Position Description: Assistant Director for Residential Education - Operations

Department: Student Life

Reports to: Dean of Student Life

Date: October 2026

FLSA: Exempt

Status: Full-Time

Months: 12

Other: On-Call Rotation & Live-In Responsibilities

Compensation: $53,250 annually. This is a live-in position, and an on-campus one-bedroom apartment is provided. For those who meet eligibility criteria, the College may consider an $800 off-campus housing stipend. The position also provides a meal plan during assigned times.

Basic Function:

The Assistant Director of Housing & Operations plays an integral role in Student Life operations, including housing, mentoring, retention, and supporting the Student Life Office. The individual will be a primary point of contact for a high-traffic, student-centered office environment; support programs and events; and oversee housing operations. Housing operations include housing applications and placements, contracts and contract tracking, database tracking, room turnover, key and PIN access, data management, and collaborating with other departments–Facilities and Billing–to ensure a seamless experience for students. Operationally, this position oversees logistics for housing operations and student databases impacting Student Life Office operations. The position also provides operational support to the Dean of Student Life. The position requires flexible scheduling to support programs, evening/weekend events, and student interactions, as well as participation in the professional on-call rotation.

The Assistant Director will have shared on-call responsibilities and help respond to student emergencies in the residence halls and on campus. The position will serve as a mentor and role model to students. The position is cross-trained with other assistant directors to support Student Life operations, including office management, student worker supervision, and housing, as needed. Maine College of Art and Design recognizes that diversity is integral to the academic experience and strives to foster an inclusive culture defined by respect, equity, and social responsibility. All employees are expected to actively support these values.

The Assistant Director will be assigned night and weekend responsibilities as needed to support students and College operations.

Responsibilities:

• Housing and Student Life Operations Responsibilities (60%):
• Lives in a college-furnished residence hall apartment to oversee the housing operations for assigned residence halls by maintaining a significant presence in assigned residence hall;
• Serves on a 24/7 on-call rotation for the entire college (about 500 students);
• Assists in enforcement of policies and procedures;
• Serves as a student conduct hearing officer and hears first-level assigned conduct cases;
• Helps coordinate response to public health requirements in various capacities.
• Provides and/or follows up on requests for information, responds to student and parent emails or phone calls, and refers to appropriate resources;
• Provides support and oversight for current, new student, Pre-College, external organizations, and summer housing operations and placement processes, including data entry and verification (Jenzabar), housing applications, contracts, room inspections, room changes, keys and FOB inventory and processes, proposing summer and academic year floor plans, and other operational tasks for residential students;
• Provides operational support to the Student Life Office, including communications, social media, housing operations, and data management systems;
• Coordinates building turnover with the Facilities Department to prepare rooms and halls for move-in;
• Monitors conditions of residence halls and room conditions;
• Maintains accurate housing rosters and reports and communicates housing changes to the Business Office;
• Maintains accurate furniture inventory and room conditions;
• Collaborates with the Dean and offices to ensure improvements to the housing process, including the use of Jenzabar modules;
• Maintains the shared Student Life Google Drive, updates and maintains rosters/floor plans, and continues to move the office to a paperless system;
• Greets visitors to the department, answers phones, responds to and/or directs departmental emails with other office professionals;
• Manages Student Life emails and calendars;
• Supports the Dean of Student Life with student retention initiatives.
• Student Engagement and Retention (25%):
• Provides mentoring to assigned students;
• Leads first-year student mentoring program to include mentor selection, training, and follow-up, and implements logistics to ensure mentoring programs operate effectively;
• Provides oversight for student retention-related software and reports with the Dean;
• Supports Student Life and College-wide programs and initiatives;
• Represents Student Life on College committees, at staff meetings, and College-wide events such as Open Houses, Admitted Student Days, Family Weekend, and Commencement;
• Supports the START team and student retention initiatives, including direct interventions;
• Helps build a culture of mutual trust and respect among the students, faculty, and staff at MECA&D;
• Works collaboratively with students to promote environments of belonging within the MECA&D community;
• Operations & Support (15%):
• Supports the Dean of Student Life on projects, events, programs, and communications;
• Supports data collection and analysis related to Student Life.
• Supports Student Life Office operations as determined by the Dean of Student Life.
• Pre-College: Spring & Summer
• Manages all aspects of Pre-College housing, including applications, placements, etc.
• Serve in the on-call rotation;
• Maintain a presence throughout the Pre-College program, including morning meetings.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration, Student Affairs, or related field preferred;
• A valid driver’s license is preferred for occasional operation of College vehicles. Applicants who can fulfill the position’s responsibilities through alternative arrangements are encouraged to apply.

