Senior Director, Housing & Residence Life

Marquette University Clg-Nurse; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Marquette University is seeking a Senior Director for Housing & Residence Life to provide strategic leadership over the residential experience, student belonging, and engagement. The role reports to senior campus leadership and drives initiatives across housing operations, facilities planning, and budget management.

The position requires a Master’s in Student Affairs or related field and at least 10 years of experience in university residence life, with strong supervisory, budget, and

Qualifications

• Must hold a Master’s degree in Student Affairs, Higher Education or related field.
• A minimum of 10 years leading a team in a university residence life setting.
• Proven ability to identify issues, anticipate challenges, and develop effective solutions.
• Significant supervisory and staff development experience.
• Experience in finance, fiscal authority, budget, resource allocation and oversight.
• Ability to engage and serve community members and students from diverse backgrounds.
• Knowledge of current issues affecting college students and higher education.

Responsibilities

• Oversee residential life programs and partnerships to advance belonging and student development.
• Lead housing operations and communications, staffing, and service excellence.
• Coordinate facilities planning and long-term renovations of residential spaces.
• Supervise staff, hire/term/discipline, and develop talent.
• Design and evaluate policies and systems for a cohesive residential experience.
• Develop and implement assessment to measure program impact and allocate resources.
• Manage departmental budget and strategic planning aligned with DBSA goals.

Skills

Staff supervision

Student affairs

Leadership

Budget management

Diversity & inclusion

Crisis management

Change leadership

Interpersonal skills

Education

Master’s degree in Student Affairs

Job description

Senior Director, Housing & Residence Life

The priority application deadline for this role is Nov. 5. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis following Nov. 5.

Position Information

Posting Number

Posting Number 201104899

Position Title

Position Title Senior Director, Housing & Residence Life

State

State WI

Employment Status

Employment Status Full Time

Position Status

Position Status Regular

If Limited Term (End Date of Assignment, Project, or Grant)

Position Type

Position Type Staff

Job Family

Job Family Student Engagement and Program Development

# Hours Per Week 37.5

Position Overview

Be The Difference Begins with Great People.

Are you looking for a new opportunity where you can make the difference in the lives of students and faculty? We’re always looking for highly talented individuals to join our team – people who think big, care deeply, and believe in being the difference in their work and community.

We prioritize student success, access to education, and service in our work to educate well-rounded servant leaders who transform their fields, our society and the world. Our Catholic, Jesuit approach emphasizes student engagement with the world around them and formation of the heart and mind.

We believe in our mission: The search for truth, the discovery and sharing of knowledge, the fostering of personal and professional excellence, the promotion of a life of faith, and the development of leadership expressed in service to others. These core values guide our relationships with our students, each other, and our community.

Marquette University offers a rich and competitive Total Rewards package including medical, dental, vision, 403(b) with up to 8% university match, generous time off package, and tuition benefits for employees, spouses, and dependents with no payback requirement! For more information, please view our Total Rewards guide .

This is your next opportunity to join an organization that invests in their employees’ career journey by diversifying their skills, deepening their expert knowledge, encouraging a healthy work-life balance, focusing on personal wellbeing, providing leadership training, and sustaining a culture of respect and inclusion.

The Senior Director, Housing & Residence Life provides strategic leadership for the residential experience to advance student development, belonging, and engagement. Reporting to the VP of Student Life, Belonging and Well-being and as a key leader within the Division of Belonging and Student Affairs ( DBSA ), the Senior Director works closely with DBSA leadership to develop and implement a cohesive framework that connects the residential and co-curricular experiences and creates a seamless student experience. The Senior Director leads residential operations, including crisis management, assessment and continuous improvement efforts, educating and developing students and staff, development initiatives, and budget management.

