Director, Residence Life

Engineering a world of possibilities

The Director of Residence Life provides strategic leadership, vision, and oversight for all aspects of the residence life and student housing programs at Colorado School of Mines. This senior leadership role plays a critical part in enhancing student success and engagement by fostering inclusive, safe, and welcoming residential communities that support academic achievement, personal growth, and community development. The director is responsible for the development, assessment, and continuous improvement of departmental operations, staffing, residential education, housing operations, protocol development, crisis management, and facilities management & planning, which includes the stewardship of over $30 million in annual revenue. While remote work is occasionally possible, this position is in-person, on campus daily.

Primary Responsibilities:

Strategic leadership & program development

• Establish and implement departmental goals, policies, and procedures aligned with institutional priorities.
• Develop and assess residential programs and learning outcomes; collaborate with university departments to ensure holistic student development.
• Provide leadership and support for institutional initiatives including Title IX, Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT), Campus Emergency Response Team, strategic institutional initiatives, and strategic planning efforts.
• Oversee the development, maintenance and assessment of departmental protocols, policies, and processes
• Oversee the development and management of a complex budget exceeding $30 million, including forecasting, labor, rate setting, restoration and renewal of inventory, operational, and capital planning to ensure effective resource allocation and compliance with fiscal policies
• Oversee the Housing and Dining scholarship program in collaboration with Auxiliary Services, leading a committee of reviewers and decision makers.
• Communicate information to division leadership as well as campus colleagues to gain support and collaboration across campus

Organizational management & supervision

• Design, establish, and maintain a comprehensive organizational structure for residence life and housing.
• Supervise a team of staff, including a combination of exempt administrative staff and state classified employees.
• Cultivate a positive staff culture focused on belonging, accountability, and student-centered service.

Facilities, occupancy & operations oversight

• Oversee the daily operations and long-term planning for student housing facilities, including maintenance, renovation, renewal, and capital improvements.
• Oversee the occupancy of all residential facilities to ensure financial security of the department
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with campus and community colleagues as well as corporate partners integral to the facilities and operations management of over 30 buildings.
• Lead the opening of new capital projects and ensure alignment with strategic housing master plans.
• Oversee all essential annual operations such as housing assignments, transition periods, health and safety operations, and inspections

Student Well-being, Conduct, and Crisis Management

• Serve on-call along with leaders within the Residence Life team.
• Serve as appeal or case resolution manager as needed conduct, accommodations, or behavioral issues and more.
• Ensure that applicable laws and regulations are carried out and adhered to ie: Fair Housing Act, ADA, etc...
• Ensure active participation in the BIT team, Clery oversight, and emergency response teams that address student wellness, behavioral concerns, and crisis situations.
• Contribute to campus safety initiatives and emergency protocols.

Campus collaboration & student life leadership

• Serve as a leader within the division of student life.
• Foster collaborative relationships with colleagues in various departments including but not limited to Disability Support Services, Title IX, Facilities Management, and Public Safety.
• Serve on committees, lead initiatives, and advise student life leadership

Minimum Qualifications                                                     

• Master’s degree in higher education, student affairs, public administration, or a related field
• Minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience in residence life, student housing, or student affairs, with at least 3 years in a leadership/supervisory capacity
• Demonstrated experience managing complex budgets, staff supervision, and large-scale operations
• Knowledge of and experience with student development theory, best practices in residential education, crisis management, Title IX, Clery act, and other compliance frameworks relevant to residence life
• Knowledge of facilities management and operations in a higher education setting
• Excellent written communication and speaking skills
• Strong interpersonal, leadership, and organizational skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience opening new residence halls or leading capital facilities projects
• Experience in a stem-focused or highly rigorous academic environment
• Experience with facilities management and operations in residence life
• Experience managing a team of staff of various backgrounds, experience levels, and perspectives

Salary and Benefits

$95,000 - $100,000

Mines takes into consideration a combination of candidate’s education, training and experience as well as the position’s scope and complexity, the discretion and latitude required in the role, work location, and external market and internal value when determining a salary level for potential new employees.

