Assistant Director of Housing and Residence Life (Anticipated Multiple Positions Available, Internal Applicants Only)
Posting Details Posting Number S389 Classification Title SUA2 Working Title Assistant Director of Housing and Residence Life (Anticipated Multiple Positions Available, Internal Applicants Only) Department Residence Life (LH/MA) Home Campus City Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, or Mansfield State Pennsylvania Zip Code n/a Bargaining Unit SCUPA Work Location Home Campus Position Type Staff Temporary/ Permanent Full-time/ Part-time Full-Time If Part-time, specify percentage (Examples: 0.75; 0.50; 0.25) Benefits Medical and prescription drug benefits. Generous retirement plans, two options: Alternative Retirement Plan (ARP) State Employees’ Retirement System (SERS) Tuition benefits for employees and dependents. Paid time off. Employer-paid dental and vision benefits. Employer-paid life insurance. Voluntary insurances and additional retirement programs. *Specific benefits may vary based upon university, employee group and/or collective bargaining unit. Visit: http://www.passhe.edu/inside/HR/syshr/healthcare/Pages/Summary-of-Benefits.aspx for additional information regarding benefits. To be eligible for most benefits, you must be a permanent, full-time employee (including temporary, full-time faculty with at least an academic year contract) or a permanent, part-time employee (including temporary, part-time faculty with at least an academic year contract) who is scheduled to work every pay period for at least 50% of full-time hours. Start Time 0800 End Time 1630 Hours Per Week 37.5 hours per week Days Worked (Check all that apply) Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri Salary $54,983.00/annual in accordance with the SCUPA CBA Anticipated Start Date Anticipated End Date The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education provides a comprehensive package of employer benefits to eligible employees and their enrolled dependent(s), which include*: n/a n/a Position Summary Information Position Purpose The residential experience at Commonwealth University, is defined by an environment that strongly encourages involvement, supports and enhances decision-making, refines conflict resolution abilities, and promotes the understanding of varying perspectives; while fostering a sense of identity, self-esteem, confidence and civic responsibility. The residential experience, by design, is a place where students learn that individual perspectives and opinions are valued, and students exert a high degree of influence over their environment. Residential students develop a social network of support from peers and staff that foster a strong sense of belonging and create a true home away from home. The responsibilities of the Assistant Director of Housing and Residence Life plays a critical role in the increasingly important retention efforts for our most vulnerable and at-risk students. This position is responsible for enacting the strategic and educational initiatives set forth by the Office of Housing and Residence Life. The incumbent is responsible for administering a comprehensive residential program in 1 – 3 residence halls or 1 – 3 apartment complexes. Their responsibilities include supervision, student development, risk and issue management, educational and student learning efforts, and administrative, managerial and planning functions that work to support the mission and goals of the department and the University. Due to the nature of the position, evening and weekend hours are required and the incumbent must live on campus in a University-owned apartment for the duration of their employment. This position is considered an essential personnel position with no remote (work-from-home) opportunity. Description of Duties Responsible for the overall supervision and leadership of a paraprofessional staff which may include: 1-2 Graduate Hall Directors, 8 -24 Resident Assistants, 1 – 2 Core Resident Assistants, 10 – 14 Desk Assistants and/or 1 – 2 mail delivery staff. Conduct weekly GHD or RA staff meetings for information distribution, input, support, accountability, training and problem resolution. Conduct weekly staff development activities. Responsible for the management of staff conflicts, issues and concerns. Participate in paraprofessional staff recruitment, selection, and training. Assist in the continuous feedback and evaluation of paraprofessional staff regarding job performance. Maintain a high level of contact with residents through visibility and availability. Serve as a resource for accurate information about University life. Provide advisement, support and appropriate referral for students with academic, career, or personal concerns, understanding that these efforts are focused on student retention. Ensure through intentional monitoring and oversight, that the staff facilitates dialogue between roommates and assists with difficult roommate conflicts; performing mediation where appropriate. Communicate with parents and supporters to discuss concerns and issues, while ensuring compliance with FERPA guidelines. Provide crisis intervention support and follow-up for residents and staff. Serve as an on-call administrator for the campus on-call system when scheduled. Mitigate risk while responding to student crises and emergencies. Educate residents about community standards, policies, rights and responsibilities, and implement procedures to promote student accountability. Educational and Student Learning Efforts Promote and support programming in the residential communities in order to provide a holistic range of community development and social engagement opportunities for residents. Facilitate and support Resident Assistant Intentional Conversations; fostering a peer one-to-one relationship focused on promoting overall wellness, academic success, connection to others, and personal interests or concerns. Following-up with issues/concerns to support students and refer to appropriate resources. Serve as a resource for staff and students in planning, implementing, and evaluating engagement programs and Intentional Conversations. Actively seek academic partners with faculty, Academic Support Services and University Retention Specialists in an effort to develop High Impact opportunities, mentorship opportunities, and better integration of the overall student experience. Provide support for all learning communities within the area. Support campus leadership events and initiatives Design and use existing assessment projects as evaluation