Associate Director of Staff Experience

University of Colorado System; Allenspark (CO); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 101,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Onboarding assistance

Job summary

The University of Colorado Boulder is seeking an Associate Director of Staff Experience in Residence Life. This full-time, twelve-month, live-out exempt professional role leads staff experiences and coordinates recruitment, onboarding, training, and recognition to attract and retain top staff.

You will supervise an Assistant Director and Coordinator and collaborate with Human Resources, Finance, and campus partners to advance initiatives across the employee lifecycle while balancing long-term

Qualifications

• Requires leadership experience in Residence Life or higher education.
• Experience with recruitment, onboarding, and staff development.
• Strong collaboration across departments and with HR.

Responsibilities

• Lead staff experience strategy and oversee lifecycle processes from recruitment to offboarding.
• Supervise Assistant Director and Coordinator and foster accountability.
• Partner with HR, Finance, and other campus partners to implement initiatives.
• Promote inclusive excellence and staff development across the department.

Skills

Leadership

Collaboration

Project management

Data analysis

Facilitation

Communication

Education

Master’s degree or higher in related field

Job description

Job Summary

Residence Life encourages applications for anAssociate Director of Staff Experience ! This role is afull-time, twelve-month, live-out, exempt professional position anda senior leader within Residence Life. This position providesstrategic leadership for the department's staff experience,ensuring that every stage of the employee lifecycle, fromrecruitment through offboarding, is intentional, engaging, andaligned with the department's mission and values.

The Associate Director leads the department's staff experiencestrategy, including professional and student staff recruitment andselection, onboarding, training, professional development,recognition, and offboarding. This role is responsible forcontinually improving these programs to create efficient,welcoming, and high-impact experiences that attract, develop, andretain exceptional staff. The position supervises an AssistantDirector and Coordinator who support this work.

Success in this role requires exceptional collaboration. TheAssociate Director partners closely with colleagues acrossResidence Life, University Housing, Student Life, Human Resources,and Finance to coordinate complex processes, implement newinitiatives, and ensure compliance with university policies andpractices. The position also provides leadership to multipledepartmental committees and cross-functional workgroups responsiblefor advancing strategic priorities related to staff development andorganizational effectiveness. The successful candidate will bring astrong sense of accountability and follow-through, including theability to be present and engaged during critical periods for thedepartment. They will be a strategic and collaborative leader whocan establish vision and direction while remaining connected to theday-to-day work of the department. They will be comfortable movingbetween long-term planning and hands-on execution.

As a member of the Residence Life Leadership Team, the AssociateDirector helps guide the daily operations and long-term direction of a comprehensive residential program serving more than 10,000residents across 24 residence halls and apartment communities. Thedepartment includes more than 47 professional staff and over 500student employees working within Residence Life's areas ofengagement, support, and operations.

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with allapplicable federal, state, and local laws governingnondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating aworkplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds toapply, including protected veterans and individuals withdisabilities.

Who We Are

The Division of StudentLife consists of 36 departments that provide student support and services dedicated to helping students becomesuccessful, curious, competent individuals during their time at CUBoulder.

Residence Life

Residence Life provides residential communities that supportstudent success and enrich the learning experience outside theclassroom. By supporting students, engaging them in the community,and effectively managing the residential environment, we createspaces where students connect with others, explore newperspectives, and grow throughout their time at CU.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

Organizational Effectiveness

• Serve as a member of the Residence Life Leadership Team,contributing to departmental vision, strategic planning,organizational priorities, and operational decision-making.
• Provide leadership for departmental committees, task forces,and cross-functional workgroups to advance critical initiatives andorganizational effectiveness.
• Facilitate leadership meetings, retreats, and department-widemeetings that promote communication, collaboration, and sharedaccountability.
• Lead norming conversations that promote consistency insupervisory practices, staff expectations, and decision-makingacross Residence Life.
• Guide the development and continuous improvement ofdepartmental systems, structures, and standard operating proceduresthat support organizational effectiveness.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration,innovation, and employee engagement throughout the department.

Recruitment and Onboarding Administration

• Provide strategic leadership for all professional and studentstaff recruitment, selection, onboarding, transition, andoffboarding efforts within Residence Life.
• Design and continuously improve recruitment and selectionprocesses that attract exceptional candidates while ensuringequitable, timely, and welcoming candidate experiences.
• Lead the development of recruitment strategies that strengthenapplicant pools and advance the department's dedication toinclusive excellence.
• Oversee comprehensive onboarding experiences that prepare newemployees for success while fostering early connection, belonging,and engagement.
• Develop systems that effectively support both annual andoff-cycle onboarding of professional and student employees.
• Coordinate Residence Life’s intern recruitment, selection, anddevelopment processes.
• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, university, anddepartmental employment policies and hiring procedures.
• Serve as the primary departmental liaison to Human Resources onstaffing initiatives, policy implementation, and employmentpractices.
• Assess staffing models, recruitment outcomes, and onboardingpractices to find opportunities for continuous improvement.

