<p>St. Thomas Aquinas College invites applications for the position of Director, Residence Life. The successful candidate will be responsible for the leadership, management, and daily operations of a comprehensive residential program. The position directly supervises a team of 3-4 Residence Life Professionals, many of whom are graduate students, emerging professionals pursuing degrees in education or student support, or recent STAC graduates committed to the residential model and Spartan community values.</p> <p>This is a live-on position, and on-campus housing is provided and required. The role includes evening and weekend responsibilities, shared collaboratively with the Residence Life team and the Associate Dean for Student Development and Director of the Growth Taskforce. During off-peak semesters, the Director maximizes and creates partnerships that utilize campus residences and rentals in alignment with the mission and vision of the College.</p> <p>The successful candidate will also have the opportunity to expand and grow the Residence Life team as enrollment and retention gains are achieved, supporting a more robust and scalable residential program. The Director ensures a safe, vibrant, student-centered living environment while advancing retention, community development, and operational excellence.</p> <p>Responsibilities include but not limited to the following:</p> <p>Leadership & Operational Oversight</p> <ul> <li>Provide strategic leadership for all residential operations, including staffing, supervision, training, budgeting, and long-term planning for a live-in team. </li><li>Build and maintain a cohesive, student-centered, high-performing team rooted in STAC's values and Spartan Pride. </li><li>Ensure operational excellence by coordinating daily functions, room turnover, occupancy processes, and facility-related needs with campus partners. </li></ul> <p>Student Retention, Occupancy & Revenue</p> <ul> <li>Develop and implement a strategic plan to retain residential students and increase housing occupancy to capacity. </li><li>Create value-added programs and living experiences that encourage students to remain on campus and strengthen long-term retention. </li><li>Monitor housing trends and data to guide enrollment-support strategies and optimize occupancy-related revenue. </li></ul> <p>Housing Enterprise Initiatives & Strategic Utilization</p> <ul> <li>Lead the development, execution, and evaluation of Housing Enterprise Initiatives that maximize the strategic use of residential facilities during off-peak and non-academic periods. </li><li>Identify, negotiate, and manage partnerships, short-term housing opportunities, and external group rentals that align with the College's mission and support financial sustainability. </li><li>Collaborate with Finance, Facilities, Enrollment, and Student Development to assess financial impact, utilization models, and revenue-enhancing opportunities. </li><li>Ensure all enterprise-related activities meet safety, compliance, and student-support standards while responsibly stewarding College resources. </li></ul> <p>Campus Partnerships & Collaboration</p> <ul> <li>Serve as the primary liaison with Facilities, Dining, Finance, Student Development, Campus Safety, and Athletics to coordinate services impacting the residential experience. </li><li>Work closely with Campus Safety and local police, fire, and emergency agencies to ensure safety, compliance, and effective crisis response. </li><li>Partner with Student Engagement, Intramurals, and Athletics to enhance evening and weekend programming for residential students. </li></ul> <p>Community Development & Student Engagement</p> <ul> <li>Oversee dynamic, inclusive, and community-building programming that supports belonging, wellness, and student success. </li><li>Develop themed communities, hall traditions, and signature events that support academic success, personal development, and institutional learning outcomes. </li></ul> <p>Crisis Response, Community Standards & Student Support</p> <ul> <li>Provide leadership for community standards by administering the student conduct process and promoting restorative practices. </li><li>Serve in a 24/7 on-call rotation to respond to emergencies and crises, provide direct student support, and serve on the CARE Team. </li></ul> <p>Assessment, Systems & Housing Operations</p> <ul> <li>Oversee housing operations including room selection, assignments, billing coordination, occupancy management, and housing-related data. </li><li>Use assessment tools to evaluate program effectiveness, staffing structures, student satisfaction, and learning outcomes. </li><li>Produce timely, accurate reports to support continuous improvement and institutional planning. </li></ul> <p>Qualifications</p> <ul> <li>Minimum of Master's degree required in Student Affairs, Student Personnel Services, Higher Education Administration, Counseling or related field. </li><li>Five or more years of professional residence life experience required including experience as a residence life administrator. </li><li>Experience expanding campus programming and housing programs </li><li>Must be willing and able to live on-campus. </li><li>Strong technology skills, including communication tools and student information systems. </li><li>Excellent supervisory, administrative, and decision-making abilities grounded in integrity and ethical judgment. </li><li>Deep commitment to student engagement and being actively involved in campus life. </li><li>Ability to work effectively with diverse constituents and foster an inclusive, respectful community. </li><li>Knowledge of student development theory and current trends in student affairs. </li></ul> <p>Application:</p> <p>Please send the following materials electronically to Linda Hayden at St. Thomas Aquinas College at lhayden@stac.edu: a cover letter addressing the applicant's credentials and experience as they relate to the position; resume or curriculum vitae; and names, email addresses and contact information for three professional references. Applications will be considered until the position is filled.</p> <p>Please note: Internal candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will be guaranteed an interview.</p> <p>Salary:</p> <p>The salary for this position is $73,000-83,000/year. When extending job offers, St. Thomas Aquinas College carefully considers factors such as (but not limited to) the role's responsibilities, the candidate's experience and education, essential skills, internal peer equity, budget constraints, and market trends. The provided rate reflects the College's good faith and reasonable estimate at the time of posting.</p>