mechanisms to monitor and measure Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs). Administrative/ Managerial/ Planning Functions Each Assistant Director of Housing and Residence Life will lead one or more major functional area. They will guide the department through essential work that enables the Office of Housing and Residence Life to live out its mission and fulfill its goals. Functional areas can include (but are not limited to): Staff training Resident Assistant/Core Resident Assistant selection Graduate Hall Director selection Desk Assistant Selection Departmental assessment Job performance evaluations Resource room coordination Staff development Operational calendar On-Call Scheduling Exit Interviews Perform a variety of residential administrative duties, related to the mitigation of student risk, university communication, retention efforts, increasing student occupancy and the overall well-being of students residing on campus. Monitor the physical condition of the halls/apartments, working collaboratively with Facilities Services. Assist in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of policy. Serve on departmental and divisional committees. (Student Success, assessment, health and wellness, shuttle bus, search and screen committees, disability services, CARE team, Middle States, etc.) Provide information and important feedback concerning the residential environment and student issues to key student support offices. Develop and maintain cooperative working relationships with staff from the University Counseling Center, Health and Wellness, University Police, Student Engagement, Campus Dining, Athletics, Academic Support Services, Admissions, etc. Participate in and support Housing and Residence Life research and overall assessment efforts. Office of Student Conduct Conduct informal judicial hearings for the Office of Student Conduct. Serve as a higher-level administrator and case manager of the Student Code of Conduct in accordance with State/Federal guidelines/requirements (Clery, FERPA, Board of Governor’s Policy, etc.). This requires management and understanding of policy, procedure, database systems, formal documentation, and related laws and regulations. Other Duties Perform related duties as assigned or required to fulfill University or departmental goals and objectives. Decision Making Fiscal Responsibility Supervisory Responsibility Minimum Requirements Profile Preferred Qualifications Applicant Rating Criteria Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Essential Functions 2. Working indoors – 95% and Outdoors (for errands) – 5% 3. Frequent lifting of objects weighing less than 5 pounds 4. Occasional lifting of objects weighing 25 pounds. 5. Reaching for objects at, above and below shoulder 6. Occasionally twisting at waist, and stretching to reach objects 7. Basic math skills and reading skills including understanding written documents 8. Writing skills in preparing and organizing documents 9. Sensory skills, i.e. visual, hearing, and speaking 10. Keyboard skills Candidates should apply to the Assistant Director position and note which campus of Commonwealth University they would prefer (Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, or Mansfield). The Office of Housing and Residence Life is an integral part of the educational mission and retention of students at Commonwealth University. Housing 5,800 students—2,400 in traditional residence halls, 2,200 in suite-style housing, and 1,200 in apartment complexes—it establishes learning-based residential communities that seek to enrich human integration through prescribed programs and one-on-one interactions. These intentional efforts build a base of shared interests, personal growth, and academically – supportive experiences, with an ultimate goal of unifying purpose, and mutual respect. Supervision, student development, issue management: Decision making will range from routine to crisis. As a member of the campus on-call rotation, the Assistant Director of Housing and Residence Life serves as a primary resource and decision-maker when campus services are unavailable. Follow protocol and procedures as it relates to the Student Code of Conduct and standard operating procedures developed by the Office of Housing and Residence Life. Provide support and appropriate referrals when necessary. Make decisions on the resolution of informal cases and recommendations from formal hearings to the Office of Student Conduct. Decisions and recommendations may affect student housing and other university status, including suspension and expulsion. There are legal, liability, and risk management issues related to investigations, hearings, and decision-making/recommendations made. Responsible for the overall management of a programming budget of $4,000 – $8,000 and functional area budgets ranging from $5,000-$30,000 depending on functional area. Perform a variety of duties as related to budgets including monthly reconciliations of University purchasing card/credit cards and travel cards Supervise paraprofessional staff and, in some cases, meet with appropriate faculty members and complete required evaluations that correspond to coursework. Conduct weekly meetings with the paraprofessional staff to discuss student issues and problems, undergraduate Resident Assistant team, programming, conduct issues, maintenance concerns, and departmental initiatives. Responsible for following-up with student issues and problems, parent communication as it relates to these issues, and assisting the paraprofessional staff with creating resolutions. Supervise and develop individual relationships with 8 – 24 undergraduate Resident Assistants and develop a working team to support students. Supervise 1-2 mail staff, assure appropriate mail and package dissemination and complete time-keeping records. Document inappropriate staff behaviors, develop strategies for success, conduct employment reviews and terminate staff when necessary. Bachelor’s Degree required. Three (3) – five (5) years of related experience in student affairs, higher education, or a social work/counseling setting that is relevant to the duties and responsibilities of this position. Demonstrated ability to work with diverse populations. Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration, College Student Personnel, Student Affairs or related degree preferred. Two years of professional live-in Residence Life experience Experience in developing and implementing programmatic initiatives. Experience with crisis management, conflict resolution, and mediation Demonstrated organizational skills and problem-solving abilities preferred. Experience in both the development of and implementation of student support and retention programs. Experience with student conduct. Demonstrated experience with Best Practices, Core Competencies (ACUHO-I), and the Professional Competency Areas for Student Affairs Practitioners (ACPA and NASPA) Must be able to communicate well both verbally and in writing. Demonstrated ability to work with diverse populations. Experience in developing and implementing programmatic initiatives such as community living standards, programming models and the support of students using best practice retention efforts. Experience with crisis management, conflict resolution, and mediation Demonstrated organizational skills and problem-solving abilities. A sense of humor and a positive attitude. 1. Sitting – 80%; walking – 10%; standing – 10% Posting Detail Information Open Date mm-dd-yyyy 07/14/2026 Close Date mm-dd-yyyy Open Until Filled Yes Special Instructions to Applicants Background Clearances Diversity Statement Title IX/Clery The University also complies with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crimes Statistics Act, as amended by the Violence Against Women Act ( VAWA). Title IX prohibits retaliation for asserting or otherwise participating in claims of sex discrimination. VAWA imposes additional duties on universities and colleges to investigate and respond to reports of sexual assault, stalking, and dating or domestic violence, and to publish policies and procedures related to the way these reports are handled. The University has designated the Title IX Coordinator (Jennifer Raup, Elwell Hall, ORL, 570-389-4808, [email protected] or [email protected]), to coordinate the University’s compliance with Title IX and VAWA and to respond to reports of violations. The University has directed the Police Department to coordinate the University’s compliance with the VAWA-related Clery reporting requirements. For information on the University’s crime statistics, which is available in a publication called “Annual Security Report”, please contact Commonwealth University – Bloomsburg Police at 570-389-2211, Commonwealth University – Mansfield Police at 570-662-4900, or Commonwealth University – Lock Haven Police at 570-484-2278 or by accessing the following website: https://www.commonwealthu.edu/offices-directory/university-police/annual-security-report. Additionally, inquiries concerning Title IX and its implementing regulation can be made to the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights, Region III, The Wanamaker Building, 100 Penn Square East – Suite 505, Philadelphia, PA 19107; Phone: (215) 656-6010; Fax: (215) 656-6020. About Commonwealth University of PA Quick Link https://commonwealthu.peopleadmin.com/postings/5579 Due to the nature of the position, evening and weekend hours are required and the incumbent must live on campus in a University-owned apartment for the duration of their employment.For full consideration, applications must be recieved by August 2, 2026 (extended). Finalists for this position must communicate well and successfully complete an interview process. Completing this search is contingent upon available funding. Offers of employment are conditional, pending successful completion of the background clearances mandated by Act 153 of 2014 and Board of Governors Policy 2014-01-A: Protection of Minors. In order to qualify for a provisional appointment, the Applicant Acknowledgement Consent Form, Provisional Hire Form, Pennsylvania State Police and Justifacts portion of the clearance process must be successfully completed prior to your start date. The remaining PA Child Abuse History Clearance and FBI Clearance must be successfully completed and returned as soon as possible within the first 90 days of employment. At Commonwealth University we recognize our responsibility to continuously support a living, learning, and working environment that values the diverse contributions from all members of our campus community. Our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion enriches our campus community and is instrumental to our institutional success. Commonwealth University strives to cultivate a campus climate that allows all members to embrace diversity, equity and inclusion as we achieve success both in and out of the classroom, in our work responsibilities, and in our professional lives beyond Commonwealth University. We uphold our commitment to DEI by: • Actively supporting and promoting the intellectual and personal growth of our students, inside and outside of the classroom. • Providing workshops, trainings, programs designed to broaden the knowledge and understanding of diversity, equity and inclusion within our campus community. • Ensuring that all learning and living environments throughout our campus are welcoming and capable of serving all individuals. The University prohibits any form of discrimination or harassment on the basis of sex, race, color, age, religion, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, marital or family status, medical condition, genetic information, veteran status, or disability in any decision regarding admissions, employment, or participation in a University program or activity in accordance with the letter and spirit of federal, state, and local non-discrimination and equal opportunity laws, such as Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act and ADA Amendments Act, the Equal Pay Act, and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act. The Power of Three Bloomsburg, Lock Haven and Mansfield universities have joined forces to boldly transform higher education in our region and beyond. While we are uniting as Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania, you can expect a college experience that is anything but common. We’re Honoring our History by preserving the founding principles of each campus and continuing our vibrant on-campus student experience, serving as pillars of our communities, supporting students and our neighbors alike. We’re Investing in Today by answering the greatest challenges facing higher education: accessibility, cost, quality, and relevance through the combined strength of our storied institutions. We’re Building a Powerful Tomorrow by boldly changing the trajectory of public education to position ourselves for growth, increased access, and to meet economic and workforce development needs in our region, across Pennsylvania and beyond. Salary: . Date posted: 09/22/2026
