Associate Director for Residential Education

Job Description
- Associate Director for Residential Education )

Job Description

Description

State

Title:

Associate Director

Bargaining Unit:
Non-Unit

Employment Type:

35 hours per week/Full-time

External salary: $80,000 - $90,000

NON-UNION POSITIONS
:
For non-unit positions, salary commensurate with experience and is accompanied by a competitive benefits package.

Founded in 1855, TCNJ offers a highly personalized and collaborative liberal arts education with over 7,400 undergraduates and 700 graduate students. The college is consistently ranked among the top comprehensive colleges in the nation, offering small classes, a 13:1 student-faculty ratio, and an immersive living-learning experience. With a 4-year graduation rate ranked #1 in New Jersey and #9 among U.S. public institutions, TCNJ is a model for public higher education.

Position Overview: The FYE Associate Director of Residential Education serves as a key leader within the Department of Residential Education and Housing, providing comprehensive oversight for the educational, safety, and community development efforts within a residential population of over 3,500-4,000 students. Reporting to the Executive Director of Residential Education, Housing & Dining, this position oversees the operational and developmental functions of a dynamic residential program, including after‑hours duty and crisis response, student conduct, residential care outreach, and initiatives that promote student health, wellness, and safety in alignment with campus-wide policies, fire safety standards, and federal guidance.

This role provides direct supervision to 3-4 masters‑level Residence Directors, offering mentorship and leadership in the day-to-day management of residential communities, staff development, and program implementation. The First-Year Area Associate Director plays a central role in implementing the residential curriculum and providing a comprehensive training program that addresses all departmental policies, procedures, and applicable local and national regulations for student staff.

As a live-off position, the Associate Director is expected to serve in the senior-level duty rotation with three other professionals, providing critical leadership during after-hours and crisis situations. Crisis management responsibilities include supporting students in distress; engaging with families, senior leadership, and campus police when appropriate; responding to significant building safety or facilities issues; and demonstrating sound judgment and effective problem‑solving under pressure.

During periods of vacancy at the Residence Director level, the Associate Director provides hands‑on leadership and direct oversight of a residential area and its student staff team, ensuring continuity of support and supervision. This position actively collaborates with campus partners to create environments that foster learning, belonging, and student success through intentional educational programming, effective crisis planning, alignment with the Colleges strategic plan, and evidence-based practices.

• Supervision & Staff Development

  The Associate Director hires, trains, supervises, and evaluates 4 masters‑level professionals Residence Directors, while providing indirect oversight for 200+ student staff, including Community Advisors (CAs), Student Managers/Resident Officers (SMROs), Desk Assistants, Mailroom staff, and other residential support personnel. This role ensures that all hiring, training, and evaluation processes align with affirmative action procedures and institutional standards.

  The Associate Director partners with other Associate Directors to plan and implement comprehensive in‑service training programs for both professional and student staff. These programs emphasize the full spectrum of student development, residential curriculum, community building, and equity and inclusion principles. Staff are trained on all relevant College policies, federal and state regulations, and procedures—including cannabis response protocols, domestic violence response, Title IX reporting, and student conduct policies—as well as resources available…