Associate Director of Residence Life and Housing Operations - 48729

FLSA EMPLOYMENT CATEGORY: Salaried; Exempt; Administrative; Full time

DEPARTMENT: Student Affairs

Position Summary

The Associate Director of Residence Life and Housing Operations is a professional staff member primarily responsible for housing operations and implementing and evaluating the residential experience at Alma College. The associate director plays an active role in managing housing operations including housing selection, opening and closing, implementation of collaborative living learning communities, and ensuring appropriate communication to internal and external stakeholders about these processes. This position is provided with an on-campus apartment and a partial meal plan, but may choose to live off campus within a 25-mile radius.

Supervison Received/Exercised

This position is supervised by the Assistant Vice President for Student Engagement and indirectly to the Vice President for Student Affairs and it supervises an area coordinator, part-time support for small houses provided by the assistant director of fraternity and sorority life, and three student apartment managers.

Essential Functions

• Implement annual housing selection for returning and new students
• Collaborate with academic affairs to support first-year living learning communities
• Partner with Admissions and student affairs colleagues to facilitate successful first-year student transitions to living and learning at Alma College
• Co-lead major residence life operations including opening, health and safety inspections, and closing in collaboration with department leadership
• Collaborate with Facilities and Service management to ensure smooth, effective, and safe operation of all residential spaces
• Assist with management of fiscal resources for residence life, including direct oversight of some budget areas
• Lead the residency exemption process, including review of applications and coordinating with other offices to ensure smooth operation of this process
• Provide personal, social, academic, and occupational support that enhances student retention and persistence
• Provide developmentally appropriate supervision for a professional area coordinator, part-time small housing professional, and student employees
• Participate in a primary professional staff on call rotation
• Participate as a member of department and/or campus teams or committees as requested or as mutually agreeable
• Communicate and collaborate frequently with faculty, staff, and students to help better meet the needs of students
• Other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a related field
• Three or more years of progressive residence life or related experience
• Knowledge of student development, learning principles, and retention strategies
• Excellent communication and organizational skills
• Valid driver’s license and good driving record
• Available to work weekends and evenings

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience managing housing operations, particularly housing selection processes
• Experience managing housing software
• Supervisory experience
• Experience working with underrepresented, first-generation, Pell-eligible, and diverse populations

Physical Requirements

• Able to work at a computer for extended periods.
• Able to respond quickly to emergencies at various locations across campus.

Application Process

For full consideration, qualified applicants must complete the following steps:

• submit the Alma College application
• email a letter of interest and resume to [email protected].

Applications will be accepted through March 9, 2026.

Alma College is classified as a selective Baccalaureate College: Diverse Fields by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Alma is committed to academic excellence and the development of responsible leaders; our students thrive on challenging academic programs in a supportive, small-college environment emphasizing active, collaborative learning and close student-faculty interaction. Alma is a private Phi Beta Kappa institution located in the center of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.

Alma College is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse faculty, staff, and student body.

Alma College recognizes that we are all transformed when we celebrate and value the varied identities, backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives in our campus community. We are committed to recognizing and removing barriers to success and providing equitable access to opportunities through education and advocacy. In our increasingly diverse campus and world, we pledge to create a climate where everyone is safe and free to grow intellectually, spiritually, and emotionally. For more information about the College, visit

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