Metropolitan State University of Denver
Executive Director, Housing & Residence Life
Metropolitan State University of Denver, Denver, Colorado, United States, 80202
Executive Director of Housing & Residence Life
The inaugural Executive Director of Housing & Residence Life (Executive Director) at Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver) provides strategic vision and leadership for a dynamic and student-centered residential program slated to open in Fall 2027. Reporting directly to the Associate Vice President and Dean of Students, the Executive Director serves as MSU Denver's Senior Student Housing Officer and oversees all aspects of housing operations, residential life programming, occupancy management, dining management/partnerships, and strategic initiatives related to student retention and success. The Executive Director is responsible for leading a comprehensive residential experience that aligns with MSU Denver's commitment to student engagement, belonging, and academic success. This position serves as a key leader in Student Engagement & Well-being, works in close collaboration with the Finance and Administration team, and plays a critical role in fostering partnerships across campus to support students' holistic development and well-being. This position provides overall administration to on-campus housing and residence life program, currently projected at 586 bed spaces to open in Fall 2027. Metropolitan State University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. Duties/Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Administration Provide vision, leadership, and direction for the Housing & Residence Life department, ensuring alignment with the university's mission, values, and strategic priorities. Serve as a member of the SEW Deans/Directors leadership team and the Finance and Administration leadership team, working collaboratively across units to support student retention and success. Lead strategic planning efforts related to housing operations, information technology, future facility development, and programmatic initiatives. Lead strategic, campus-wide efforts for dining partnerships. Leads and coordinates off-campus student housing referrals in collaboration with campus partners. Prepare and present strategic housing data and capital planning updates to the Board of Trustees and Senior Leadership Team to inform institutional decision-making. Establish and maintain local/regional/national association work and representation, leveraging national trends and data to provide strategic guidance to MSU Denver. Residential Life & Student Success Oversee a comprehensive residential education model that fosters student engagement, leadership development, and academic support. Develop and implement living-learning communities and initiatives that enhance student persistence and sense of belonging. Partner with faculty, academic units, and the Classroom-to-Career Hub to integrate educational initiatives and career readiness into the residential experience. Establish and maintain a partnership with the Counseling Center to integrate an embedded mental health counselor within the residence hall, ensuring extended hours and on-site support for residential students. Build a culture of service, accountability, assessment, and continuous improvement. Occupancy Management & Housing Operations Direct all aspects of occupancy management, housing assignments, and enrollment-related housing initiatives in coordination with the Finance and Administration branch and the admissions team. In partnership with the Health Center at Auraria, ensure compliance with vaccination requirements and documentation of MSU Denver residential students. Oversee facilities planning, residential safety and security, housing operations, and maintenance in partnership with campus facilities and external vendors. Manage on-campus housing public-private partnerships (P3s) in partnership with leaders from Finance and Administration and work closely with external housing providers to enhance student housing options. Maintain resources and information for off-campus, student supportive housing options in the Denver metropolitan area(s) to support student need for housing beyond residence life. Crisis Management & Student Support Serve as a key responder in student crises, emergency management, and behavioral intervention efforts within Housing & Residence Life and on the Auraria campus. Work in collaboration with campus safety, student conduct, Counseling Center, the Student Care Center, the Health Center at Auraria and others to ensure student support and crisis response protocols are in place, executed appropriately, and evaluated on a consistent cycle. Budget, Finance & Personnel Management Develop and manage the Housing & Residence Life budget, ensuring fiscal responsibility and alignment with university goals. Supervise a team of full-time professional staff (1) associate director for residence life, (1) assistant director for guest/conference services and occupancy management. Indirectly support (2) two residence directors, (18) Resident Assistants, and (10) community assistants. Directly coordinate with the Classroom-to-Career Hub to provide comprehensive building/occupancy management protocol/services and provide training, development, and student staff for the welcome and service desks in the building (3 in total). Lead the development of all position descriptions to create a comprehensive Housing & Residence Life team including professional, paraprofessional, graduate assistant, and student hourly positions required for staffing the department. Support recruitment, hiring, training, evaluation, and professional development efforts to cultivate an inclusive and dynamic team. Required Qualifications
