Widener University is currently seeking a Senior Associate Director for Student Living. Reporting to the Associate Vice President/Associate Dean for Student Living, Learning & Engagement, this position provides visionary leadership and operational oversight for the Office of Student Living. This role shapes all aspects of the residential student experience, including housing operations, the residential curriculum, Living Learning Communities (LLCs), and the First-Year Experience. The position also advises students on rights and responsibilities, manages professional and student staff, develops policies, and serves as a key liaison across campus to cultivate a supportive, inclusive, and engaging living environment.
As a senior leader within the Student Engagement & Transformation (SET) Division, the Senior Associate Director collaborates across academic and administrative units to advance a vibrant, student-centered residential community that promotes belonging, well-being, and student success. This live-on position maintains a visible presence in the residence halls, participates in the on-call rotation, and plays a critical role in fostering a safe and thriving campus community.
The Senior Associate Director for Student Living provides overall leadership, direction, and oversight for comprehensive residential education initiatives and housing operations. This role is responsible for the development, implementation, and evaluation of programs that bridge academic and student life, fostering a vibrant, inclusive, and safe community for residential students. The incumbent manages a team of professional and paraprofessional staff, oversees critical administrative functions, and serves as a key liaison to various campus partners to ensure a seamless and student-centered experience.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (including, but not limited to):
Essential Duties:
Strategic Leadership, Supervision & Mentorship
- Provide direct supervision, coaching, and performance management for Area Coordinators and functional supervision for approximately 41 student staff members.
- Develop and implement a comprehensive professional and student staff development plan emphasizing leadership, inclusion, learning outcomes, and alignment with the SET curricular approach.
- Partner with the Associate Vice President/Associate Dean for Student Living, Learning & Engagement to establish departmental goals, shared accountability measures, and alignment with divisional strategic priorities.
Residential Education
- Lead the design, implementation, and assessment of a holistic residential curriculum that fosters belonging, student success, and personal development.
- Use assessment data to demonstrate learning outcomes and evaluate the impact of the residential experience.
- Provide strategic leadership for Living Learning Communities (LLCs), cultivating strong partnerships with faculty, academic departments, and campus collaborators.
- Develop annual LLC learning outcomes and oversee recruitment, marketing, and evaluation of LLC initiatives.
Housing Operations Management
- Collaborate with the Associate Director of Housing Operations on move-in/move-out processes, occupancy forecasting, and residential facility planning.
- Maintain regular communication with Housing Operations to ensure seamless student support and operational alignment.
- Partner with Facilities Management, Custodial Services, and Campus Safety to ensure residential facilities are safe, well-maintained, and conducive to community living.
Budget Management
- Assist in forecasting and managing the departmental annual budget, ensuring strategic allocation of resources across staffing, professional development, programming, student wages, and operational needs.
- Work with the Associate Vice President/Associate Dean and Associate Director of Housing Operations to identify opportunities for fiscal efficiency, revenue generation, and long-term sustainability.
Student Staff Recruitment, Selection & Development
- Oversee recruitment, selection, training, and evaluation of Resident Assistants and paraprofessional student leaders.
- Develop a robust training and development framework grounded in inclusive excellence, leadership theory, and divisional learning outcomes.
- Foster a culture of reflection, accountability, and continuous improvement among student leaders and professional staff.
Campus Partnerships & Divisional Leadership
- Collaborate with Assistant Deans for Student Engagement and Community Standards & CARE to ensure alignment and shared leadership across divisional functions.
- Serve as an active member of the SET Leadership Team, contributing to strategic planning, assessment initiatives, and divisional communication strategies.
- Build strong partnerships across Academic Affairs, Enrollment Management, Athletics, and campus life to advance an integrated and modern student experience.
Crisis Management & On-Call Response
- Participate in the University’s on-call rotation, providing leadership during student emergencies, mental health crises, and campus incidents.
- Partner with Campus Safety, CARE, and Counseling Services to ensure coordinated, compassionate, and student-centered responses.
- Develop and implement crisis response protocols and staff training to enhance preparedness and consistency.
Secondary Responsibilities:
Marketing & Branding
- Collaborate with University Relations and Student Engagement staff to develop a cohesive marketing strategy highlighting the residential experience, LLCs, and housing programs.
- Oversee communication strategies and digital content that promote the value of on-campus living and reflect the division’s commitment to inclusion, community, and engagement.
Assessment
- Lead assessment initiatives to evaluate program effectiveness, student learning outcomes, and satisfaction within Student Living.
- Use data to guide program improvements, enhance services, and support divisional and institutional reporting.
- Assist the Associate Vice President/Associate Dean in developing and tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) aligned with the Curricular Approach and SET strategic goals.
- Perform other job-related duties as assigned or directed to support departmental needs and align with the mission, values and goals of the Student Engagement and Transformation Division and Widener University.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS (education/training and experience required):
Required:
- Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration, Student Affairs, Student Personnel, or a closely related field from an accredited institution.
- Four or more years of progressive professional experience in residential life, housing operations, or student engagement within a college or University setting. An equivalent combination of experience and education may be considered.
- Experience supervising professional and/or paraprofessional staff.
- Proficiency with housing management, conduct, and student engagement software systems that support the residential experience.
- Commitment to advancing equity, inclusion, and belonging for students from diverse backgrounds.
- Experience managing departmental operations, including budget development and oversight, policy implementation, and billing/damage assessment processes.
- Experience developing, implementing, and assessing living-learning communities or residential curriculum models that integrate academic success with the residential experience.
- Knowledge of restorative practices, student conduct processes, and educational adjudication models.
- Exceptional interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with students, staff, and faculty.
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to balance multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), desktop publishing tools, and web‑based research and productivity software.
Preferred:
- Terminal degree (Ph.D. or Ed.D.) in Higher Education, Student Personnel, Student Affairs, or a closely related field.
- Experience using or administering platforms such as StarRez, Maxient, Coursedog and Anthology Engage.
- Five or more years of progressive responsible professional experience in residential life, housing operations, or student affairs, or student engagement.
- Demonstrated success leading strategic initiatives or special projects within student affairs or housing operations.
- Ability to think critically, act independently, and implement solutions that advance institutional and divisional goals.
- Active engagement or membership in national professional associations such as ACUHO‑I, NASPA, or ACPA.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND/OR UNUSUAL HOURS:
- This position requires a flexible schedule beyond a standard 9:00a.m. to 5:00p.m. workday, including evening and weekend hours, to meet the needs of a residential campus environment.
- As an essential personnel position, may be required to report to campus during emergencies, inclement weather, or other critical University operations.
- The position may involve occasional physical activity in support of residential operations, such as event setup or move-in/move-out assistance (e.g., lifting up to 25 lbs., extended periods of standing, or walking between residential facilities).
All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Widener University is committed to fostering an inclusive community in which faculty, staff, and students from a variety of backgrounds, cultures, and personal experiences are welcomed and can thrive. We are an equal opportunity employer and are committed to providing equal educational and employment opportunities for all persons without regard to age, color, national origin, race, religion, disability, veteran status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, or status as a protected veteran.
Some positions may be eligible for a hybrid or remote work arrangement that may include a partially or fully remote work location, consistent with Widener’s Flexible Work policy.
Widener University, an independent, metropolitan, doctoral-intensive university, connects curricula to social issues through civic engagement. Dynamic teaching, active scholarship, personal attention and experiential learning are key components of the Widener Experience. Located in Chester, PA, Widener's main campus is nestled between Philadelphia, PA and Wilmington, DE, with Law Schools located in both Harrisburg and Wilmington. For more information about the university, please visit our website at www.widener.edu.
EOE M/F/V/D
