Assistant Director Residence Life at InsideHigherEd

Logo:

Posting Number:

STA00898PO25

Job Family:

Residential Living

Job Function:

Residential Life

USC Market Title:

Assistant Director Residential Life

Link to USC Market Title:

https://uscjobs.sc.edu/titles/133812

Job Level:

M1 - Managerial

Business Title (Internal Title):

Assistant Director Residence Life

Campus:

Columbia

Work County:

Richland

College/Division:

Division of Student Affairs and Academic Support

Department:

SAAS Residence Life Employees

State Pay Band:

6

Approved Starting Salary:

$54,165

Advertised Salary Range:

54,165 - $67,707

Location of Vacancy:

Columbia, SC

Part/Full Time:

Full Time

Hours per Week:

37.5

Work Schedule:

Monday thru Friday 8:30 am to 5:00 pm

There will be weekend and after hours work based on the Academic year and events for the students, Residence Life Coordinators, and Resident Assistants.

Must be willing to work a flexible schedule to meet the needs of the department.

Basis :

12 months

Job Search Category:

Student Services

About University of South Carolina:

From the Upstate to the Lowcountry, the University of South Carolina system is transforming the lives of South Carolinians through the impact of our eight institutions and 20 locations throughout the state. More than 50,000 students are enrolled at one of eight institutions, including the research campus in Columbia and comprehensive four-year universities in Aiken, Upstate and Beaufort. In addition, our Palmetto College campuses in Salkehatchie, Union, Lancaster and Sumter enable students to earn associate or bachelor’s degrees through a combination of in-person, online or blended learning. All of our system institutions place strong emphasis on service — helping to build healthier, more educated communities in South Carolina and beyond.

Veterans' Preference Statement:

The University of South Carolina is committed to equal opportunity and proudly values the skills and experience military veterans bring to our workforce. Across South Carolina, we are making veterans a priority for employment and recognize their vital contributions to our state and our communities.

Advertised Job Summary:

Assistant Director of Residence Life

• How would you like to work for a team that directly shapes the residential experience for over 3,000 students?
• Did you have ideas that would enhance the student experience during summer programs and academic breaks?
• Do you want to be a mentor and guide for future and current residence life professionals and student leaders?
• Are you passionate about influencing staff development and training programs that impact hundreds of student employees?

Look no further!The Assistant Director leads the supervision, training, and development of professional, graduate, and student staff in alignment with University Housing’s mission. They manage 8–10 professional and graduate staff, about 85 Resident Assistants, and oversee services for 2,500–3,000 residents. Responsibilities include coordinating staff selection and training, conducting annual evaluations, and providing ongoing professional development. The role also involves supervising summer and break-period staff and facilitating weekly team meetings and regular one-on-one sessions. All efforts focus on ensuring effective operations and staff growth within the residence life program.

Primary duties

• Provides leadership for creating inclusive, student-centered residence hall communities by implementing the Know, Connect, Empower (KCE) model, supporting staff, enforcing policies, responding to crises, and using assessment data to enhance programs and the residential experience.
• Leads the supervision, training, evaluation, and professional development of residence life staff, including 3–5 professional coordinators, 3–5 graduate coordinators, and approximately 85 Resident Assistants, ensuring alignment with University Housing’s mission and goals.
• Provide strategic leadership for a designated functional area within Residence Life (e.g., training, selection, recognition), overseeing programs that enhance student engagement and retention, and chairing a cross-functional committee to advance departmental goals and complete initiatives.
• Lead communication and coordination across residence life operations, supervising live-in staff and Resident Assistants, managing building budgets, ensuring timely completion of reports and inspections, and partnering with facilities and security teams to maintain safe, well-functioning residential communities.
• Engage in departmental and division-wide committees, task forces, and special projects beyond the residential area, supervise graduate practicum/intern students, and support initiatives that enhance programs and services for students.

Perks:

• Competitive Salary + Some of the BEST benefits you can find!
• 15 Paid Vacation Days
• 15 Paid Sick Days
• 13 Paid Holidays (including an extended December holiday)
• Work-Life-Balance: Full-time pay with a 37.5 work week
• An engaging and collaborative environment.
• Our Residence Halls are close to the iconic USC Horseshoe, surrounded by amenities, so you’ll love where you work!

Job Related Minimum Required Education and Experience:

Requires a bachelor’s degree in a job related field and 5 or more years of job related experience, which may be substituted by an equivalent combination of job related certification, training, education, and/or experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

Master’s Degree and 3 years related experience.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

Knowledge of residence life operations; Interpersonal/human relations skills; Written and verbal communication skills; Supervisory skills and abilities; Organizational/planning skills; Ability to maintain confidential information; Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously; Ability to work flexible schedule (nights, weekends); Ability to operate a personal computer and various software programs.

