ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, RESIDENTIAL EDUCATION

The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc.; Town of Ithaca (NY); On-site; USD 65,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare including vision and dental

Generous Paid Time Off

403B Retirement Savings Plan

Flexible Work Plans

Educational Benefits

Career-Enhancing Trainings

Job summary

Ithaca College seeks an experienced leader to direct residential education initiatives, including First-Year Experience, Living Learning Communities, and Residential Learning Communities. You will coordinate programs, develop student learning outcomes, and assess impact while supervising staff and partnering with campus stakeholders.

The role requires on-campus residence leadership, evening/weekend duties, and collaboration with faculty partners to promote student belonging, learning, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Higher Education, College Student Personnel, Student Affairs or a related field.
• Minimum of three years of full-time professional experience in Residential Life or related student affairs.
• Experience with first-year programs, LLCs or living-learning communities.
• Ability to develop student learning outcomes and assessment strategies.
• Strong supervisory, organizational, and project-management skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership for Residential Education programs, learning outcomes, and assessment.
• Lead First-Year and Upper Years student experiences, including programming and evaluation.
• Chair the Residential Education Committee and oversee LLC/RLC curricula.
• Coordinate LLC/RLC housing timelines with housing and communications staff.
• Lead evening/weekend programs and supervise residential life staff and student employees.
• Develop partnerships with faculty and campus stakeholders to support initiatives.
• Participate in campus committees and support crisis response and operational continuity.

Skills

Leadership

Supervision

Communication

Project management

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Higher Education or related field

Three years of full-time professional Residential Life experience

Job description

Position Summary: Provide leadership and direction for residential education initiatives that support student learning, engagement, belonging, and success within the residential experience while leading the development, implementation, and assessment of programs such as First‑Year Experience (Theme Living), Upper Years Experience, Living Learning Communities (LLCs) and Residential Learning Communities (RLCs). Coordinate residential programming and student engagement initiatives, develop student learning outcomes and assessment strategies, and support training and development of residential life staff.

Supervision: This position reports to the Director of Residential Life and Student Conduct & Community Standards and directly supervises a student office assistant, providing functional supervision, guidance, and support to Area Coordinators and the Assistant Director for Residential Staffing.

Responsibilities

Residential Education & Learning Communities

• Provide leadership and direction for the Residential Education Program, including learning outcome development, program planning, logistics, implementation, assessment, and program redesign.
• Provide leadership and direction for the First‑Year experience (Theme Living) and Upper Years student experience, including learning outcome development, programming, assessment, and continuous improvement efforts.
• Chair and provide leadership for the Residential Education Committee.
• Oversee the development and implementation of the Living Learning Community (LLC) curriculum, including student learning outcomes, programming, resident interaction initiatives, and academic connections.
• Provide leadership for the Living Learning Community (LLC) and Residential Learning Community (RLC) programs, including learning outcome development, assessment, programming, student recruitment, and staff training.
• Coordinate the LLC and RLC housing selection timeline and process in conjunction with the Assistant Director for Housing Services and Communications.
• Attend and facilitate LLC and RLC cluster meetings with students, faculty partners, and Associates during evening hours.
• Maintain LLC and RLC websites and coordinate updates to related publications.
• Oversee the development, modification, or sunsetting of LLCs and RLCs.
• Develop and maintain partnerships with faculty and campus stakeholders to support residential learning initiatives.

Student Engagement & Programming

• Coordinate the implementation and evaluation of departmental community development and programming initiatives within the residence halls and apartments.
• Provide leadership for large‑scale residential programs, traditions, and engagement initiatives, including IC Kicks Back Weekend, IC Kicks‑Off, First‑Year initiatives, and Upper Years programming.
• Lead and facilitate residential programs and events during evening and weekend hours to support student learning, engagement, and community development.
• Oversee the activities of the Ithaca College Residence Hall Association, including advising, training, programming, recruitment, elections, funding, budgeting, and administration.
• Maintain a visible and accessible presence within residential communities to support student success and community engagement.

Assessment, Training & Staff Development

• Lead departmental assessment efforts related to residential education programs and student learning outcomes.
• Develop measurable student learning outcomes, assessment strategies, data collection methods, and reporting processes; analyze findings and communicate results to departmental and institutional stakeholders.
• Develop assessment strategies to evaluate the effectiveness of Theme Living communities on student belonging, engagement, retention, and student success.
• Provide leadership and direction for Resident Assistant training, including chairing the training committee and coordinating August, January, and asynchronous training initiatives.
• Recruit, select, train, and support faculty and staff associates and liaisons; develop resources and facilitate ongoing engagement opportunities.
• Develop and implement training and professional development opportunities related to assessment, residential education, living‑learning communities, and student learning initiatives.
• Provide functional supervision and support to Area Coordinators in residential education efforts.
• Supervise and support professional and student staff involved in Theme Living initiatives, community engagement, and program development.