Duties and Responsibilities

• 1. Student Experience, Programming & Partnerships: Oversee all programmatic and curriculum components to ensure quality programs and services are delivered to students living in university housing and the near-campus neighborhood. Identify opportunities for residential programming that advance student belonging, wellness, leadership, and connectivity to campus resources and experiences. Contribute to divisional planning, implementation, and evaluation efforts to ensure Housing & Residence Life is actively connected to and advancing division priorities. Develop strong partnerships, alliances, and outreach programs, including faculty programs, Living Learning Communities, and other high-impact practices. Develop and implement initiatives that contribute to a cohesive and integrated student experience and participate in the division’s major events and activities.
• 2. Housing Operations & Communications: Provide operational strategy and direction for all staffing and system operations for university housing, including associate & assistant directors, complex directors, residence hall directors, graduate student staff, resident assistants, and front desk staff. This includes the development and implementation of training, creation of performance standards, and support systems ensuring seamless customer service, efficient administrative processes, and a safe and welcoming environment for all students. Develop and implement comprehensive communication strategies with a clear, consistent, accessible, and student-centered approach. Provide timely updates and relevant information to the Marquette community regarding residential programs, services, policies, expectations, and opportunities.
• 3. Facilities Planning & Management: In partnership with Facilities Planning and Management, plan and implement a comprehensive program of facilities management, integrating the Residence Life program with the campus planning model. Participate in short- and long-term planning efforts related to residential facilities, i.e., renovations, improvements, and the development of welcoming and inclusive residential environments.
• 4. Leadership: Responsible for the supervision of staff, which includes, but is not limited to, hiring, terming, disciplinary actions, performance management, staff development, etc. Utilize a matrixed approach that creates meaningful opportunities for Residence Life Staff to contribute their expertise to DBSA and cross-divisional priorities, including formation, belonging, well-being, and impact. Provide ongoing professional learning, coaching, communication, and development opportunities to empower staff engagement and build capacity to support providing a seamless student experience.
• 5. Policies & Procedures: Design, recommend, implement, and evaluate policies, procedures, and systems to ensure effective operation in the department and residential community for students. Ensure policies, procedures, and systems support a cohesive residential experience aligned with student development, belonging, leadership, community engagement, and the Division’s strategic goals.
• 6. Strategic Analysis & Planning: Develop and implement a comprehensive assessment strategy to evaluate the effectiveness and impact of programs, services, and operations. Collect, analyze, and utilize qualitative and quantitative data and student feedback to inform program development, policy decisions, resource allocation, staff development, and continuous improvement opportunities.
• 7. Budget Management: Develop, manage, and monitor the departmental budget and be responsible for meeting the financial goals to support departmental priorities, student needs, operational requirements, and DBSA strategic goals. Use assessment findings, strategic priorities, and resource reviews to inform budget development, allocation, and long-term planning.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Master’s degree in Student Affairs, Higher education or related field
• Supervisory experience
• A minimum of 10 years of experience leading a team of para/professional staff in a university residence life setting is required.
• Proven ability to identify issues, anticipate challenges, recognize obstacles, and develop effective solutions to complex issues commonly encountered in residence life, student development, and student affairs.
• Significant supervisory and staff development experience, including the ability to recruit, onboard, develop and retain staff.
• Experience in finance, fiscal authority, budget, resource allocation, and oversight.
• Ability to engage and serve community members and students from different cultural backgrounds and identities.
• Exceptional skills in problem-solving, organization, intervention, and crisis management.
• Demonstrated ability to lead organizational change, manage competing priorities, and translate institutional and divisional goals into effective strategies, programs, and practices.
• Knowledge of current and emerging issues affecting college students and higher education, including student belonging, engagement, well-being, leadership development, and inclusive community-building.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Doctoral/Advanced degree in Student Affairs, Higher education or related field
• Possess a comprehensive understanding of complex business practices.
• Deep understanding of Catholic Jesuit higher education and the ability to integrate Ignatian values into student development, leadership, and community-building practices.

Department

Department Residence Life

Posting Date

Posting Date 10/14/2026

Closing Date

Special Instructions to Applicants

The priority application deadline for this role is Nov. 5. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis following Nov. 5.

EOE Statement

It is the policy of Marquette University to provide equal employment opportunities ( EEO ) to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or any other applicable federal or state-protected classification.

Required Documents

Required Documents

• Resume
• Cover Letter/Letter of Application

Optional Documents

• References

Posting Specific Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).