Job Duty:

The Assistant Director provides leadership for residence hall environments that aim to Know, Connect, and Empower (KCE) each resident on campus. Models the core principles of KCE and supports staff in the implementation of the model. Role models ethics, consistent/fair decision making, and support for the department. Supports a residential community that is supportive of all. Maintains knowledge of current assessment methods including tracking data points, analyzing data, and identifying themes related to the residential experience. In conjunction with the Director of Assessment, the Assistant Director will utilize assessment data to inform programmatic initiatives and other functions related to their position. Commits to enhancing the quality of life on campus by collaborating with students and staff to promote a safe residential community. Makes appropriate referrals of residents to campus and community resources. Disseminates and enforces all university policies within the residence halls. Assists in the development of departmental policies and procedures. Reviews incident reports and supports in hall staff in response and resolution. Responds to crisis situations and participates in an on-call duty. Responsible for sharing information with members of the CARE Team for the safety of all residents. Advises individual students and student groups regarding academics, personal, and interpersonal matters. Holds staff accountable for their decision making, ensuring consistency across the department with a student- centered approach. Promotes residential student leadership through hall government, living and learning communities, Residence Hall Association, National Residence Hall Honorary and related initiatives.

Essential Function:

Yes

Percentage of Time:

25

Job Duty:

The Assistant Director provides leadership for supervising, training, evaluating and developing professional, graduate and student staff. Supervision is aligned with University Housing’s mission, vision and goals. Supervises 3-5 professional full-time Residence Life Coordinators, 3-5 graduate Residence Life Coordinators, and approximately 85 undergraduate Resident assistants. Participates in the selection and training of all staff in coordination with the Residence Life Leadership Team. Oversees training of area residence hall staff relative to all job responsibilities and duties.
Supervises summer staff during Summer School/Conference Programs and Services. Supervises staff during break periods, including Fall, Winter, and Spring Breaks. Evaluates professional and graduate staff formally once a year and informally throughout the year.
Provides guidance to staff in their professional development through individual supervisory meetings that are aligned with the departmental staff development philosophy. Facilitates weekly team meetings of area professional and graduate staff including maintenance supervisor, custodial supervisor, and dining services manager. Facilitates regularly scheduled individual supervision meetings with direct reports.

Essential Function:

Yes

Percentage of Time:

25

Job Duty:

The Assistant Director of Residence Life provides leadership and strategic oversight to a dedicated functional area within the Residence Life department, such as training, selection, recognition/appreciation or others identified by the Director of Residence Life. This role is responsible for the development and supervision of programs and initiatives that enhance student engagement, learning, and retention within residential communities. Additionally, the Assistant Director chairs a cross-functional committee aimed at advancing departmental goals, fostering collaboration, and addressing emerging needs within the residential experience. Key responsibilities include the oversight of the committee to its full completion.

Essential Function:

Yes

Percentage of Time:

25

Job Duty:

The Assistant Director provides leadership for maintaining communication with a variety of constituents to enhance operations of the residential area. Supervise the live-in residence life staff including Residence Life Coordinators, Assistant Residence Life Coordinators, and Resident Assistants. Coordinates activities and services with building/area maintenance, custodial supervisor/staff and assignments staff.
* Responsible for the timely completion of all appropriate paperwork and reports including, but not limited to, check-in/check- out procedures, room inspections, health and safety inspections, occupancy, equipment issue, and budgets.
* Coordinates with appropriate staff regarding issues concerning residence hall security. *Tracks vandalism/damage in area in partnership with zone maintenance supervisor and coordinates group billing when necessary. Supports residence life staff in the pursuit of our relational engagement model where we aim to Know, Connect, and Empower our residential population. Assists Residence Life Coordinators and Assistant Residence Life Coordinators with managing the building budgets.

Essential Function:

Yes

Percentage of Time:

20

Job Duty:

The Assistant Director is involved in experiences, beyond the residential area of responsibility, to engage in committees, task forces and related experiences to enhance programs and services for students. Perform other departmental duties as assigned by the Associate Director(s) or Director of Residence Life, including, but not limited, to team assignments and administrative projects. Serve on departmental and division-wide committees and/or task forces. Supervise graduate level practicum/intern students

Essential Function:

Yes

Percentage of Time:

5

Safety Sensitive or Security Sensitive:

No

Hazardous weather category:

Essential

Number of Vacancies:

1

Desired Start Date:

02/01/2026

Job Open Date:

11/11/2025

Job Close Date:

01/31/2026

Open Until Filled:

No

Special Instructions to Applicant:

Positions are advertised for a minimum of five (5) business days on our job website. After five (5) business days, positions can be closed at the discretion of the department at any time. This employment site is updated on a regular basis. The length of the recruitment and screening process may vary from position to position, depending upon a variety of factors. Should review of your qualifications result in a decision to pursue your candidacy, you will be contacted by phone or email.

We are only accepting applications submitted by January 31, 2026.

The University of South Carolina offers a valuable benefits package including but not limited to:

• Health and Life Insurance
• Retirement Programs
• Paid Tuition
• Dependent Scholarships
• Annual Leave
• Sick Leave
• 13 Paid Holidays (including an extended December holiday)
• Paid Parental Leave
• Professional Development Opportunities

Click here to learn more about why you should work at USC.

Quicklink for Posting:

https://uscjobs.sc.edu/postings/197743

EEO Statement:

The University of South Carolina does not discriminate in educational or employment opportunities or decisions for qualified persons on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender (including transgender), gender identity or expression, genetic information, HIV/AIDs status, military status, national origin, pregnancy (false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, childbirth, recovery therefrom or related medical conditions, breastfeeding), race, religion (including religious dress and grooming practices), sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other bases under federal, state, local law, or regulations.