Staff Learning & Professional Development

• Provide strategic leadership for the department's professionalstaff learning and development philosophy.
• Design and implement comprehensive learning opportunities thatsupport employees throughout their career lifecycle, fromonboarding through advanced leadership development.
• Develop intentional multi-year professional developmentpathways that prepare staff for increased responsibility and careeradvancement.
• Expand the use of engaging online and blended learningexperiences that increase accessibility, consistency, and learningeffectiveness.
• Oversee required compliance and institutional trainings whileensuring meaningful integration into broader professionaldevelopment efforts.
• Coordinate departmental participation in conferences and otherprofessional development opportunities.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of training initiatives andimplement improvements based on assessment data and participantfeedback.
• Develop annual budget recommendations that support departmentaltraining, professional development, conferences, and staffdevelopment initiatives.
• Allocate and manage resources to improve the impact ofprofessional development investments.

Personnel Administration & Compliance

• Supervise, coach, develop, and evaluate an Assistant Directorand Coordinator while fostering a culture of accountability,professional growth, and continuous learning.
• Provide oversight for employment-related administrativeprocesses, including hiring and appointment actions, positionmanagement, onboarding documentation, and employee transitions,ensuring processes are completed accurately and in a timelymanner.
• Ensure compliance with university policies, employmentregulations, and departmental standards.
• Oversee departmental recognition programs that celebrateemployee contributions and reinforce organizational values.
• Monitor employment trends, staffing metrics, and workforceneeds to inform planning and decision-making.
• Develop and maintain documentation, procedures, and resourcesthat support consistent personnel practices across thedepartment.

Department Leadership & Crisis Response

• Serve as a senior departmental leader supporting majoroperational initiatives including opening, closing, occupancytransitions, and other departmental priorities.
• Participate in the departmental leadership on-call rotation,providing leadership during emergencies and complexsituations.
• Support the implementation of departmental emergency response,business continuity, and crisis management protocols.
• Serve as acting departmental leader in the Director's absence,as appropriate.
• Promote a culture of care, safety, accountability, andstudent-centered decision-making throughout the department.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support the effectiveoperation of Residence Life.
• Serve as the department's strategic lead for the Residence Lifestaff experience by using assessment, employee feedback, andorganizational data to continuously improve recruitment,onboarding, learning, recognition, engagement, and retentioninitiatives.

Partnerships & University Collaboration

• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with HumanResources, University Housing, Finance, Student Life EmployeeExperience, Career Services, and other campus partners.
• Represent Residence Life on university committees, workgroups,and collaborative initiatives related to employee experience andorganizational development.
• Partner with campus collaborators to align staffing practices,professional development, and employee support initiatives.
• Develop and sustain partnerships that enhance recruitment,retention, and employee engagement across Residence Life.
• Collaborate with campus partners to implement new initiatives,policies, and organizational priorities.

What You Should Know

This position has the ability to work in a hybrid modality, with atleast four days per week in the office. The anticipated workschedule is Monday through Friday during regular business hours,with occasional evening and weekend hours. The position is alsoexpected to participate in on-call coverage and respond as needed,including on days when the employee is scheduled to workremotely.

What We Can Offer

• The annual salary for this position is $88,000.
• Onboarding assistance may be available per Student Lifeguidelines.

Benefits

At the University of Colorado Boulder , we arecommitted to supporting the holistic health and well-being of ouremployees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical,dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuitionassistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for localtransit. As one of Boulder County’s largest employers, CU Boulderoffers an inspiring academic community and access to world-classoutdoor recreation. In fact, CU Boulder has been named one of Forbes' America's BestLarge Employers , ranking #4 among large employers in Coloradoand #28 among universities nationwide. Explore additional perks andprograms through the CU Advantage program.

Be Statements

Be adaptable. Be game-changing. Be Boulder.

What We Require

• Master’s degree in Student Affairs and Higher Education, HumanResources, Organizational Development or related field. Equivalentcombination of education and experience may substitute on ayear-for-year basis.
• 3+ years of experience working in Residence Life orHousing.
• 5+ years of experience that demonstrates progressivelyresponsible organizational authority in higher education.
• 2+ years of experience supervising full-timeprofessionals.
• Experience leading employee recruitment, onboarding, training,and professional development initiatives.

What You Will Need

• Demonstrated dedication to Residence Life's values of Safety,Resident- focused care, Responsibility, Inclusive Communities, andDevelopment.
• Proven ability to build collaborative partnerships acrosscomplex organizations.
• Demonstrated dedication to inclusive hiring, equitable employeedevelopment, and belonging.
• Excellent project management and organizational leadershipskills.
• Strong facilitation and presentation skills.
• Ability to analyze data and use assessment to improve programsand processes.
• Ability to balance strategic planning with operationalexecution.

What We Would Like You to Have

• Experience working with other student affairs departments orcommittees; including developing partnerships for jointinitiatives.
• Proven ability to lead organizational change, facilitatecollaboration, resolve conflict, and build high-performingteams.
• Experience with strategic planning and programdevelopment.