Reporting to the Vice President of University Engagement and Student Affairs (UESA), the Executive Director of Residence Life provides visionary leadership and oversight for residence life operations at Central Michigan University. The Executive Director is adept in aligning residence life priorities with institutional goals related to student engagement, retention, and academic success. The Executive Director leads a dynamic team of professional and student staff with a humanistic approach, fostering a culture of trust, collaboration, and innovation throughout the office, ensuring that staff feel supported, empowered, and connected to the broader mission of student success. This position also works closely with other UESA units, including Auxiliary Services, Facilities Management, Dining Services, and the CMU Police Department to support broader community efforts that contribute to the overall achievement of students. This position also collaborates with the Associate Vice President of University Engagement as a dotted line relationship exists between Residence Life and CMU CARES.

Masters degree, preferably in higher education, educational administration, counseling, or a related field.
Seven years of progressively responsible higher education experience.
Supervisory experience.
Experience cultivating a culture of creativity, care, and concern.
Experience forecasting models for residence hall and apartment occupancy.
Experience with strategic planning, implementation and proven results in cultivating robust learning environments and opportunities that align with institutional priorities.
Extensive experience with crisis management, risk reduction, conflict resolution, and restorative practice.
Experience with student development, community engagement, and event planning.
Experience with the successful implementation of student learning outcomes, curriculum development, assessment, and evaluation.
Extensive experience with the development and implementation of effectual training.
Experience with facilities, including major building renovation projects and day-to-day facility operations.
Experience with campus judicial systems.
Experience with budget development and fiscal management.
Demonstrated highly effective and engaging verbal and written communication skills.
Demonstrated ability to build and manage teams in a large, decentralized environment.
Strong administrative, time management, and prioritization skills, with the capacity to support multiple priorities with significant attention to detail.
Demonstrated comprehension of student learning-based approaches and dynamic competence in administering a complex and innovative Residence Life program.
Strong computer and technology skills and experience communicating with students through relevant online platforms.
Ability to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Extensive experience with providing managerial support that centers standpoint theory in student development, engagement, and advocacy.
Experience with Star Rez, Asset Essentials, and Advocate, or similar software that supports a comprehensive residential life program.
Experience managing organizational change and determining organizational structure.
Experience with publishing assessment reports, briefs, and presentations.

Leads the Office of Residence Life in fostering an environment that promotes student success, leadership, and personal development through structured residential learning initiatives.
Facilitates a team-oriented approach to developing substantial partnerships with the Associate Vice President of University Engagement and the Associate Vice President of Student Affairs.
Provides overall leadership for the curricular-based programming model to create and sustain structured learning experiences for residential students that maximizes their development so that they may succeed both academically and personally.
Establishes, reviews, updates, interprets, and administers departmental and university policies, including restorative procedures and room assignment processes.
Allocates resources across the division and oversees all aspects of programs and services to students in housing to reach the units goals.
Develops and implements an efficient and effective staffing model, ensuring that individuals with the needed knowledge, skills, and abilities are in place to support strategic priorities.
Oversees all personnel-related matters within the department in accordance with University policy, including hiring, training, professional development, promotion, and termination.
Oversees the campus duty rotation for live-on staff and serves as an on-call administrator for campus emergencies.
Collaborates with the CMU Police Department, Counseling Services, CMU CARES, and Student Conduct to ensure proactive crisis response, appropriate behavioral management, and emergency preparedness.
Works in collaboration with the Vice President of UESA and Auxiliary Services to develop the annual budget and set appropriate targets for revenue and expenses, including annual contribution to capital reserves and deferred maintenance.
Regularly analyzes local housing market data and establishes a competitive housing rate structure and contract provisions.
Develops rigorous training programs that provide applied learning experiences for staff, preparing them for effective student engagement and crisis response.
Provides support and resolutions for critical incidents and campus crises.
Assesses programs and services offered by the Office of Residence Life to operationalize a data-informed approach to achieving unit-based learning outcomes and university goals with purpose and intent.
Serves on campus committees, task forces, and steering groups, as appointed.
Represents UESA on behalf of the Vice President, as needed.
Coordinates with the Vice President of UESA on resident-focused messaging, when necessary.
Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Supervisors are expected to support the Leadership Standards of Central Michigan University and foster a culture that inspires excellence. The Leadership Standards define how we lead and treat others in our teams. As leaders, it is our responsibility to seek input from our teams to continuously improve leadership abilities and demonstration of the standards. Additionally, it is our responsibility to encourage and support the growth and development of those whom we lead. At CMU, we encourage employees to grow both personally and professionally, and thus advance CMUs culture of excellence.

Central Michigan University has a more than 125-year legacy of preparing students to become leaders and changemakers in their communities and in their personal and professional lives.

We serve nearly 15,500 students on our Mount Pleasant campus, in satellite locations around the state and throughout the country, and through flexible online programs. Many of our approximately 300 undergraduate, masters, specialist and doctoral programs in the arts, media, business, education, human services, health professions, liberal arts, social sciences, medicine, science and engineering are nationally ranked for excellence.

CMU leads the nation in leadership development programming through our Sarah R. Opperman Leadership Institute, and we are proud to be among only 5% of U.S. universities in the top two Carnegie research classifications. Our faculty work with graduate and undergraduate students in areas such as Great Lakes research, medical innovation, engineering technology and more.

Central is home to 17 mens and womens Division 1 sports including football, basketball, gymnastics, baseball, wrestling and more. Our student-athletes achieve great success in competition and in the classroom, capturing Mid-American Conference championships and maintaining an average cumulative GPA of 3.17.

CMU is located in Mount Pleasant, a community that blends the best of small-town living with big-city amenities. Its part of the culturally varied and vibrant Great Lakes Bay Region that also includes Saginaw, Bay City, Midland and the states largest Native American community, centered on the Saginaw Chippewa Isabella Reservation in Mount Pleasant.

Area residents enjoy the mix of outdoor activities, cultural events, shopping and dining options, and family attractions. Other major Michigan destinations and attractions - Lansing, Grand Rapids, Detroit, Traverse City, wineries, beaches, golf and ski resorts, and many more - are within easy reach of the citys central location in Michigans Lower Peninsula.

CMU employees enjoy access to a nationally recognized wellness program along with health care and benefits that exceed regional, state and national norms.

Central Michigan University is a place where we value students and work for their success, where we act as family, and where employees are engaged, appreciated and have extraordinary opportunities to make a difference.

We intentionally maintain and strengthen the hallmark CMU culture that sets us apart from our peers by expecting CMU leaders and employees to model the following Leadership Standards and develop them within their teams.

Please review the Leadership Standards before applying for this position.

Central Michigan University is dedicated to fostering a broadly diverse and inclusive campus that respects all social identities, experiences, and perspectives. In an effort to further this initiative, we are especially interested in candidates who will advance and promote an inclusive and supportive environment for every member of our university community.

You must submit an on-line application in order to be considered as an applicant for this position.

Cover letters may be addressed to the Hiring Committee.

Supervisors are expected to support the Leadership Standards of Central Michigan University and foster a culture that inspires excellence. Please review the Leadership Standards before applying for this position.

This position will remain open until filled. The University reserves the right to close the recruitment process once a sufficient applicant pool has been identified. For best consideration, please submit application materials by June 26, 2025.