Assistant Director of Residential Education

Berea-College; Berea (KY); On-site; USD 60,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

Berea College is seeking an Assistant Director of Residential Education to advance the Eight Great Commitments, especially the Seventh, through a wellness-focused residential community. You will supervise Hall Directors, oversee licensing and policy, and coordinate with Student Affairs and campus partners to maintain a thriving living-learning environment.

The role emphasizes leadership in staff development, crisis response, and program management within Residential Education, aligning with

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Education, College Student Personnel, Counseling, Human Development, or related field required.
• 3–5 years of professional experience in Student Affairs or Residence Life or a related area.
• Experience supporting, training, and educating diverse populations.
• Proven supervisory experience with staff support, problem-solving, and conflict resolution.
• Ability to adapt to change and take on varied responsibilities in a dynamic environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop and support Hall Directors and residential spaces in alignment with institutional commitments.
• Oversee training and development strategies for Residential Education staff and professionals.
• Lead administrative operations, including openings/closings, room changes, and applications.
• Maintain records with campus partners and coordinate across campus services.
• Participate in on-call rotations for after-hours residential incidents.
• Serve as Administrative Hearing Officer and contribute to policy development.

Skills

Residence Life knowledge

Staff supervision

Diversity & inclusion

Budgeting

Crisis management

Change management

Communication

Education

Master’s degree in Education, College Student Personnel, Counseling, Human Development, or related field

Job description

The Assistant Director of Residential Education advances Berea College’s Eight Great Commitments, particularly the Seventh, by supporting a residential community grounded in wellness, learning, sustainability, high personal standards, and care for others, in alignment with the Student Affairs mission.
In consultation with the Director of Residential Education, the Assistant Director of Residential Education is responsible for the development and support of the Hall Directors and residential spaces. Emphasis is placed on contributing to the advancement of the Residential Education vision, mission, and goals. This position serves as a strategic educator, training and supervising staff members in supporting hall management, oversight of camps policy, and community support. The Assistant Director of Residential Education must be an individual that is highly motivated and enthusiastic about actively contributing to the success of Berea College students.

• Create an academic environment conducive to living-learning and scholarly pursuits such as faculty interaction and student success programming.
• Establish and maintain positive relationships and lines of communication with campus partners, such as serving as the Student Affairs liaison to facilities management and/or coordinating with the Work Learning Service program staff.
• Oversees Hall Directors through weekly meetings, regular communication, routine training, and retreats.
• Supervises employees as designated by the Director of Residential Education. Manages the supervision of hall staff including providing labor supervisor standards, coordination of labor allocation, and development of policies and procedures.
• Oversees training and development strategies for Residential Education professional and student staff.
• Supports administrative responsibilities for Residential Education operations, including openings and closings, room change periods, application periods, and processing of applications.
• Supports good record keeping in cooperation with campus partners (Office of Disability & Accessibility Services, Admissions, Academic Services, etc.).
• Participates in the Student Affairs on-call rotation at the Student Affairs Administrator Level to provide after-hours response to residential hall and campus incidents.
• Serves as an Administrative Hearing Officer.
• Assists in the development of residential policy, curriculum, student and staff manuals, educational materials, training programs, and procedures for the department of Residential Education.
• Oversees marketing, web content, communication, resident contracts, manuals, student housing self-service portal, and Residential Living Guide on behalf of the office of Residential Education.
• Maintains accountability for funds allocated by the Director of Residential Education for hall programming, staff appreciation, student labor, and office supplies.
• Other duties as assigned by the Director of Residential Education.

Education required to ensure success in this position:

• Master’s degree in Education, College Student Personnel, Counseling, Human Development, or related field required.

Experience required to ensure success in this position:

• 3–5 years of professional experience in Student Affairs or Residence Life or a related functional area.
• Demonstrated experience supporting, training, and educating diverse populations.
• Proven supervisory experience, including staff support, problem-solving, and conflict resolution.
• Ability to adapt to change and assume varied responsibilities in a dynamic environment.

Special skills, knowledge and abilities:

• Knowledge of professional standards, best practices, and emerging trends in Residence Life and Housing.
• Ability to supervise, mentor, and develop professional and student staff, including performance management, coaching, and fostering inclusive and effective teams.
• Capacity to build collaborative relationships and communicate effectively with a diverse campus community.
• Ability to oversee complex functional areas, including staff-led operations, budgeting, and project management.
• Experience providing leadership in student conduct processes, crisis response, and emergency situations, exercising sound judgment and accountability.
• Capacity to lead through change by guiding staff through evolving policies, systems, and technologies in alignment with institutional priorities.

License, certification, or registration necessary:

• Valid driver’s license

Physical requirements:

• Must have visual acuity to perform activities such as inspections or preparing and analyzing data and figures.
• Must be physically able to navigate campus, as well as sit, or stand for extended periods of time.

Environmental conditions:

• Office environment

Ability to operate the following vehicles or equipment:

• Standard office equipment
• Ability to operate a motor vehicle