Strategic Leadership & Campus Partnerships

• Serve as a member of the Residential Life and Student Conduct & Community Standards Management Team, contributing to departmental planning, strategic initiatives, policy development, and operational decision‑making.
• Serve as liaison with campus partners and participate on departmental, divisional, and institutional committees, boards, and working groups.
• Collaborate with the Assistant Director for Residential Staffing to support crisis response, staff emergencies, and continuity of residential operations.
• Participate in orientation, transition, and welcome programs in collaboration with campus partners, including New Student and Transition Programs, the Center for Academic Excellence, and the Center for Faculty Excellence.
• Develop and facilitate presentations and communications for students, families, faculty, staff, and campus partners related to residential education initiatives.
• Partner in the development and implementation of programs and events that support institutional learning outcomes, belonging, academic success, and student well‑being.
• Oversee the utilization of residential engagement, event management, and assessment platforms; provide training and support to staff and serve as departmental administrator for assigned systems.

Operations & Department Support

• Serve in the Residential Life and Student Conduct & Community Standards Management Team on‑call rotation, responding to emergencies and providing leadership support for approximately 4,000 residential students.
• Maintain an on‑campus presence as required to support emergency response, residential education initiatives, student engagement, and operational effectiveness.
• Assist in the planning and stewardship of programming funds and provide budget recommendations related to residential education initiatives.
• Contribute to student conduct initiatives and cross‑departmental collaboration in support of the department's integrated mission and strategic goals.
• Develop, promote, and contribute to cultivating an inclusive, diverse, and respectful college community.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Higher Education, College Student Personnel, Student Affairs or a related field and a minimum of three years of full‑time professional experience in Residential Life or a related student affairs area.
• Demonstrated experience working with first‑year student programs, living‑learning communities, and diverse student populations.
• Experience developing student learning outcomes, implementing assessment strategies, evaluating program effectiveness, and utilizing data to support continuous improvement.
• Demonstrated supervisory, organizational, and project‑management skills.
• Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills and the ability to effectively represent the College within and beyond the campus community.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Higher Education, College Student Personnel, Student Affairs Administration, Education, Counseling, or a related field.
• Experience leading residential learning communities or living‑learning programs in a higher education setting.
• Experience coordinating large‑scale student programs, events, and engagement initiatives.
• Experience training, supervising, or developing professional and paraprofessional staff.

Work Environment

Most work is performed in a generally accessible indoor environment and requires the use of a computer and standard office equipment. The incumbent is expected to attend meetings, professional development activities, campus programs, and institutional events as needed.

The position requires frequent movement throughout residence halls and campus facilities, including walking, standing, climbing stairs, and attending meetings and events across campus. The incumbent must be able to transport materials and equipment necessary for programs, training sessions, meetings, and events. The position requires the ability to respond in person to emergency situations and provide support in a variety of campus environments.

The incumbent is required to reside in an on‑campus apartment year‑round and maintain an active presence within the residential community. This requirement supports leadership of residential education initiatives, Living Learning Communities, Residential Learning Communities, evening and weekend programming, student engagement efforts, and participation in an on‑call rotation serving residential students.

The position requires regular evening and weekend work, participation in an on‑call duty rotation, and in‑person response to emergency situations during and outside normal business hours. The incumbent must be able to respond promptly to campus emergencies and provide leadership and support within the residential community.

Hiring Range

$65,000 – $68,000, commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Benefits

• Healthcare including vision and dental
• Generous Paid Time Off Policies
• 403B Retirement Savings Plan with Matching Employer Contribution
• EAP
• Flexible Work Plans
• Educational Benefits
• Career‑Enhancing Trainings
• For an overview of our benefit offerings, please visit https://www.ithaca.edu/human-resources/employee-benefits-wellness

In an effort to promote campus safety and the security of College resources, Ithaca College will, consistent with the requirements of the law and prudent practices, conduct criminal background investigations per College policy. This position is subject to a criminal background check. All offers of employment are contingent upon review of the criminal background check.

EEO Statement

Ithaca College is committed to building a diverse academic community and encourages members of underrepresented groups to apply. Experience that contributes to the diversity of the college is appreciated.

Visa Sponsorship

Visa sponsorship is not provided for this position.