Associate Director of Residence Life

Primary Responsibilities

Administration- 40%  

• Assist in the establishment and implementation of short- and long-range department goals, objectives, policies, and operating procedures; assess program effectiveness; and implement changes required for improvement.  

• Serve on the Residence Life Leadership team responsible for supporting the overall mission and direction for the department of over 20 full time employees and housing over 3700 students.   

• Assist the Director of Residence Life in planning the allocation of resources relating to physical improvements of residential communities and programming budgets, based on resident and program needs.  

• Manage the budget for all Residential Education including student programming funds, Campus Living Student Association, Signature Learning Community budgets, Signature Second-Year Residential Experience budgets, and staff training. Represent the University to various institutional divisions by serving on various university committees as well as externally to students and/or the general public/local community, including serving on the Campus Behavior Intervention Team.   

• Ensure compliance with Clery reporting in collaboration with administrative staff and campus partners.  

• Oversee development of materials, forms, training, and marketing for Residence Life programs and processes.  

• Oversee the day-to-day administrative tasks as it relates to Residence Halls and apartment housing residential education, assisting with planning and implementation of Residence Life events and programs throughout the year.   

• Oversee all areas of software systems that relate to conduct (Maxient), and engagement with residential students, including access for professional and student staff and training regarding use of software systems.   

• Lead annual review, maintenance, and updates to resident behavior policies and expectations, published in the Resident Handbook and other published information.   

Supervision-40%  

• Lead the hiring, training, supervising, advising, and evaluation of Assistant Directors in Residence Education.    

• Indirectly hire, supervise, train and evaluate Residence Life Coordinators, Resident Advisor (80+) staff, and all Desk Staff (60+), as well as other student staff throughout the year. 

• Oversee the design, implementation, evaluation, and assessment of staff selection and staff training processes.  

• Serve as advisor for the Faculty Friend initiative and facilitate the success of the Signature Learning Program and the Signature Second-Year Residential Experience Program and associated advisory boards as well.   

Residential Education & Support 20%  

• Oversee development and management of the Residential Learning Model, Signature Learning community, and Signature Second-Year Residential Experience initiatives for all residential communities.  

• Oversee the Residence Life conduct process. This includes tracking and facilitating all adjudication within the department in conjunction with the Office of Community Standards, and serve as a judicial officer.   

• Oversee the development and management of the Signature Learning Community and Signature Second-Year Residential Experience programs, including recruitment of faculty, oversight of programming, assessment, housing assignments, and recruitment.   

• Oversee the advising of the Campus Living Student Association; monitor CLSA budget and expenditures.   

• Implement and assess student development efforts in Residential Communities as it relates to support services and programmatic efforts.   

• Handle emergency and crisis situations that pertain to students living within Residence Life housing. Serve in an on-call duty rotation with other Associate and Assistant Directors, as the back-up on-call to the Residence Life Coordinators in the on-call rotation.  

• Maintain strong relationships with campus colleagues in support of divisional programs and efforts to ensure departmental and divisional success.   

• Plan, implement, and assess student development efforts in Residence Life, and collaborate on similar efforts within the larger university community and all facets of student life.   

• Participate in all Residence Life programs, orientation programs, and campus specialty weekends.  

• Work with students, parents, and other stakeholders to support students experiencing academic or personal difficulties.   

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree in college student personnel, higher education administration, or related field from an accredited four-year institution of higher education 

•  At least four years of progressively responsible professional experience within a comprehensive residence life system in a higher education setting. 

• At least one year supervising and leading professional and student staff. 

• Experience in examining and re-engineering operations and procedures, formulating policy, and developing and implementing new strategies and procedures.   

• Experience using housing software systems as an operator and as a manager. Knowledge of StarRez, eRezLife, Maxient, Canvas, and Workday are particularly helpful.  

• Experience in fostering a positive, collaborative, and cooperative work environment.   

• Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills, both written and stated, as well as the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Five or more years of progressively responsible professional experience within a comprehensive residence life system in a higher education setting, with three or more years of experience supervising and leading professional staff.  

