Associate Director of Residence Education

Position Overview

Provide leadership and coordination of an inclusive, comprehensive selection, training, and development plan for all professional, graduate and student staff members. Lead all department efforts and initiatives related to student conduct, students of concern, and wellness. Primary responsibility for building a strategic Living Learning and Affinity Learning Communities, including promotion and training of LLC/ALC advisors, and educating campus partners about the opportunities and benefits associated with our LLC program. The person in this position will be responsible for programmatic efforts within the halls that will help aid in student transition to college, DEI, becoming a good steward of the community, among others. These topics will also be influenced by the intentional interactions process that this position will oversee. This position directly supervises two professional area coordinators and indirectly supervises two area coordinators, seven graduate resident directors, and 76+ resident advisors.

This is a full-time, 12-month, live-on position with on-call responsibilities for high-level concerns

Primary Responsibilities:

• Manage and provide leadership of an inclusive, comprehensive selection, training, and development program for all professional, graduate and student staff members.
• Directly supervise 2 Area Coordinators, indirectly supervise 2 Area Coordinators, 7 Graduate Resident Directors. and 76+ Resident Advisors.
• Provide oversight of Area Coordinators in the development of programs and traditions in their supervised area(s), including oversight of the programming model and tracking of campus-wide RA programming information, and oversight of departmental signature events.
• Co-Chair the Living Living Community Committee and lead the group in building a strategic Living Learning and Affinity Learning Community experience including promotion and training of LLC/ALC advisors, and educating campus partners about the opportunities and benefits associated with our LLC program.
• Develop and maintain documents pertaining to recruitment, selection, training, and development, including, but not limited to Google sites, manuals, forms, JotForms, staff files and promotional materials for professional and paraprofessional staff. Manage and update the department’s Standard Operating Guidelines for the department.
• Promote positive professional staff and RA morale; coordinate appreciation and recognition efforts. Provide professional development opportunities for staff.
• Organize a programming calendar that promotes all residence life and commuter student program initiatives. Oversight of the programming committee.
• Serve on the campus programming committee.
• Work collaboratively with offices across campus, including being the primary liaison to the Office of Community Standards, the Office of Counseling and Wellness, and Merrimack College Police Department to provide an optimal student experience for students.
• Provide monthly development opportunities for the RA staff, and manage summer online preparatory training for RAs.
• Engages a diverse student body and staff in fostering a welcoming, supportive, and inclusive environment that promotes connection to campus life, while maintaining high-levels of customer-service for students, parents, and campus partners.
• Participates in college-wide events, including recruitment events, open houses, Accepted Student Days, residence hall openings, Orientation, Welcome Week, Family Weekend, and Commencement.
• Assist with central office tasks like sending weekly staff meetings, participate in departmental committees, maintain familiarity with current trends in higher education, and manage departmental calendars.
• Serve as student conduct hearing officer, update database and information associated with each case.
• Serve as a member of the on campus emergency response team in the event of an emergency or crisis situation.
• Serve in the administrator on call rotation.
• Serve on college committees as designated by the Assistant Dean of Residence Life.
• Other duties as assigned by the Assistant Dean of Residence Life and/or Associate Dean of Students.

Qualifications:

• Master’s required; At least 5 years of increasing experience and responsibilities in a college or university residential environment that includes residence life, staff selection, or staff training.
• Multicultural competence and a demonstrated commitment to and experiences with diversity, equity and inclusion
• Program planning, assessment, and development
• Computer skills (Microsoft office/Publisher)
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Culturally responsive conflict resolution and creative problem-solving skills
• Experience building collaborative partnerships with faculty, administrators, students, parents/families, and community partners.
• Understanding of college student development & college environment.
• 4-5 years of progressively increased responsibility and experience with college aged students.
• Prior work experience in staff recruitment, training, and development preferred.
• Prior work experience in residence life preferred.

Application Materials Should Include:

• Cover letter stating motivation and interest in the position, citing experience relevant to the qualifications and including experience with, and commitment to, our Catholic Augustinian mission, our values, and our desire to be a more diverse, equitable and inclusive institution of higher learning
• Resume
• Names and contact information for three (3) references.

This position is subject to the successful completion of a criminal background check.

Vaccinations and Work Location

This is an on-campus position as employees are essential in order to provide a fully on-campus, residential college experience for our students and the community.

The COVID-19 vaccine and booster for which an individual may be eligible are highly recommended for students, faculty and staff. Merrimack College does not require proof of COVID vaccination for enrollment, employment or to be a guest on our campus. 

Statement on Our Mission

Merrimack College is a Catholic Augustinian institution of higher education committed to building a culturally and racially diverse community. Our mission is to enlighten minds, engage hearts and empower lives and is inspired by our Catholic faith and the Augustinian tradition of seeking truth through inquiry and dialogue.

Merrimack College seeks candidates who understand, respect and can contribute to Merrimack’s Catholic and Augustinian mission and values and advance our work in the area of diversity, equity and inclusion. We strongly encourage applications from members of underrepresented groups. All candidates should describe in their application previous experience related to equity, diversity, and inclusion, as well as how they will engage in fostering a culture that supports our Catholic and Augustinian mission and our values of diversity, equity and inclusion.

About Merrimack College

The only Catholic, Augustinian institution of higher education in New England, Merrimack College is a private, independent, coeducational institution with more than 4,000 undergraduate and 1,400 graduate students from 32 states and 37 countries. The College features more than 100 career-focused undergraduate, professional and graduate programs, all taught by exceptional faculty who are passionate about their subject and student success. The College has five schools: arts and sciences, engineering and computational sciences, nursing and health sciences, the Winston school of education and social policy and the Girard school of business. The College’s suburban 240-acre campus is approximately 25 miles north of Boston in the towns of North Andover and Andover, Massachusetts. Merrimack is a Master’s Colleges and Universities/Larger Programs (M1) institution in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Merrimack is one of the fastest growing educational institutions in the country and has steadily climbed up in the U.S. News & World Report’s ranking of Best Colleges, ranking 33rd in the Regional Universities North category in 2024. Merrimack is a NCAA Division I athletic institution.

Merrimack College is an Equal Opportunity Employer.