The Assistant Dean for the Residential Experience provides vision, leadership, and management of a comprehensive, 3000 bed, on-campus housing department. The Assistant Dean is tasked with setting a comprehensive strategic direction, budgetary oversight and fund development, programmatic innovation, and risk management approach that is informed by Gonzaga’s Jesuit, Catholic mission and the Student Affairs’ priorities of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Well-being and Flourishing, and an Integrated Approach to Student Learning and Development. Together with the Housing & Residence Life staff leadership team, this position guides all aspects of the department’s strategic initiatives, daily operations, assessment, revenue projection, occupancy management, and key partnerships in service to the departmental mission. The Assistant Dean ensures that all aspects of the Housing & Residence life program adopt an inclusive approach to best serve an increasingly diverse generation of Gonzaga students. This position supervises the department’s leadership team and serves as a member of the Student Affairs Division leadership team. The Assistant Dean reports to the Dean for Student Development, serving as a thought-partner and leader within the Integrated Learning & Development Community of Practice.
Oversee the planning, development, implementation, and assessment of a comprehensive housing & residence life program that supports the Student Affairs priorities, the University’s Strategic Plan, and baccalaureate learning goals.
Conduct ongoing internal and external review of industry trends that ensure department strategies, practices, policies, and programs align with best practices.
Develop long range planning goals for Housing & Residence Life, and report annual progress toward departmental goals
Ensure that the residential experience meets students’ social and developmental needs, supports academic success, fosters community, supports the overall goals of Student Affairs, and is consistent with the Jesuit Catholic mission of the University.
Work with colleagues, direct and indirect reports, and students in ways that foster cultural fluency, recognizing that feeling valued and respected is critical to our meeting the needs and expectations of increasingly more diverse student, staff and faculty populations.
Staff development & leadership (15%)
Recruit, hire, onboard, and supervise Housing and Residence Life leadership positions.
Provide culturally competent supervision and mentoring for direct reports, including adapting approach and style as needed to achieve positive results.
Ensure that all recruitment and retention practices within the department support the University and Student Affairs’ goal of increasing representation from historically marginalized populations.
Foster a welcoming environment in Housing & Residence Life Office and associated areas that is inclusive to current and prospective students and their families, departmental staff, and university community members.
Finance, Facilities, and Policy Administration (20%)
In collaboration with campus partners in Student Affairs, Business Administration and Finance, and Enrollment Management, evaluate and assess University housing occupancy, retention, and projection trends.
Strategically steward all housing and residence life payroll, capital expenditures, and programming budgets effectively and appropriately.
Coordinate annual review of on-campus and off-campus housing contracts with General Counsel and Risk Management.
Serve in Housing & Residence Life and Student Affairs on-call rotation.
Provide leadership and support as appropriate for crisis response at the department, division, and university-wide levels.
Ensure departmental residence hall student policies and expectations align with all applicable University policies, including the Student Code of Conduct.
Cultivate and maintain collaborative partnerships with Plant and Construction Services to ensure building maintenance, cleaning, renovations, and furnishings meet student needs and demands
Supervision Responsibilities – University Standards (10%)
Meet regularly, at least once every other week, with all direct reports one-on-one and as a team.
Manage performance of staff on an ongoing basis throughout the year.
Create and ensure opportunities for team development through multiple mechanisms and support recognition efforts that build morale.
Meet operational targets, develop innovative solutions, and continuously improve department and operational efforts.
Support and contribute to hiring efforts that meet our operational and mission needs.
Ensure all staff are effectively on-boarded to their role.
Actively build relationships and demonstrate a preference for collaboration.
Address and resolve conflicts promptly, fairly, and equitably.
Communicate regularly with all team members through multiple mechanisms.
Degree Required: Master’s Degree in Student Affairs, Higher Education, or Related Field
Years Experience Required: 8+ years
Minimum Qualifications:
Demonstrated commitment and experience that aligns with the Student Affairs priority of creating equitable and inclusive living, learning, and working environments that accelerate the success for our students and employees.
Seven (7) years of experience demonstrating progressively more responsible leadership in Housing & Residence Life • Strong supervision, communication, team-building, and managerial skills relevant to leading a diverse team and department with varied & complex functions
Understanding of college student development theories and an integrative learning approach to residence life informed by the university’s Jesuit Catholic mission and pedagogy
Experience with student learning and programmatic outcome assessment, analysis, and implementation
Upholds the value of social justice, places students first among priorities, and promotes collaboration, engagement, and empowerment as critically important characteristics of the organizational culture
Knowledge of state, regional and national issues, trends, and best practices in areas of campus housing, residence life, and student affairs.
Understanding of Title IX regulations, FERPA and other relevant federal, state and local laws and ordinances
Budget and finance experience
Computer / technology literacy including proficiency or ability to become proficient in computer-based applications relevant to the housing profession
Desired Qualifications:
Experience with occupancy management and enhancing revenue opportunities in university housing
Experience serving on a student affairs leadership team, integrating the residential experience into the overall student experience
Successful implementation of faculty partnership programs, residential education models, living learning communities, or co-curricular approaches to student affairs
Previous experience in Jesuit or other faith-based or mission-oriented higher education that values the on-campus residential experience to develop the whole student: mind, body, and spirit
At Gonzaga we don’t just state our mission. We live it every day as a Catholic, Jesuit, and humanistic University. It is the reason we exist and the foundation for our purpose: educating students for lives of leadership and service. From students to faculty and staff members, everyone here knows what we stand for – and they know how valuable our mission is to the success of our institution.
Our diverse selection of benefits is part of Gonzaga’s commitment to care for and meet the needs of our employees and their families. The University provides full-time employees in their first year: a PPO Medical plan administered by Premera Blue Cross, employer-paid dental programs through Delta Dental, vision coverage through VSP, employer-paid Life Insurance, and optional employee-paid Life Insurance through Lincoln Financial, TIAA 403(b) Retirement plan including free onsite financial planning and advising, Employee Assistance Program through Supportlinc, Zagfit Wellness program with access to GU’s onsite fitness center and Spokane Transit Authority (STA) bus passes. Additionally, full-time (40 hours per week) staff employees accrue 4 hours of sick time per pay period (pro-rated for less ...than 40 hours/week), vacation time starting at 5 hours per pay period (pro-rated for less than 40 hours/week) and 17 paid holidays. Additional benefits such as Long Term Disability and Tuition Waivers are available after the first year of employment.
Student Affairs at Gonzaga University
Nationally recognized as one of the Most Promising Places to Work in StudentAffairs by the ACPA and Diverse Issues in Higher Education, our division is doing great things! With a team of 120 professionals across 17 departments, we prioritize our students wholistic wellbeing through the lens of Ignatian pedagogy. Just a few other bragging points:
1) First Catholic, Jesuit university with a Queer Resource Center, the Lincoln LGBTQ+Resource Center just celebrated its 20th anniversary
2) #15 Best College Newspaper
3) #13 Most Engaged in Community Service
4) Military Friendly Silver Designation
5) #8 Top Green Colleges