• Experience leading or developing Signature Learning Communities (Living-Learning Communities/Programs).  

• Demonstrated experience implementing assessment initiatives and utilizing data in decision-making.   

Salary and Benefits 

$81,000 - $85,000 annual salary

Mines takes into consideration a combination of candidate’s education, training and experience as well as the position’s scope and complexity, the discretion and latitude required in the role, work location, and external market and internal value when determining a salary level for potential new employees. 

Colorado School of Mines offers a robust portfolio of benefits for all employees. For this role, that includes:  

• Flexible health and dental care options 

• Generous sick/vacation time: 13 paid holidays per year – including a week-long winter break for entire campus. 

• Fully vested retirement plan on first day of employment, with generous employer contribution 

• Tuition benefits (6 credits per year for employees, 50 percent discount for dependents) 

• Free RTD Ecopass 

All Mines employees also have access to discount programs through the State of Colorado and free tickets for Mines Athletics home games, as well as access to the state of the art Recreation Center (fitness classes and training, swimming pool and more) and equipment rentals through the Outdoor Rec Center. We are proud to have recently opened an on campus daycare center. For more details about benefits at Mines, visit mines.edu/human-resources/benefits. 

How to Apply 

Complete an online application (personal information, demographic information, veteran status) 

• Upload a resume or CV 

• Upload a cover letter 

Candidates must be currently authorized to work in the United States. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. 

This posting may be used to fill more than one vacancy based on business needs. 

References will not be contacted until later in the selection process and you will be informed before that contact is made. 

Application review will begin January 5, 2026. This posting will remain open until filled and may close without notice. For best consideration, apply by January 4, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. as applications received after that date may not be reviewed.  

It is the intent of Mines to comply with the applicable requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008, and their implementation rules and regulations, in support of equal opportunities for qualified applicants with disabilities. To meet this goal, Mines will make reasonable accommodations during the employment selection process and within our working environment. 

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to access job openings or apply for a job on our site as a result of your disability. You can request a reasonable accommodation by contacting our Human Resources team at  hr@mines.edu or 303.273.3250 for assistance. 

Successful Completion of a Background Investigation is Required for this Position. 

About Mines & Golden, CO 

When the world looks for answers, the world looks to Mines. 

Colorado School of Mines is a top-ranked public university solving the grand challenges facing our society, particularly those related to the Earth, energy and the environment. Founded in 1874 with specialties in mining and metallurgy, Mines’ scope and mission have continually expanded to meet the needs of industry and society. Today, we are the No. 36 public university in the nation, recognized for our innovation and undergraduate teaching in science, technology engineering and math (U.S. News and World Report, 2025). 

Mines graduates are change makers, boundary breakers and problem solvers. Since our earliest days, a Mines education has been and continues to be a transformational opportunity, with one of the strongest returns on investment out there for talented STEM students of all backgrounds. 

At the same time, Mines faculty members are pushing their fields in new directions, whether that’s manufacturing, space resources, quantum engineering, carbon capture or more. Mines was recently classified as a R1 “Very High Activity” research institution by Carnegie, a notable feat for any university but particularly one of our size. 

That size – roughly 8,200 undergraduate and graduate students – also translates to a close-knit campus community, where employees have opportunities to get involved in multiple ways, continued professional learning is valued and everyone can make an impact. 

Community Alliance groups bring together employees for professional development, networking, and community involvement, and all Mines employees also have access to the wealth of activities happening every day on campus – nationally-renowned speakers, special events and Mines traditions like Engineering Days, just to name a few. 

And don’t get us started on our hometown. We are located in the heart of Golden, Colorado --with its charming historic downtown and nearby hiking trails – and in close proximity to all that Denver and the Rocky Mountains have to offer. That includes the sunny, high-altitude climate and outstanding outdoor recreation opportunities that make the Denver area an ideal place to live, work and play. 

Are you looking for an inspiring, mission-driven workplace where you can contribute to solving the world’s problems and educating the next generation of change makers? Are you an individual who values a community where our individual perspectives and experiences enrich the educational and work experience? 

Look to Mines.