Assistant Director of Residential Life/Area Director

Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Massachusetts Institute of Technology seeks an Assistant Director of Residential Life/Area Director to advance the educational mission within MIT’s Undergraduate Residential Life program. You will lead a live-in team, partner with house staff, and collaborate with the dean on call during crises to ensure a safe, inclusive living-learning environment.

The role emphasizes community building, student support, and coordination of housing services under the head of house and associate dean for

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required in higher education administration or related field; master’s preferred.
• Minimum two years of Residential Life or Student Affairs experience.
• Experience in leadership development, advising, crisis intervention and counseling.
• Ability to collaborate with students, staff, and faculty to foster a welcoming living-learning community.

Responsibilities

• Serve as live-in professional supporting the educational mission of MIT and the division of Student Life.
• Partner with house teams to build community, supervise room assignments, and oversee move-in/move-out processes.
• Act as part of the dean on call team to respond to student crises and emergencies.

Skills

Crisis intervention

Counseling

Leadership development

Advising

Residential education

Education

Bachelor’s degree in higher education administration, social work, counseling, or related field

Master’s Degree

Job description

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF RESIDENTIAL LIFE/AREA DIRECTOR

Residential Life Programs , live-in professional responsible for furthering the educational mission of MIT, the Division of Student Life, and the Office of Undergraduate Residential Life, under the direction of the head of house in their respective living community and the associate dean for undergraduate residential life. Guided by the head of house, the assistant director/AD partners with the house team to build a sense of community that encourages personal growth, accountability, health and safety, and a sense of belonging. The assistant director/AD is also responsible for supporting housing services, including working with the head of house and student leaders on room assignments and with the house operations manager on the move-in/move-out process. As a member of the dean on call team, the assistant director/area director responds to student crises and emergency situations.

The full job description is available at https://studentlife.mit.edu/about-dsl/careers/

Job Requirements

REQUIRED : Bachelor’s degree in higher education administration, social work, counseling, or related field; a minimum two years of experience in Residential Life and/or Student Affairs; experience in leadership development, advising, crisis intervention and response, counseling, and residential education; and ability to work with students, colleagues, and faculty to build a welcoming living-learning residential community. PREFERRED : Master’s Degree.

Appointed by the Senior Associate Dean for Residential & Community Life, assistant directors/ADs serve a one-year renewable appointment with an expected 5-year term of employment.

The position also has the possibility of a 6th year renewal dependent upon organizational needs. In consultation with the head of house, assistant director/ADs will have an annual performance review, conducted by the associate dean for undergraduate residential life.

11/2/2026