Colorado School of Mines offers a robust portfolio of benefits for all employees. For this role, that includes:

• Flexible health and dental care options
• Generous sick/vacation time: 13 paid holidays per year – including a week-long winter break for entire campus.
• Fully vested retirement plan on first day of employment, with generous employer contribution
• Tuition benefits (6 credits per year for employees, 50 percent discount for dependents)
• Free RTD Ecopass

All Mines employees also have access to discount programs through the State of Colorado and free tickets for Mines Athletics home games, as well as access to the state of the art Recreation Center (fitness classes and training, swimming pool and more) and equipment rentals through the Outdoor Rec Center. We are proud to have recently opened an on campus daycare center. For more details about benefits at Mines, visit mines.edu/human-resources/benefits.

How to Apply

Complete an online application (personal information, demographic information, veteran status)

• Upload a resume or CV
• Upload a cover letter

Candidates must be currently authorized to work in the United States. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

This posting may be used to fill more than one vacancy based on business needs.

References will not be contacted until later in the selection process and you will be informed before that contact is made.

Application review will begin September 22, 2025. Apply by September 21, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. as applications received after that date may not be reviewed.

It is the intent of Mines to comply with the applicable requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008, and their implementation rules and regulations, in support of equal opportunities for qualified applicants with disabilities. To meet this goal, Mines will make reasonable accommodations during the employment selection process and within our working environment.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to access job openings or apply for a job on our site as a result of your disability. You can request a reasonable accommodation by contacting our Human Resources team at  hr@mines.edu or 303.273.3250 for assistance.

Successful Completion of a Background Investigation is Required for this Position.

About Mines & Golden, CO

When the world looks for answers, the world looks to Mines.

Colorado School of Mines is a top-ranked public university solving the grand challenges facing our society, particularly those related to the Earth, energy and the environment. Founded in 1874 with specialties in mining and metallurgy, Mines’ scope and mission have continually expanded to meet the needs of industry and society. Today, we are the No. 36 public university in the nation, recognized for our innovation and undergraduate teaching in science, technology engineering and math (U.S. News and World Report, 2025).

Mines graduates are change makers, boundary breakers and problem solvers. Since our earliest days, a Mines education has been and continues to be a transformational opportunity, with one of the strongest returns on investment out there for talented STEM students of all backgrounds.

At the same time, Mines faculty members are pushing their fields in new directions, whether that’s manufacturing, space resources, quantum engineering, carbon capture or more. Mines was recently classified as a R1 “Very High Activity” research institution by Carnegie, a notable feat for any university but particularly one of our size.

That size – roughly 7,000 undergraduate and graduate students – also translates to a close-knit campus community, where employees have opportunities to get involved in multiple ways, continued professional learning is valued and everyone can make an impact.

Community Alliance groups bring together employees for professional development, networking, and community involvement, and all Mines employees also have access to the wealth of activities happening every day on campus – nationally-renowned speakers, special events and Mines traditions like Engineering Days, just to name a few.

And don’t get us started on our hometown. We are located in the heart of Golden, Colorado --with its charming historic downtown and nearby hiking trails – and in close proximity to all that Denver and the Rocky Mountains have to offer. That includes the sunny, high-altitude climate and outstanding outdoor recreation opportunities that make the Denver area an ideal place to live, work and play.

Are you looking for an inspiring, mission-driven workplace where you can contribute to solving the world’s problems and educating the next generation of change makers? Are you an individual who values a community where our individual perspectives and experiences enrich the educational and work experience?

Look to Mines.

Equal Opportunity

Colorado School of Mines is committed to equal opportunity for all persons.  Mines does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, gender (including gender identity and gender expression), ancestry, creed, marital status, race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran status or current military service. Further, Mines does not retaliate against community members for filing complaints regarding or implicating any of these protected statuses.

Mines’ commitment to nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and equal access is reflected in the administration of its policies, procedures, programs and activities and in its efforts to achieve a talented student body and workforce.

Through its policies, procedures and resources, Mines complies with federal law, Colorado state law, administrative regulations, executive orders and other legal requirements to prevent discrimination (including harassment or retaliation) within the Mines campus community and to address potential allegations of inequality or concerns for safety.

Colorado's premier engineering and applied science university for 150 years and counting