Director of Residential Life

Job title: Director of Residential Life

About the Role

The Director of Residential Life provides leadership and strategic direction for all aspects of on-campus housing and residential life programs at the Illinois Institute of Technology. This role creates a safe, inclusive, and engaging residential community that supports student success and personal development. The Director oversees housing operations, residence hall management, staff supervision, crisis response, and programming initiatives, and serves in the SALT on-call rotation.

What You'll Do

• Develop and implement a comprehensive residential life program that promotes student engagement, wellness, and academic success.
• Create policies and procedures that support community standards, conflict resolution, and student conduct within residential settings.
• Lead diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in residence halls.
• Design and implement programs that promote leadership development, community building, and student well-being.
• Serve as a resource for students navigating housing-related concerns and personal challenges.
• Oversee housing assignments, occupancy management, and room selection processes; manage contracts, billing, and compliance with institutional and legal requirements.
• Coordinate facilities maintenance and collaborate with campus partners to ensure safe and well-maintained living environments.
• Serve as a primary responder for residential crises, including mental health emergencies, facility issues, and safety concerns; develop emergency protocols with campus safety and counseling services.
• Train staff on crisis intervention, emergency preparedness, and incident reporting; participate in on-call rotation and provide leadership during critical incidents (evenings, weekends, and holidays).
• Recruit, train, and supervise professional and paraprofessional staff (Residence Hall Directors and Resident Assistants); provide ongoing professional development and evaluations.
• Develop and manage budgets for residential life and housing operations; ensure fiscal responsibility and efficient use of resources.
• Partner with campus departments to integrate residential life into broader student success initiatives; collect and analyze data to inform continuous improvement.
• Supervise 3-5 professional staff members.

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Master’s degree and 5+ years’ experience working with students in a higher education environment preferred.
• Previous residence education experience, including supervision of graduate or full-time staff required.
• Previous experience in operations or occupancy also preferred.

Nice to Have

• Strong leadership, communication, and crisis management abilities; ability to respond to emergencies; willingness to participate in on-call rotation.

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary range: $75,000–$80,000 per year, based on experience, skills, and overall qualifications.
• Benefits: Our commitment to employee well-being is reflected in our competitive benefits package.