Assistant Director of Residence Life

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Department: University Life

Classification: Professional Faculty

Job Category: Administrative or Professional Faculty

Job Type: Full-Time

Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)

Location: Fairfax, VA

Workplace Type: Hybrid Eligible

Sponsorship Eligibility: Not eligible for visa sponsorship

Salary: Salary starting in the low 70K's, commensurate with education and experience

Restricted: Yes

Criminal Background Check: Yes

About the Department:

Housing & Residence Life (HRL) is a self-supporting auxiliary organization within the University Life unit of George Mason University. HRL serves a highly diverse population of approximately 6,000+ students, the majority of which are undergraduates living in traditional, suite and apartment-style residence halls on three campuses within the vibrant Northern Virginia area.

HRL employs over 150 full-time and graduate staff members and over 250 undergraduate student staff members. HRL is committed to providing a safe, well-maintained student-centered environment that is innovative and all-inclusive of a global community. It is dedicated to creating a home that enriches the experiences of our students, staff and faculty.

About the Position:

The Assistant Director of Residence Life provides leadership for residence halls, develops and implements HRL Learning Communities (LCs), and is responsible for collaborative internal departmental processes.

The Assistant Director has primary responsibility for the overall management of a residential area housing approximately 1,500 undergraduate students. Responsibilities include supervision of four (4) professional Community Directors and Coordinators, oversight for all administrative functions within the assigned area, and active support for departmental and divisional goals and initiatives through various collaborative efforts.

The Assistant Director also develops and implements LC procedures and operations, which include new and returning resident recruitment efforts, first-year and upper-division student assignments, collaborative efforts with academic and University Life LC partners, and ongoing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreements for LCs.

Focus areas for internal processes include move-in/move-out, closing, and Health and Safety Inspections for Residence life. Reporting to the Associate Director of Residence Life, the position is a live-on role that includes participation in the Assistant Director duty rotation for the Fairfax Campus.

Responsibilities:

Supervision and Leadership

• Provides guidance, leadership, and direction to ensure appropriate supervisory support to direct reports (Community Directors, Coordinators, and Grad staff), quality supervision of indirect reports (Grad staff and student staff), and team accountability;
• Establishes and communicates performance goals, expectations, and deadlines for supervised staff to ensure alignment with departmental priorities, university goals, and effective delivery of residential programs and services;
• Organizes workflow for Residence Life to ensure that employees understand their duties or delegated tasks. Receives and addresses complaints and other issues as applicable;
• Provides ongoing supervision through regular one-on-one meetings, coaching, goal-setting, and performance evaluations to support staff development, accountability, and effective job performance;
• Hires, and trains new employees to ensure the department maintains a qualified, knowledgeable, and effective workforce capable of supporting departmental and university objectives;
• Prepares and conductstimelyperformance evaluations, andmaintains accuraterecords of employee performance, feedback, and disciplinary actions,ensuring adherence to legal and university policies and procedures. Collaborates with UL divisional partners/stakeholders to address performance concerns;
• Provides leadership and oversight for a residential area on the Fairfax Campus to ensure effective operations, student support, and a positive residential experience; Responsible for the implementation and execution of the student engagement model to support and attain departmental, divisional, and University goals;
• Supports Residence Life staff in crisis response and student intervention efforts in collaboration with the Housing and Residence Life Care and Outreach team to ensure timely support for student well-being and safety;
• Participates in the Assistant Director on-call rotation with other Assistant Directors in Housing & Residence Life to provide support for emergencies and critical incidents involving residential students and facilities;
• Assists in planning and implementing training for Community Directors/Coordinators, Graduate Assistants, and undergraduate student staff to ensure staff are prepared to effectively support students and carry out departmental responsibilities;
• Leads Residence Life staff meetings and departmental stakeholder meetings as needed to facilitate communication, alignment of priorities, and effective operational coordination; and
• Communicates information between upper management and staff to promote clarity, alignment, and effective implementation of departmental priorities.

Administration

• Provides leadership and administrative support for all operations within the assigned residential area to ensure effective management, operational consistency, and alignment with departmental goals;
• Collaborates with the Associate Director of Residence Life to support departmental and University Life assessment efforts in partnership with the HRL Assessment Analyst to inform goals, improve services, and advance student success;
• Coordinates major departmental operations, including semester openings and closings, summer transitions, early arrivals, and break housing, to support efficient execution of residential processes and ensure a positive student experience;
• Ensures timely follow-up on maintenance and facilities needs and projects within residential buildings to maintain safe, functional, and well-maintained living environments;
• Collaborates with Residential Services and Community Directors to ensure accurate occupancy records and resolves assignment discrepancies within assigned halls;
• Oversees purchases, vendor contracts, and budget reconciliation within the assigned residential area to ensure fiscal accuracy and responsible financial management;
• Ensures accurate damage billing and key/access management procedures in collaboration with Residential Services and Facilities staff to maintain security, accountability, and operational consistency; and
• Ensures appropriate case management, follow-up, and student support in consultation with the Housing and Residence Life Care and Outreach and Community Standards teams to support student well-being, accountability, and coordinated care.

