Associate Director of Residence Life, Housing Operations

Bennington College; Bennington (VT); On-site; USD 54,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

Bennington College invites applications for an Associate Director of Residence Life, Housing Operations, a key member of the Student Life team. The role manages day-to-day housing operations using StarRez and coordinates early arrivals, breaks, and adjustments, while addressing facilities concerns and supporting student development.

Reporting to the Assistant Dean, the Associate Director collaborates with multiple departments and external partners, oversees staff and safety, and serves on

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a related field such as higher education, student affairs, or counseling.
• Minimum of three years’ experience in housing and residence life or a related field.
• Current/valid driver’s license is required.
• Strong attention to detail; able to coordinate projects with limited supervision.
• Discretion and diplomacy when handling confidential information.
• Ability to learn StarRez, Populi, and other college systems.
• Capacity to multitask and prioritize in a busy office.
• Strong verbal and written communication; professional interactions with diverse groups.
• Experience working with diverse populations and inclusive practices.

Responsibilities

• Manage selection, training, and supervision of House Chairs and housing spaces.
• Collaborate with IT to manage housing operations, assignments, and Break Term housing; oversee early arrivals/late departures.
• Coordinate theme housing and maintain contact with house membership.
• Oversee arrivals/departures and coordinate with facilities for maintenance and keys.
• Address housing issues and manage student, family, and community relations.
• Implement ADA accommodations process with Student Accessibilities Services.
• Support Community Standards; assist with Administrative Review and Judicial Committees.
• Oversee TAPA and other resident life initiatives; provide project support as needed.
• General management of Room Condition Reports and End-of-Term checks; report damages.

Skills

Experience in housing and residence

Driver's license

Attention to detail

Project coordination

Written communication

Confidentiality

StarRez/Populi experience

Multitasking

Diversity engagement

Education

Master’s Degree in higher education / student affairs / counseling

Tools

StarRez

Populi

Job description

Bennington College invites applications for an Associate Director of Residence Life, Housing Operations. The Associate Director is a key member of the Student Life team, managing the day to day operations of Bennington’s residential communities. The Associate Director is responsible for managing housing processes within StarRez, the College's housing management software, which includes coordinating early arrivals, late departures, and housing during Winter Break, Field Work Term, and Summer Break. In collaboration with internal partners across various departments, this role addresses facilities concerns such as room changes and ADA accommodations. Furthermore, the Associate Director supports student development and leadership by overseeing residential programming, community standards, and student conduct, as well as selecting, training, and supervising House Chairs and working with community partners.

Reporting directly to the Assistant Dean & Director of Residence Life and Community Engagement, this position will maintain close daily interaction with students. In this role, key cross-departmental relationships involve collaborating regularly with the Buildings and Grounds facilities team, the Business Office, Information Technology, and the Provost and Dean’s Office partners within Academic Services. Additionally, the Associate Director coordinates with various external community partners.

This is an on-site position. The Associate Director of Residence Life, Housing Operations will serve on the Student Life on-call rotation, including responding to and handling crisis situations after normal business hours. This individual must be able to work a flexible schedule, including evenings and weekends as needed. This position may, at times, require transportation of Student House Chairs in case of emergencies.

Bennington serves a diverse student population inclusive of members of ethnically/racially minoritized, international, LGBTQIA+, and disability communities, as well as diverse gender identities, socioeconomic backgrounds, religions, and political beliefs. Our staff and faculty also reflect diverse and intersecting backgrounds and identities. All employees are expected to be respectful and responsive to these differences in the service of building a community that promotes student and employee success and community cohesiveness. Each individual (faculty, staff and students) will be accountable for upholding these values. The College’s approach to pluralism and inclusivity—both as fields of inquiry and practice—is to prioritize flexible thought, and to invite the examination of access, value, power, and privilege through its institutional policies and areas of study. We encourage applicants from diverse realms of interest, backgrounds, experience, and accomplishment to apply.

General Responsibilities

1. Manage the selection, training, and supervision of House Chairs, and supervision/management of houses/residential spaces that do not employ House Chairs.
2. Work in collaboration with Information Technology to manage and execute housing operations including housing assignments/reassignments, lottery and selection processes, and Break Term/Field Work Term housing. Coordinates early arrival/late departure housing.
   • Communicates policies and procedures to students, families, and other relevant departments.
   • Manages application, selection, and guidance/supervision process for theme housing; establishes and maintains contact with house membership
3. Manage arrivals and departures of students, working in partnership with Buildings and Grounds in regard to maintenance, housekeeping, coordination of keys for opening/closing and vacancies and movement to vacate houses for Winter Break/Field Work Term and summer programs.
4. Respond to and resolve student issues related to housing/residential life and manage student, family, and community relations.
5. Work with the Director of Student Accessibilities Services to implement the residential ADA accommodations process.
6. Support the development and reinforcement of Community Standards.
   • Provide administrative and logistical support for Administrative Review and Judicial Committees
   • Work with the Assistant Dean in addressing low level Administrative Resolution violations of Bennington College’s Community Standards.
7. Oversee and manage the Thrift Apparel Public Apparel Center (TAPA) with assistance from the Assistant Director of Student Engagement.
8. General management/oversight of the Room Condition Report Process and the End of Term Room Checks. Work with Buildings and Grounds for reporting billing of room and common area damages.
9. Serve on various college committees as appropriate.
10. Perform special projects or duties as assigned to support overall functions of the job.

Qualifications

1. Master’s Degree in a related field, including but not limited to higher education, student affairs, or counseling.
2. A minimum of three (3) years of experience in housing and residence life/student affairs, higher education, or a related field.
3. Current/valid driver’s license.
4. Must have a high attention to detail and demonstrated ability to successfully coordinate and facilitate projects independently and/or with limited supervision. Must be able to establish priorities and meet deadlines.
5. Demonstrated ability to accept sensitive and confidential information with diplomacy and care.
6. Must have the ability to learn and familiarize with using StarRez, Populi, and other college appointed systems as appropriate/relevant to the position.
7. Capacity to multitask and prioritize tasks to accommodate the immediate needs of the office.
8. Strong verbal and written communication skills.
9. Must have the ability to troubleshoot and exercise sound judgment and confidentiality; interact professionally with others using tact and discretion.
10. Demonstrated ability to work with persons of diverse social, cultural, economic, and international backgrounds in support of student services and student learning.

All offers of employment are contingent on successful completion and acceptable results of a background check.

Compensation

The salary for this position starts at $60,000.

The College

Bennington College offers a comprehensive benefits program that includes medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance, retirement, and tuition benefits, including Tuition Exchange scholarships. The College also offers an on-site fitness center as well as generous time off benefits.

Bennington College is a small residential liberal arts college in southern Vermont, long distinguished for its progressive approach to higher education. The College was founded in 1932 on the principle of active engagement in learning, which is manifest in individualized plans of study developed by students together with faculty. We serve a diverse student population, and our faculty and staff also reflect diverse backgrounds and identities. Our aim is to educate students towards self-fulfillment and constructive social purposes, and we believe that equity, diversity, and inclusivity--in community and in curriculum--are vital to achieving those aims.

Nestled at the foot of the Green Mountains in Vermont, the campus consists of approximately 370 acres. The College was named one of ten with the best architecture by Architectural Digest. From campus, it is a short drive to the cultural offerings of the northern Berkshires in Massachusetts, Albany, New York, and many of Vermont’s top recreational centers. New York City, Boston, and Burlington, Vermont are all within three and a half hours by car.