Director of Residential Life

Housing, a department within the Division of Student Affairs, provides a world-class housing experience by engaging students within an innovative and educational environment that supports best on-campus housing practices and promotes student success.

Position Summary

The Director for Residential Life is a senior leadership position within MU Housing, responsible for overseeing multiple distinct functional areas that directly support departmental operations and university-wide student success initiatives. This includes strategic leadership of residential education, student leadership development, recruitment and selection for all MU Housing staff, crisis response, and major event coordination. The Director supervises professional and support staff and serves as a key collaborator across campus, representing MU Housing on institutional committees and leading large-scale efforts such as Mizzou Move-In. The scope and complexity of this role reflect high-level influence over both the student residential experience and operational priorities that advance the mission of MU Housing and the broader Division of Student Affairs.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and direction for Residential Life including oversight of residential education, student leadership, living-learning communities, and community development initiatives.
• Direct the recruitment, screening, selection, and onboarding processes for all full-time and student positions within MU Housing, ensuring equitable and consistent hiring practices across units.
• Serve as the MU Housing representative on the university-wide CARE and At-Risk Committees. Act as a key contributor to institutional student support efforts, given the high volume and complexity of cases involving residential students.
• Lead the planning and execution of Mizzou Move-In-the largest non-athletics, non-commencement event on campus-coordinating logistics, staffing, and communications across the university.
• Directly supervise one associate director, four assistant directors, and one support staff member; provide leadership, development, and organizational effectiveness for Residential Life units: staff recruitment/selection, residential education, student care/community standards, residential operations.
• Oversee strategic assessment and continuous improvement for Residential Life programs, including residential curriculum delivery, student engagement initiatives, and staff training models.
• Manage budgets and administrative operations for assigned Residential Life functions; contribute to broader MU Housing fiscal planning and strategic resource allocation.
• Represent Residential Life and MU Housing on divisional and campus-wide committees; advise the Senior Director on matters related to staffing, student development, and departmental strategy.

Full Time; 40 hours per week.

This position may require evening and weekend hours supporting activities and programs within the department. Occasionally division and campus projects may require additional hours outside of your normal schedule.

A Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience and at least 6 years of experience from which comparable knowledge and skills can be acquired is necessary.

A Master's degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs, or related field.

At least six years of progressive leadership experience in student housing, student affairs, or related area. This must include professional staff supervision, crisis response, and program development. Experience leading cross-functional teams and managing multiple distinct program areas is essential.

Range: $69,097.60 - $134,950.40

University Grade: 12

University Title: Director I Student Support Services

Internal applicants can determine their university title by accessing the Talent Profile tile in myHR.

Complete application, and upload the following: resume, cover letter, and 3 or more references which must include at least one supervisor.

This position is eligible for University benefits. As part of your total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement, paid time off, short- and long-term disability, paid parental leave, paid caregiver leave, and educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses. For additional information on University benefits, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website at https://www.umsystem.edu/totalrewards/benefits.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

To request ADA accommodations, please call the Director of Accessibility and ADA at 573-884-7278.