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Position Title:

Residence Life Associate Director

Job Category:

Academic Staff

Employment Type:

Regular

Job Profile:

Residence Life Assoc Director

Job Duties:

The Associate Director of Residence Life for Staffing, Training and Development is a member of the Management Team within Residence Life, reporting to the Director of Residence Life. In addition to primary job responsibilities, Associate Directors provide overall leadership, coordination, collaboration and direction for all Residence Life initiatives, services, and operations.  Associate Directors contribute to the vision, mission and guiding principles through participation in strategic planning, department goal setting, and determining priorities.  Associate Directors also have shared responsibility for the support and development of all full-time staff within the department.  

 The review of applications starts on May 1, 2026. Applications received on or before May 1st are prioritized and review will continue until the position(s) is/are filled. Initial interviews will be conducted virtually, with shortlisted candidates invited to campus. 

UW-La Crosse does not offer H-1B or other work authorization visa sponsorship for this position. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire and maintain work authorization throughout the employment term. If you have questions regarding this, please contact Human Resources at 608-785-8013.

Key Job Responsibilities:

3. Departmental Leadership  

• Assist the Director as liaison from Residence Life to campus or external stakeholder groups. 

• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with campus partners. 

• Provide oversight and assist in decision making for the departmental budget and spending procedures. 

• Collaborate with Management Team in making strategic decisions for each area within Residence Life. 

• Represent Residence Life in events hosted by campus partners, such as Student Affairs, Admissions, Athletics, and International Education and Engagement. 

• Commit to ongoing developmental opportunities to stay informed of best practices, initiatives, and meeting the needs of our residential student populations.

• Serve as the first response support for campus emergencies involving residence hall students and/or facilities. 

• Plan, implement, and evaluate residence hall opening, closing, and break procedures. 

• Create, update, and maintain accurate policies and procedures in collaboration with Management Team and campus partners. 

1.   Supervision of Professional Live-In Staff

• Supervise professional live-in staff including Complex Directors, Hall Directors and Graduate Hall Directors. 

• Work with professional live-in staff regarding their primary job responsibilities which includes: Student Staff Supervision and Development, Community and Educational Development, Residence Hall Management (facilities, front desk coordination, occupancy), Student Conduct and Well-being, Leadership Development and Advising 

• Oversee the coordination of the student staff hiring processes for Assistant Hall Directors, Resident Assistants, and Desk Assistants.  

• Guide and support the onboarding, training, development, and accountability of student staff. 

• Co-teach UWL 260, the 2 credit required Student Staff class for new Resident Assistants. 

• Direct and evaluate residence life initiatives to ensure alignment with academic initiatives and strategic plans.  

• Establish collaborative working relationships with campus partners including the Student Life Office, Counseling and Testing, the Campus Assessment Response and Evaluation (CARE) Team, and University Police; maintaining a high level of communication and consultation involving behavior of students.   

• Provide support and direction after-hours for staff serving on duty. 

2. Professional Live-In Staff Hiring, Training and Development  

• Coordinate hiring and onboarding processes for professional live-in staff including Complex Directors, Hall Directors, and Graduate Hall Directors. 

• Coordinate ongoing training and professional development of professional live-in staff. Providing a wide range of opportunities for further growth and career progression.   

• Coordinate evaluation process for professional live-in staff as well as oversee any job action and hiring actions.

Department:

Residence Life

Compensation:

$68,500 / year

Required Qualifications:

• Master's Degree in Student Affairs, Counseling or related field 
• Minimum of 3 years post Masters full time experience in Residence Life 
• Commitment to college student belonging and engagement 
• Excellent written communication skills 
• Ability to work independently and in a team or group setting 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Five (5) years or more of progressive responsibilities in full-time experiences
• Experience supervising graduate or full-time staff 
• Excellent oral communication and ability to train others
• Demonstrated collaboration with campus partnerships 
• Attention to detail with strong organizational skills and ability to multi-task 
• Ability to effectively manage stressful situations such as responding to urgent or emergency situations 

How to Apply:

Required application documents

Cover letter (that addresses the required and preferred qualifications) 

CV / Resume

Contact Information:

Patrick Heise pheise@uwlax.edu

Special Notes:

Application deadlines 
TO ENSURE CONSIDERATION: Priority consideration is given to those candidates who apply by the listed ‘First Review Date’. Applications received after that date may be considered at the discretion of the search committee. Application materials will be evaluated, and the most qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the next step of the selection process. Incomplete and/or late application materials may not receive consideration. If you have questions regarding this recruitment, or if you are not able to complete the application online due to a disability or system problem, please contact the Office of Human Resources. 

Confidentiality of Applicant Materials 
UWL is a state agency and subject to Wisconsin’s Open Records Law. UWL will not, however, reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing except as may be required by Wisconsin’s Open Records law. In certain circumstances, the identities of “final candidates” and/or the identity of the appointed applicant must be revealed upon request. 
 
CBC & Reference Check Policy 
All candidates for employment are subject to a pre-employment screening which includes a criminal background check, work authorization, and verification of education. It will also require you and your references to answer questions regarding sexual violence and sexual harassment. 

Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (Clery Act) 
For the UWL Annual Security and Fire Safety Reports (i.e., Clery Report), which includes statistics about reported crimes and information about campus security policies, see http://www.uwlax.edu/student-life/student-resources/annual-security-report/ or contact the University Police Department at 608.785.9000. 

INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR BENEFITS 
Your benefits add an additional 40%+ to the overall financial package from the university. 
Highlights include: 

• Paid vacation for 12-month positions. 

• Excellent flexible health insurance with low co-pays and good coverage. 

• Paid holidays and paid sick days.

• After 5 years of employment, you become vested in our retirement system which ensures income post-career. 

• Benefits at UWL are highly competitive with local industry and some of the strongest in state and nation. 

 
Benefit eligibility is determined at the point of hire. This information is provided for illustrative purposes only. Benefits are also pro-rated based on the appointment percentage.

UW is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other bases protected by applicable federal or State law and UW System policies. We are committed to building a workforce that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills, and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.