Collaborations and Partnerships

• Develops and maintains effective working relationships with all Housing and Residence Life staff to promote collaboration, ensure effective communication, and support departmental goals;
• Assists the Residential Services staff with student-focused marketing and communication to increase student awareness and understanding of Housing Selection and other assignment-related process;
• Serves on departmental and University Life committees to support and enhance the academic success and co-curricular experience of residential students;
• Implements Housing and Residence Life initiatives, including the student engagement model, to support student learning and engagement in assigned communities;
• Coordinates University Life and university-wide student success and retention initiatives in residence halls to support student resilience and academic success; and
• Serves as a University conduct hearing officer for escalated student incidents as needed to ensure fair resolution and to support student accountability and development.

Residence Life Programming

• Provides oversight and leadership for all aspects of the Learning Communities (LCs) program within Housing & Residence Life, including the development of new LCs, the growth and maintenance of existing communities, and the management and renewal of Learning Communities Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) to ensure program consistency, support intentional residential learning experiences, and advance student engagement and success;
• Provides leadership and guidance to Community Directors and other Assistant Directors who have responsibility for residence halls containing LCs to ensure alignment with departmental goals and expectations;
• Develops and maintains effective relationships with all Learning Community (LC) partners by facilitating monthly meetings and ensuring consistent communication to promote collaboration, alignment, and the effective delivery of LC programs;
• Responsible for all aspects of new and returning LC Resident Assistant recruitment, selection, placement, and training initiatives to ensure a well-prepared staff that effectively supports Learning Community programming and student success;
• Works collaboratively with appropriate HRL staff and LC stakeholders to determine and update both individual and departmental LC needs on an ongoing basis through assessment for continued success;
• In partnership with the HRL Residential Services Team, responsible for Learning Community (LC) occupancy management, including placement, room assignments, and room changes, to ensure accurate housing coordination and support intentional community development;
• Coordinates all Learning Community (LC) application processes, including application updates, content, timelines, and communication to students and stakeholders to ensure a clear, accessible, and efficient application experience that supports student participation and program enrollment; and
• Serves as the Residence Life representative in collaborative planning and oversight of internal processes such as move-in, move-out, closing, and Health and Safety Inspections with HRL partners to ensure efficient operations, consistent execution, and a safe, well-coordinated residential experience for students.

Departmental and Divisional Responsibilities

• Supports divisional planning initiatives and other special projects assigned. Activelyparticipatesin UL divisional meetings, initiatives, andin-personevents to stay connected with divisional and institutional priorities, and to foster a cross-unit collaboration. Participatesin professional development workshops and training sessions for staff across the division to promote continuous learning and skill enhancement;
• Stays informed about best practices, research, and emerging trends in higher education and student support services to ensure Housing & Residence Life (HRL) remainsinnovative and responsive to the evolving needs of the student body;
• Supports divisional initiatives and other special projects as assigned, activelyparticipating atin-person events and volunteer opportunities torepresentHousing & Residence Life (HRL) and UL effectively to the campus community;
• Assumes occasional evening, weekend, and on-call responsibilities, including participation in events and response to emergencies, to ensure continuous support for residential operations and the safety and well-being of students;
• Actively supports and complies with university policies, departmental regulations, vision, and goals to ensure alignment, effective communication, and consistent implementation of institutional priorities; and
• Serves on departmental, divisional, and University-wide committees and workstreams and completes additional projects and tasks as assigned by the Associate Directors and Director of Residence Life to support institutional priorities and operational needs.

Required Qualifications:

• Master's degree in related field or equivalent combination of education and experience;
• Professional experience typically obtained in 3+ years in residence life and/or residential services; 2 years of graduate level experience may be substituted for 1 year of professional experience;
• Experience supervising professional and/or student employees, including performance management and staff development;
• Experience supporting students through complex concerns, behavioral issues, crisis situations, and other student-related matters requiring sound judgment and effective decision-making;
• Experience collaborating with campus partners to support student success, educational initiatives, and departmental goals;
• Demonstrated ability to provide ongoing feedback, coaching, and guidance to support employee performance and development;
• Ability to monitor budget activity and expenditures to ensure accuracy, compliance, and alignment with approved budgets;
• Demonstrated interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills with the ability to communicate and engage effectively withvarying audiencesof constituents and departmental stakeholders;
• Ability to coordinate large scale operations and multiple operational processes simultaneously; and
• Other attributes that demonstrate a commitment to supporting student success, engagement, and retention.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience developing, implementing, or managing Living-Learning Communities (LLCs), Learning Communities (LCs), or other curricular and co-curricular educational initiatives;
• Experience coordinating student recruitment, housing assignments, occupancy management, or retention initiatives;
• Experience developing and managing collaborative partnerships with academic departments and other campus stakeholders, including responsibility for shared goals, communication, and operational processes related to student success initiatives, living-learning communities, or other educational programming;
• Knowledge of residence life and housing operations, including occupancy management, residential education, student conduct processes, and residence hall administration;
• Knowledge of learning communities (LCs) and residential education models;
• Knowledge of student support and crisis response practices, including the ability to recognize concerns and connect students with appropriate resources; and
• Ability to assess programs, analyze data, and use results to inform decision-making and continuous improvement efforts.

Instructions to Applicants:

For full consideration, applicants must apply for Assistant Director of Residence Life at https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information, and provide, resume and cover letter for review.

Posting Open Date: September 21, 2026

For Full Consideration, Apply by: October 5, 2026

Open Until Filled: Yes