Senior Assistant Director of Residential Life

NU USA Northeastern University; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 68,000 - 96,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

On-campus housing

Benefits package

Job summary

Northeastern University in Boston is seeking a Senior Assistant Director of Residential Life to lead a team in Operations & Facilities. The role supervises Residence Directors and staff, oversees move-in/out processes, budgets, and key management, while ensuring student learning and a welcoming community.

The position requires a Master’s degree with 3–5 years in residential life or higher education, strong communication, crisis management, and the ability to coordinate large-scale housing

Qualifications

• Master’s degree required with progressive leadership experience.
• 3–5 years of professional work experience in residential life or higher education.
• Experience supervising staff and overseeing student employees.
• Proven crisis management and emergency response experience.
• Excellent interpersonal communication and conflict-resolution skills.

Responsibilities

• Supervise five to seven full-time Residence Directors and Operations Coordinators.
• Indirect supervision of 50 to 60 student Resident Assistants.
• Coordinate day-to-day operations of Residential Life and campus facilities.
• Manage staff housing, offices, key management and storage.
• Liaise with Facilities and campus partners on maintenance and large-scale projects.
• Lead community development within assigned residential buildings.
• Provide 24/7 on-call emergency response for the residence community.
• Participate in on-call rotation and support peak periods.

Skills

Staff supervision

Crisis management

Student development

Communication skills

Conflict resolution

Education

Master’s degree

Master’s in higher education administration

Job description

About the Opportunity

Job Summary The Senior Assistant Director of Residential Life reports to an Associate Director and serves as a member of the Department of Residential Life’s leadership team. This position supervises Residence Directors and Operations Coordinators, including direct supervision of five to seven full-time staff members and indirect supervision of 50 to 60 student Resident Assistants. The ideal candidate will be dedicated to student learning and innovative approaches to education. The Department of Residential Life supports more than 11,000 students living on the Boston campus, and this role oversees a neighborhood of approximately 2,500 students. Under the direction of the Associate Director, the Senior Assistant Director coordinates and implements departmental decisions and directives and addresses concerns raised by students, parents, guardians, and staff. This student-facing position requires a dynamic individual with excellent communication skills, a passion for student development, and the ability to manage crises effectively. The Senior Assistant Director works closely with students, staff, and faculty to create a welcoming environment that promotes student engagement and a sense of belonging. The role also supports an educational environment that promotes student and staff success and well-being. The functional area assignment for this position is Operations & Facilities. Working under the supervision of the Associate Director for Operations & Facilities, this role supports the day-to-day operational functions of Residential Life, including departmental logistics, student move-in and move-out processes, damage billing, Pack & Store operations, Fire Health & Safety Inspections, and Egress Drills. The position also oversees staff apartments, departmental offices, key management, and storage spaces. Additionally, this role serves as a primary liaison with Facilities and other campus partners to coordinate routine and emergency maintenance efforts and support large-scale residence hall projects. This is a 12-month, full-time, live-in position. The on-campus apartment provided to the Senior Assistant Director must be the individual’s primary residence, and the individual must maintain high visibility within the assigned residential areas. All Senior Assistant Directors participate in an on-call duty rotation and are required to work nontraditional hours, including evenings, weekends, some holidays, and semester breaks. Staff members may be required to help cover vacancies based on department needs. The department experiences peak periods when additional support may be required outside traditional business hours, including opening, closing, and transition periods. This position is expected to provide all-hands support for major sporting events, campus emergencies, campus and department events, and other peak periods when additional staffing is needed to support the community.

Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities

Operations & Facilities

• Support day-to-day operational functions of Residential Life, including departmental logistics, student move-in and move-out processes, damage billing, Pack & Store operations, Fire Health & Safety Inspections, and Egress Drills
• Oversee staff apartments, departmental offices, key management, and storage spaces
• Serve as a primary liaison with Facilities and other campus partners to coordinate routine and emergency maintenance efforts and support large-scale residence hall projects
• Oversee Operations & Facilities projects and initiatives on behalf of the department
• Co-facilitate departmental committees, workgroups, and meetings as needed
• Create and maintain relevant systems and resources for future use and update annual functional reports
• Manage associated budgets and expenses and incorporate assessment activities as appropriate
• Collaborate with internal and external colleagues to provide training, resources, and support related to Operations & Facilities

Community Development Support

• Support live-in staff and contribute to community development and engagement efforts within the assigned residential buildings
• Create a warm and welcoming community where members demonstrate concern for individuals within and outside their community
• Facilitate connections between students’ academic pursuits and their ability to take action
• Initiate and continue discussion, debate, and learning outside the classroom and encourage students to support one another
• Create opportunities for students to clarify their personal values
• Facilitate academic support within the residential community
• Use social media platforms to develop and enhance the residential community and ensure that assigned residential areas reflect community values
• Attend regular programs, community engagements, area Resident Assistant meetings, and required training sessions unless excused by the supervisor

Crisis Intervention, Mediation, and Conflict Resolution

• Coordinate support arrangements for students experiencing psychological or emotional concerns
• Assist with the mediation of roommate conflicts and resolve concerns raised by parents or guardians, including concerns involving negative group behaviors, safety and security issues, and vandalism
• Assist professional staff in responding to facilities-related, medical, and mental health emergencies
• Provide 24-hour on-call emergency response for a residential community of approximately 9,200 students once every several weeks

Staff Supervision and Departmental Support

• Supervise five to seven full-time Residence Directors and Operations Coordinators
• Provide indirect supervision to approximately 50 to 60 student Resident Assistants
• Coordinate and implement departmental decisions and directives under the direction of the Associate Director
• Address and resolve concerns raised by students, parents, guardians, and staff
• Maintain high visibility within assigned residential areas
• Participate in the Senior Assistant Director on-call duty rotation
• Provide coverage and additional support during staff vacancies, residence hall openings and closings, transition periods, major sporting events, campus emergencies, campus and department events, and other peak periods

Minimum Qualifications Required

• Master’s degree
• Three to five years of professional work experience
• Demonstrated experience in staff supervision, training, and development
• Experience with crisis management and emergency response
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and conflict-resolution skills

Preferred

• Master’s degree in student personnel, higher education administration, or a related field
• At least two years of experience in housing and residential life
• Experience working as a live-in staff member
• Experience supervising full-time professional staff

Position Type

Student Services

Additional Information

Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer. Northeastern has a comprehensive benefits package for benefit eligible employees. This includes medical, vision, dental, paid time off, tuition assistance, wellness & life, retirement- as well as commuting & transportation. Visit https://hr.northeastern.edu/benefits/ for more information. and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Compensation Grade/Pay Type: 109S Expected Hiring Range: $67,855.00 - $95,845.00 With the pay range(s) shown above, the starting salary will depend on several factors, which may include your education, experience, location, knowledge and expertise, and skills as well as a pay comparison to similarly-situated employees already in the role. Salary ranges are reviewed regularly and are subject to change. Founded in 1898, Northeastern is a global research university and the recognized leader in experiential lifelong learning. Our approach of integrating real-world experience with education, research, and innovation empowers our students, faculty, alumni, and partners to create worldwide impact. Our global university system provides our community and academic, government, and industry partners with unique opportunities to think locally and act globally. The system—which includes 14 campuses across the U.S., U.K., and Canada, 300,000-plus alumni, and 3,000 partners worldwide—serves as a platform for scaling ideas, talent, and solutions. The university’s personalized, experiential undergraduate and graduate programs lead to degrees through the doctorate in 10 colleges and schools across our campuses. Learning emphasizes the intersection of data, technology, and human literacies, uniquely preparing graduates for careers of the future and lives of fulfillment and accomplishment. Our research enterprise, with an R1 Carnegie classification, is solutions oriented and spans the world. Our faculty scholars and students work in teams that cross not just disciplines, but also sectors—aligned around solving today’s highly interconnected global challenges and focused on transformative impact for humankind.