Masters degree in Student Affairs, Higher Education, Counseling, or a related field. At least ten (10) years of progressive experience in Housing & Residence Life, including supervision of full-time professional staff with a focus on financial stewardship, deferred maintenance, and financial modeling. Experience with housing operations, occupancy management, and facility oversight in a university setting. Proven ability to manage crisis response, Title IX, student conduct, and behavioral intervention efforts within a residential community. Demonstrated success in team leadership, budget management, deferred maintenance, and strategic planning. Demonstrated experience coordinating with P3 Partners. Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, access, and belonging in student housing. Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends as required for programming elements of the position and on-call needs. Important Note:
Successful applicants will ensure their resume clearly demonstrates that their work experience describes how they meet all required qualifications. Preferred Qualifications
Doctorate or terminal degree in Higher Education Administration or related field. Experience working in urban institutions with diverse student populations. Substantial experience working with public-private housing partnerships (P3s) and off-campus housing management. Background in student retention initiatives, living-learning communities, and academic partnerships. Proficiency in data-driven decision-making and the use of technology in housing operations. Work Hours: Full-time, 40 hours per week, Exempt Monday through Friday, with evening and weekends on-call Evenings and weekends: Serving in a rotating on-call duty structure Schedule: In-person with some hybrid flexibility Travel: Rarely, less than 5% Salary for Announcement: We anticipate the qualified candidate to be placed between $90,600 - $120,950. The salary of the finalist(s) selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, experience, education, specialty, and training. The above salary range represents the Universitys good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. Instructions to Apply: For full consideration, please submit the following documents: Resume Cover letter describing relevant job experiences as they relate to listed job qualifications and interest in the position Three professional references will be required of the finalist. One reference must be a prior supervisor. This position will remain open until filled. Please apply by September 05, 2025 for full consideration. Official transcripts will be required of the candidate selected for hire. If you are an Internal applicant, please apply via the Career tab within the WorkDay menu. Successful applicants will ensure their resume clearly demonstrates that their work experience describes how they meet all required qualifications.
The inaugural Executive Director of Housing & Residence Life (Executive Director) at Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver) provides strategic vision and leadership for a dynamic and student-centered residential program slated to open in Fall 2027. Reporting directly to the Associate Vice President and Dean of Students, the Executive Director serves as MSU Denver's Senior Student Housing Officer and oversees all aspects of housing operations, residential life programming, occupancy management, dining management/partnerships, and strategic initiatives related to student retention and success. The Executive Director is responsible for leading a comprehensive residential experience that aligns with MSU Denver's commitment to student engagement, belonging, and academic success. This position serves as a key leader in Student Engagement & Well-being, works in close collaboration with the Finance and Administration team, and plays a critical role in fostering partnerships across campus to support students' holistic development and well-being. This position provides overall administration to on-campus housing and residence life program, currently projected at 586 bed spaces to open in Fall 2027. Metropolitan State University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. Duties/Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Administration Provide vision, leadership, and direction for the Housing & Residence Life department, ensuring alignment with the university's mission, values, and strategic priorities. Serve as a member of the SEW Deans/Directors leadership team and the Finance and Administration leadership team, working collaboratively across units to support student retention and success. Lead strategic planning efforts related to housing operations, information technology, future facility development, and programmatic initiatives. Lead strategic, campus-wide efforts for dining partnerships. Leads and coordinates off-campus student housing referrals in collaboration with campus partners. Prepare and present strategic housing data and capital planning updates to the Board of Trustees and Senior Leadership Team to inform institutional decision-making. Establish and maintain local/regional/national association work and representation, leveraging national trends and data to provide strategic guidance to MSU Denver. Residential Life & Student Success Oversee a comprehensive residential education model that fosters student engagement, leadership development, and academic support. Develop and implement living-learning communities and initiatives that enhance student persistence and sense of belonging. Partner with faculty, academic units, and the Classroom-to-Career Hub to integrate educational