Assistant Director Residence Education/Community Development

The University of Iowa; Iowa City (IA); On-site; USD 63,000 - 77,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Iowa is seeking an Assistant Director Residence Education/Community Development to lead the REM curriculum and educational initiatives. You will design, implement, and assess the annual REM plan, supervise hall coordinators, and coordinate training for professional and student staff.

You will oversee partnerships, data reporting, and campus collaborations to advance student learning and residential programs.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Student Development, Counseling, Higher Education Administration, or related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Residential Curriculum — Design, implement, and assess the REM educational plan and materials.
• Oversee Training & Development — Develop yearly training schedules for staff, including in-service workshops.
• Supervise Professional & Graduate Staff — Provide supervision, evaluation, coaching, and HR oversight for staff.
• Manage Academic & Student Success Initiatives — Coordinate training and partnerships to support student success.
• Serve as Departmental Administrator for Key Platforms — Oversee curriculum tracking and attendance systems.

Skills

Leadership

Curriculum design

Supervision

HR oversight

Communication

Team building

Problem solving

Education

Master’s degree in Student Development or related field

Job description

Assistant Director Residence Education/Community Development

The Assistant Director of Community Development provides leadership for the University Housing & Dining residential curriculum (REM), shaping student learning, engagement, and success across campus housing. This role develops, administers, and assesses curriculum initiatives; and assists in the development and maintenance of student learning and success initiatives to ensure high‑quality educational experiences for residential students. The Assistant Director supervises hall coordinators, supports hall operations including supervision, facilities, and judicial processes. As a key member of the Residence Education team, his position may supervise academic initiatives graduate students when available and participate in the on‑call rotation to support student and campus needs .

Specific Job Duties and Tasks

Lead the Residential Curriculum — Design, implement, and assess the annual REM educational plan, including Hawk Talks, programming materials, onboarding, and ongoing curriculum development.

Oversee Training & Development — Develop and execute yearly training schedules for professional and student staff, including summer, winter, and ongoing in‑service workshops.

Supervise Professional & Graduate Staff — Provide administrative supervision, performance evaluation, coaching, and HR oversight for hall coordinators, graduate assistants, and student staff.

Manage Academic & Student Success Initiatives — Coordinate Excelling@Iowa training, academic partnerships, and additional learning initiatives that support student success.

Serve as Departmental Administrator for Key Platforms — Oversee software used for curriculum tracking, community development, and attendance systems (e.g., Swipe).

Lead Assessment & Data Reporting — Develop and implement assessment plans for REM outcomes in partnership with departmental leadership.

Cultivate Campus Partnerships — Maintain regular collaboration with Title IX, Academic Support & Retention, and other DSL stakeholders to deliver educational resources and support student learning.

Provide Leadership Within Residence Education — Serve on the Residence Education leadership team and represent the department on committees and workgroups.

Respond to Student & Community Needs — Address inquiries, complaints, and conduct cases; participate in emergency response and central staff duty rotation.

The Division of Student Life is comprised of staff that embrace new ideas and thoughts, works together to keep our students safe, and provides them with life-changing experiences. The Division of Student Life includes 15 departments that span from Recreational Services to the Office of Leadership, Service and Civic Engagement and everything in between. We believe in working together as one team to achieve our mission: fostering student success by creating and promoting educationally purposeful services and activities within and beyond the classroom.

Required Qualifications & Skills:

Master’s degree in Student Development, Counseling, Higher Education Administration, or related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience is necessary.

Three or more years full‑time experience in housing administration or management experience in cultural, educational and development program planning in a college or University setting.

One to three years supervisory experience, including student and/or secretarial staff.

Exceptional administrative skills, including a proven ability to handle multiple projectssimultaneously to establish priorities, accomplish goals and meet deadlines.

Excellent problem‑solving skills, including experience analyzing and resolving conflict, successfully navigating group dynamics, and effectively building teams.

Experience serving in an on‑call duty rotation at the collegiate level.

Strong record of building teams and partnerships with colleagues and key campus stakeholder groups.

Excellent written and oral communication, public speaking and organizational skills

Demonstrated experience with strong interpersonal communication skills, both written and oral, in working with all populations of students and staff.

Desired Qualifications:

Experience developing and implementing student staff training models

Experience working with residential curriculum or other community development models.

Supervisory experience of professional live‑in staff or graduate students

Successful candidates will be required to self‑disclose any conviction history and will be subject to a criminal background check and credential/education verification.

Job openings are posted for a minimum of 7 calendar days and may be removed from posting and filled any time after the original posting period has ended. Up to 5 professional references will be requested at a later step in the recruitment process.This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship in the United States.For questions or additional information, please contact Michelle Sehmann at [e-mail]

Joining the University of Iowa means becoming a vital part of the Hawkeye community, here your work directly impacts education, research, and student success.

Enjoy exceptional health coverage, university-paid life insurance, robust retirement plans, and generous leave policies. Benefit from 24/7 support services, well‑being resources, and access to UI Health Care specialists. Grow professionally with advanced training, leadership development, and tuition assistance.

Additional Information

• Classification Title: Residence Life Manager
• Appointment Type: Professional and Scientific
• Schedule: Full‑time
• Work Modality Options: On Campus

Compensation

• Starting Salary Minimum: 70,000
• Starting Salary Maximum: commensurate

Contact Information

• Organization: Student Life

Equal opportunity employer

The University of Iowa is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment free from discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth and related conditions), disability, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, service in the U.S. military, sexual orientation, or associational preferences.

Persons with disabilities who need assistance or accommodations with the application or interview process may contact University Human Resources/Faculty and Staff Disability Services, [phone] or [e-mail] . For jobs in UI Health care, please contact UI Health care Leave & Disability Administration at 319-356-7543 .