryphon student staff, with regular supervisory meetings and performance feedback.
• Oversee implementation of educational/community development strategies to engage residents with Lehigh's curriculum.
• Assess learning goals and outcomes with the curriculum foundations for student success.
• Identify and refer students with personal, social, academic, or behavioral concerns.
• Serve as an administrative hearing officer for Student Conduct and Community Expectations.
• Resolve roommate conflicts and community living concerns using restorative practices.
• Manage assigned area budget and financial stewardship.
• Participate in the Assistant Director duty rotation handling crises and coordinating campus services.
• Assist with recruitment, selection, training, and development of Gryphons.
• Evaluate and address facilities concerns in oversight areas with campus partners.
• Support Residence Life and Student Affairs programs as needed.

Skills

Supervision leadership

Communication skills

Collaborative teamwork

Crisis judgment

Education

Master's Degree in Higher Education/Student Affairs

Job description

Join Lehigh University's dynamic Student Affairs team as an Assistant Director of Residence Life. As an Assistant Director you’ll be a foundational component of the campus residential experience, directly managing a residential area and leading a passionate team of our student staff members. This live-in position offers a unique opportunity to mentor student leaders, implement an innovative residential curriculum, and create inclusive and supportive communities where students can thrive.

About the Opportunity

As one of six Assistant Directors in our Office of Residence Life, you'll oversee residential area operations and create environments where students thrive academically and personally. This role combines leadership, community programming, and student development in a supportive university setting.

Position Number: S86150

This position is a Grade: 7 - 40 with an approximate salary range of $42,000- $46,000 and is subject to change based on experience, skills and qualifications.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide direct supervision and development to a team of Gryphon student staff members, including facilitating regular supervisory meetings and monitoring performance to provide continuous feedback and development
• Oversee the implementation and refinement of a variety of educational and community development strategies to foster residents' continued engagement with bLUeprint, Lehigh's student life curriculum.
• Assess learning goals and outcomes of the curriculum strategies in tandem with bLUeprint's five foundations for student success
• Identify, support, and refer students who exhibit personal, social, academic and/or behavioral concerns in partnership with appropriate campus offices
• Serve as an administrative hearing officer in support of Student Conduct and Community Expectations processes
• Meet with students to resolve roommate conflicts and community living concerns through a restorative practices approach and respond as needed with community interventions
• Execute financial stewardship over assigned area budget
• Serve on the Assistant Director duty rotation with other Assistant Directors, responding to crises and engaging appropriate campus services as needed
• Assist with implementation of recruitment, selection, training, and development programs for Gryphons
• Evaluate condition of residential areas of oversight and work with campus partners to address facilities concerns in a timely manner
• Assist with other Residence Life and Student Affairs programs and services as needed in support of larger divisional commitments

Qualifications

• Master's Degree in Higher Education/Student Affairs or the equivalent combination of education and experience
• One to three years of related work experience
• Strong supervision and leadership skills, specifically demonstrated experience supervising undergraduate or graduate student staff in a residential setting
• Sound judgement in crisis response and on-call situations
• Commitment to fostering inclusive residential communities consistent with Lehigh’s values
• Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities
• A collaborative approach to working within a structured, team-based department
• Flexibility for evening and weekend responsibilities
• Willingness to live on campus

Why Choose Lehigh University?

Lehigh University provides an exceptional workplace where tradition meets innovation. Located in Pennsylvania's scenic Lehigh Valley, our campus offers easy access to New York City and Philadelphia while maintaining a tight-knit community atmosphere. We support our employees through comprehensive benefits, professional development opportunities, and a collaborative work environment. Our Student Affairs division values creativity, inclusion, and student-centered approaches. You'll collaborate with passionate professionals dedicated to student success and personal growth.

Lehigh offers a strong benefits package that includes generous university contributions to retirement, comprehensive health coverage, and tuition benefits that extend to staff and eligible family members, resources that reflect the university's investment in the people who make campus life possible.

Special Considerations

• This is a live-in position and will work 48 out of 52 weeks per year, with four consecutive weeks off during the summer.
• The duties of this position do not allow for a remote work option - an active campus presence will be required, including evening and weekend hours when needed. The employee in this position will be required to live and work on-campus where they can be appropriately accessible to the Lehigh community.
• The fall semester start date is flexible based on the selected candidate's specific circumstance

Lehigh University is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate. We are committed to a culturally and intellectually diverse community and we seek qualified candidates to contribute to the university’s mission.

Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing an accommodation for any part of the interview or hiring process may contact Lehigh's Accommodations Specialist.

Successful completion of standard background checks including but not limited to: social security verification, education verification, national criminal background checks, motor vehicle checks, PATCH, FBI fingerprinting, Child Abuse Clearance and credit history based upon the requirements of the position.