initiatives and career readiness into the residential experience. Establish and maintain a partnership with the Counseling Center to integrate an embedded mental health counselor within the residence hall, ensuring extended hours and on-site support for residential students. Build a culture of service, accountability, assessment, and continuous improvement. Occupancy Management & Housing Operations Direct all aspects of occupancy management, housing assignments, and enrollment-related housing initiatives in coordination with the Finance and Administration branch and the admissions team. In partnership with the Health Center at Auraria, ensure compliance with vaccination requirements and documentation of MSU Denver residential students. Oversee facilities planning, residential safety and security, housing operations, and maintenance in partnership with campus facilities and external vendors. Manage on-campus housing public-private partnerships (P3s) in partnership with leaders from Finance and Administration and work closely with external housing providers to enhance student housing options. Maintain resources and information for off-campus, student supportive housing options in the Denver metropolitan area(s) to support student need for housing beyond residence life. Crisis Management & Student Support Serve as a key responder in student crises, emergency management, and behavioral intervention efforts within Housing & Residence Life and on the Auraria campus. Work in collaboration with campus safety, student conduct, Counseling Center, the Student Care Center, the Health Center at Auraria and others to ensure student support and crisis response protocols are in place, executed appropriately, and evaluated on a consistent cycle. Budget, Finance & Personnel Management Develop and manage the Housing & Residence Life budget, ensuring fiscal responsibility and alignment with university goals. Supervise a team of full-time professional staff (1) associate director for residence life, (1) assistant director for guest/conference services and occupancy management. Indirectly support (2) two residence directors, (18) Resident Assistants, and (10) community assistants. Directly coordinate with the Classroom-to-Career Hub to provide comprehensive building/occupancy management protocol/services and provide training, development, and student staff for the welcome and service desks in the building (3 in total). Lead the development of all position descriptions to create a comprehensive Housing & Residence Life team including professional, paraprofessional, graduate assistant, and student hourly positions required for staffing the department. Support recruitment, hiring, training, evaluation, and professional development efforts to cultivate an inclusive and dynamic team. Required Qualifications
Masters degree in Student Affairs, Higher Education, Counseling, or a related field. At least ten (10) years of progressive experience in Housing & Residence Life, including supervision of full-time professional staff with a focus on financial stewardship, deferred maintenance, and financial modeling. Experience with housing operations, occupancy management, and facility oversight in a university setting. Proven ability to manage crisis response, Title IX, student conduct, and behavioral intervention efforts within a residential community. Demonstrated success in team leadership, budget management, deferred maintenance, and strategic planning. Demonstrated experience coordinating with P3 Partners. Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, access, and belonging in student housing. Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends as required for programming elements of the position and on-call needs. Important Note:
Successful applicants will ensure their resume clearly demonstrates that their work experience describes how they meet all required qualifications. Preferred Qualifications
Doctorate or terminal degree in Higher Education Administration or related field. Experience working in urban institutions with diverse student populations. Substantial experience working with public-private housing partnerships (P3s) and off-campus housing management. Background in student retention initiatives, living-learning communities, and academic partnerships. Proficiency in data-driven decision-making and the use of technology in housing operations. Work Hours: Full-time, 40 hours per week, Exempt Monday through Friday, with evening and weekends on-call Evenings and weekends: Serving in a rotating on-call duty structure Schedule: In-person with some hybrid flexibility Travel: Rarely, less than 5% Salary for Announcement: We anticipate the qualified candidate to be placed between $90,600 - $120,950. The salary of the finalist(s) selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, experience, education, specialty, and training. The above salary range represents the Universitys good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. Instructions to Apply: For full consideration, please submit the following documents: Resume Cover letter describing relevant job experiences as they relate to listed job qualifications and interest in the position Three professional references will be required of the finalist. One reference must be a prior supervisor. This position will remain open until filled. Please apply by September 05, 2025 for full consideration. Official transcripts will be required of the candidate selected for hire. If you are an Internal applicant, please apply via the Career tab within the WorkDay menu. Successful applicants will ensure their resume clearly demonstrates that their work experience describes how they meet all required qualifications.