Experience:

• 2+ years of related work experience, with preference for a Coordinator or Resident Assistant of at least 2 years;
• 1+ year of supervisory experience preferred;
• Crisis intervention and student support experience preferred;
• Solid foundation in student development theory, preferred;
• Experience building an inclusive and welcoming campus environment.

Skills and Abilities:

• Demonstrated commitment to personal and departmental integrity, creativity, collaboration, initiative, and professionalism;
• Strong advising, programming, problem-solving, and supervisory skills;
• A clear understanding of the importance of residence halls and on-campus living to student learning;
• Enthusiasm and the desire to create potential solutions and improvements in consultation with the Dean;
• Ability to adapt the personal and professional schedules to the College's year-round calendar;
• Ability to make sound judgments and the ability to resolve problems with sensitivity;
• Ability to handle multiple projects and to prioritize effectively; agility/flexibility/resilience;
• Strong interpersonal communication skills and ability to adapt those skills to different campus constituencies;
• Effective organizational, communication, and presentation skills;
• Ability to balance competing demands under pressure;
• Ability to work in and create a welcoming environment for a diverse range of students, colleagues, and internal and external constituents;
• Demonstrated ability to translate best practices and research into tangible, pragmatic outcomes underpinned by metrics/key performance indicators;
• Ability to work in a diverse environment;
• Ability to receive and respond to work-related communications during scheduled work hours and assigned on-call periods.

Other duties:

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time, with or without notice.

Essential Functions & Work Environment:

This position requires the ability to perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation, in accordance with applicable federal and state law. Essential functions include coordinating housing assignments, contracts, room changes, access credentials, and residence hall turnover; maintaining accurate student records and housing data; supporting Student Life programs and retention initiatives; mentoring students; conducting assigned student conduct hearings; and responding to student concerns and emergencies. The role requires effective verbal and written communication, sound judgment, discretion with sensitive information, and collaboration with students, families, faculty, staff, and external partners.

The position involves remaining in a stationary position and working at a computer; using office equipment and student information systems; moving throughout campus and residence halls to conduct room inspections, monitor building conditions, meet with students, and support programs; and participating in meetings, training, and College events. These functions may be performed with or without reasonable accommodation.

Work is performed primarily on campus in a professional office and residential setting, with frequent interaction in a high-traffic, student-centered environment. The role involves balancing administrative responsibilities with student support and may include responding to emotionally challenging situations, sensitive conduct matters, and urgent incidents. Movement between campus locations may involve exposure to varying weather conditions.

This is a live-in position requiring residence in a College-provided apartment and a regular presence in the residential community. The position participates in a shared professional on-call rotation and requires flexibility to work assigned evenings, overnight periods, weekends, and other times outside standard office hours. During assigned on-call periods, the employee must remain reachable, respond promptly to communications, and provide an on-site response when needed, consistent with established College procedures. Responsibilities extend throughout the year, including academic-year, summer housing, and Pre-College operations.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

Maine College of Art & Design is committed to fostering a welcoming and respectful environment where all individuals have the opportunity to succeed based on their talents, qualifications, and achievements. We uphold the principles of fairness, merit, and equal opportunity in our academic and professional community.

Maine College of Art & Design complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding non-discrimination and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, ancestry, religion, genetic predisposition, familial status, receipt of a final protection order, veteran or military status, or any other characteristic protected by law. This commitment applies to all aspects of the College’s educational programs, admissions, employment, financial aid, and other institutionally administered programs.

All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply, and selection decisions are made based on individual merit and institutional needs.