Assistant Dean, Residential Life & Housing

Job Description

Job Description

PURPOSE:

The Assistant Dean for Residence Life and Student Development serves as a key leader within the Division of Student Affairs and is responsible for the strategic vision, leadership, and management of the University's residence life and student development initiatives. Reporting to the Chief Student Affairs Officer & Dean of Students, this position promotes a safe, supportive, and inclusive residential environment that fosters student engagement, academic success, and personal growth. The Assistant Dean provides administrative oversight of the Office of Residence Life, coordinates the implementation of a residential curriculum, oversees housing operations, and collaborates across departments to advance student-centered initiatives. This role integrates campus living and student development practices to enhance the living-learning experience on campus.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Provide strategic leadership for Residence Life and Student Development initiatives aligned with university goals.
• Recruit, Supervise. Select, Train, and Evaluate professional and student staff.
• Develop and lead comprehensive staff training programs that promote inclusive excellence and effective student engagement aligned with the University's mission, vision, and values.
• Oversee housing assignments, occupancy forecasting, and room billing processes to ensure efficiency and accuracy.
• Collaborate with Facilities Operations to address residence hall maintenance and safety priorities.
• Ensure residential facilities meet health, safety, and security standards.
• Implement a residential curriculum and living-learning communities to support student academic and personal development.
• Promote an inclusive community that supports the needs of underrepresented student populations.
• Lead crisis response and risk management efforts within the residential system; manage/participate in the on-call duty rotation.
• Develop, implement, and regularly review policies and procedures for Residence Life and Student Development.
• Collect and analyze data on housing trends, student satisfaction, and program outcomes to inform strategic decisions.
• Recommend policy improvements in support of student success and retention.
• Foster relationships with key campus partners, including Academic Advising, Student Health & Well-being, Student Conduct, Student Engagement, and Career Services.
• Serve as a liaison for student-focused initiatives and help integrate residence life with co-curricular programming.
• Manage departmental budgets, monitor expenditure, and ensure responsible financial practices.
• Supervise the residence-based student conduct system, promoting educational outcomes and community standards.
• Serve as a member of university-wide committees and emergency response teams.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Chief Student Affairs Officer & Dean of Students.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master's degree in student personnel, student development, or related field
• 3-5 years of relevant experience in University Residence Life and Housing is required, 5-7 years of relevant experience is preferred.
• Experience and ability to manage budgets.
• Experience in student accountability and an awareness of emerging issues in higher education, residence life and housing, community building, and student learning.
• Proven competence in leadership and supervision of students and staff.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Personal Characteristics:

• Thorough knowledge of The Housing Director through StarRez software, Adobe Suite and proficient in using Microsoft Office suite.
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Must prioritize tasks in a fast-paced environment, develop communication strategies and work with internal and external stakeholders.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Ability to work within a culturally diverse environment.
• Strong attention to detail; ability to perform duties with high accuracy.
• A high degree of organization, ability to engage in various tasks simultaneously, and consistently meet deadlines.
• Ability to work with and maintain confidential University information.
• Ability to adapt to a flexible schedule that includes evening and weekend activities.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Light sedentary office work.
• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Ability to lift up to 25 lbs.

Terms of Employment:

• This is a full-time, 12-month, live-in position.
• Evening and weekend On-Call Duty Rotation Responsibilities Required.
• Benefits include meal plan, health insurance, and professional development support.

This job description is not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties or skills required for the job and is subject to review and change at any time, with or without notice, in accordance with the needs of Lincoln University. Since no job description can detail all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time in the performance of a job, duties and responsibilities that may be inherent in a job, reasonably required for its performance, or required due to the changing nature of the job shall also be considered part of the jobholder's responsibility.