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 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

Additional Information

Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer.  

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply 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:

Expected Hiring Range:

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.