Resident Director - Dean College

Dean College; Franklin (MA); On-site; USD 39,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Dean College in Franklin, MA seeks a Resident Director to lead the Office of Residence Life, fostering a welcoming and inclusive living-learning community for 200-300 upper-class students. The role oversees day-to-day operations of halls, supervises Resident Assistants, and partners with students to support development and success.

This full-time, 12-month, exempt position includes a fixed salary of $43,888 with a live-in campus apartment and meal plan.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; master's preferred.
• Experience in residence life is preferred.
• Experience with eRezLife or similar software.
• Ability to work with a diverse student body and foster inclusivity.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day operations of assigned residence halls (200-300 students).
• Supervise and mentor Resident Assistants; provide regular training and evaluations.
• Collaborate with students, campus partners, and families to support student success and belonging.
• Use cultural humility and equity-minded approaches in residential education and programs.
• Manage applications, room inventory, and move-in/move-out schedules with housing software.
• Serve as hearing officer and participate in on-call rotation for crises and after-hours issues.

Skills

Resident life

Communication

Crisis management

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

Tools

eRezLife

Job description

Dean College is a private, residential New England college grounded in a culture and tradition that all students deserve the opportunity to discover and exceed their greatest aspirations. A personal and transformative community since 1865, Dean tirelessly inspires our students to unimagined heights through personalized support and integrated delivery of academic, co-curricular, and experiential learning. Our graduates are lifelong learners who thrive in their careers, embrace social responsibility, and demonstrate leadership.

Recognized as a Top Regional College by U.S. News & World Report for fifteenth consecutive years and named a College of Distinction for eleven consecutive years, Dean serves more than 1,000 full-time students and offers over 50 academic programs and specializations, as well as a robust schedule of continuing studies and certificate programs throughout the year.

Dean College is perfectly situated in Franklin, Massachusetts, which is conveniently located between Boston and Providence, Rhode Island, and is accessible to Boston by commuter rail. The Dean College/Franklin rail station is only a five-minute walk from campus.

Approximately 90 percent of the College's student population lives on campus and Dean provides a supportive academic environment that thrives on hands-on engagement and exceptional teaching. This community-wide commitment of always going the extra mile for students is known as The Dean Difference. Outside of the classroom, students participate in 16 athletic teams and more than 40 on-campus groups and organizations.

Ninety-six percent of our bachelor's degree students are employed or enrolled in graduate school within 12 months of graduation. Alumni are hard at work in top-ranked graduate programs and are employed by organizations such as Universal Studios, Dell Technologies, Liberty Mutual, Kraft Sports + Entertainment, the Boston Ballet, and more.

What is The Dean Difference?

The Dean Difference isn't any one thing. It's not a program or a professor. It's not a single class or a club. It's the way our academic support networks and community overlap, interweave, and magnify each other. Our difference unites us. It's our secret formula. It's the nucleus around which we orbit. It isn't one thing, it's everything.

Job Description:

The Resident Director is a key member of the Office of Residence Life who supports student development and success by fostering a welcoming, inclusive, and engaging residential community at Dean College. This role oversees the day-to-day operations of assigned residence halls, supervises and mentors Resident Assistants, and partners with students to create a positive living and learning environment. The Resident Director also contributes to the broader mission of Residence Life through additional responsibilities as assigned. The anticipated additional responsibility for this role is assisting with housing operations management for the department of Residence Life.
This is a full-time, 12-month, exempt position with a fixed, non-negotiable annual salary of $43,888. The position includes a live-in requirement, with the Resident Director receiving an unfurnished campus apartment (utilities included) within a residence hall and a meal plan when the dining center is open. In addition, the College offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes health insurance, retirement contributions, and generous paid time off.
Position responsibilities include:

• Serve as the primary contact and manage an overall residential area of 200-300 upper-class students.
• Oversee all residential operations of assigned halls including opening and closing, occupancy management, room condition reports and inspections, damage billing, and building security.
• Demonstrates strong communication amongst residents, campus partners, and family outreach to ensure student success and belonging.
• Utilizes cultural humility and equity-mindedness in the creation and implementation of residential education, specialized programs, events, and living learning communities for the residential community.
• Process applications, manage room or apartment inventory, and coordinate move-in and move-out schedules using eRezlife housing software.
• Directly supervise student staff members (Resident Assistants); providing regular 1:1s and ongoing training, support, and evaluation.
• Respond to student behavior that is in violation of community standards, and/or impacts other residents; act as a mediator to roommate and/or intergroup conflict when needed.
• Participate in the Resident Director on-call rotation by responding to after-hour and weekend emergencies; provides counsel and crisis intervention when needed.
• Act as a hearing officer when deemed necessary.
• Other duties asassigned and/or required.
  

Managerial and Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Provide direct supervision and leadership to residential student staff.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree required,master's degree preferred.
• Previous experience in residence life is preferred.
• Previous experience using eRezLife or similar software.
• Demonstrated knowledge of best practices in managing housing assignments, occupancy management, and other residential logistics.
• Knowledge of relevant, global issues affecting college students.
• Demonstrated ability to work with and create community amongst a diverse student body and colleagues that facilitates positive outcomes, attested inclusivity, and effective communication strategies.
• Proven ability to identify issues, recognize obstacles, and resolve a wide range of problems commonly encountered in the Office of Residence Life.
• Exceptional skills in problem-solving, organization, intervention, and crisis management.

Additional Information:

Dean College is committed to equal employment opportunity and does not discriminate against applicants or employees on the basis of race, color, religion, religious creed, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, or any other status protected by applicable law.
This commitment applies to all employment practices, including recruitment, hiring, promotion, compensation, benefits, professional development, continuation of employment, and other terms and conditions of employment. The College prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in violation of applicable law or College policy.
Dean College is committed to maintaining a welcoming and respectful workplace and to providing equal opportunity to all qualified applicants and employees.