Join Our Team

The AVP/ED will drive a data-informed approach to strategic and long-range budget planning for housing and residence life in conjunction with divisional goals, budgets, and forecasting. They must maintain a fiscal philosophy that ensures optimal resource utilization and effective operations within the department.

The AVP/ED will oversee a department with ~50 full time employees and nearly 300 student staff members who operate in the spirit of a long-standing student self-governance model. They will directly supervise a full-time executive assistant and the directors of operations, finance, information technology, residence life, and conference services.

The UVA housing and residence life portfolio includes approximately 110 residential buildings, which include traditional residence hall rooms, suites, and apartment complexes. Residential students can participate in specific living and learning programs such as residential colleges, and language immersion houses.

In addition to the information listed above, other responsibilities of the position include:

• Represent housing and residence life on institutional committees and at professional conferences.
• Provide strategic leadership and day-to-day management for housing and residence life operations.
• Oversee a departmental budget exceeding $65 million, ensuring fiscal responsibility, efficiency, and financial sustainability.
• Oversee the department’s success in housing assignments, occupancy management, and customer service.
• Partner with facilities management, the office of the architect, and the office of the university building official to maintain and renovate residence halls and to plan for new construction projects.
• Foster an inclusive, safe, and engaging residential environment in alignment with university values.
• Collaborate with peers in student health and wellness, care and support services, behavioral assessment review team, and the department of safety and security on crisis response and behavioral intervention.
• Partner with the student disability access center to ensure appropriate access and support for residential students.
• Ensure compliance with all university, state, and federal housing regulations.

A master’s degree in higher education administration, student affairs, business administration, or a related field and at least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in university housing and residence life, including five years in senior leadership, are required.

The candidate must demonstrate expertise in strategic planning, fiscal management, and staff supervision. Additionally, the candidate must have a proven record of leading large teams and managing complex housing operations. Proficiency with housing management systems and data-driven decision-making are required.

In addition to the qualifications stated above, key stakeholders identified the following capabilities and attributes of a successful candidate:

• Demonstrated ability to be a present and visible leader.
• Exceptional leadership, organizational, and communication skills.
• Strong finance and analytical abilities.
• Knowledge of student development theory and best practices in housing and residential education.
• A collaborative leadership style with the ability to build effective partnerships across the university.
• Proven skills in crisis management, student support, and community engagement.

The RLC's duties and responsibilities include:

• Administrative support of programmatic initiatives within assigned residential communities, including program development guidance, purchasing, and budget management.
• Programmatic responsibility for cultivating a strong sense of community within assigned residential areas by mentoring student leaders and supporting student self-governance by providing training, resources, and leadership to enhance student engagement, foster connection, and promote a positive living experience.
• Supervising 4 – 6 undergraduate Senior Residents and/or graduate Community Assistants directly; indirectly supervising 35-65 Resident Advisors (RAs).
• Meeting with residential students to provide resources and support by assisting in problem solving, roommate mediations, challenges, or concerns.

• A Bachelor's degree and minimum of two years of experience are required. A master's degree or equivalent in Counseling, Higher Education, Student Affairs Administration, or other related field is preferred.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively and interact effectively with students, faculty, staff, and team members.
• Demonstrated leadership and effectiveness in building community, managing crises, resolving conflicts, and promoting engagement.
• Relevant experience in residence life, counseling, teaching, and living/learning environments, as well as experience managing a budget, making data-driven decisions, and in being on call within a housing and residence life setting are preferred. 

The Program Coordinator's duties and responsibilities include:

• Alongside the assistant dean, review all documented incidents from resident staff members and university police to create cases.
• Assign cases to professional staff members within Housing and Residence Life for care and support.
• Contribute to establishing case management strategies that focus on student care and support for residents to thrive in meaningful ways.
• Work with the assistant dean to assess needs, develop outcomes, implement learning opportunities, and evaluate case management initiatives.
• Monitor and record our Housing & Residence Life response team data.
• Supervise and advise our student leadership team to advise the Resident Staff Accountability Council and other assigned processes.
• Oversee the Greeters Program, a volunteer initiative that recruits and organizes students, staff, faculty, and alumni to assist first-year students and their families on first-year move-in days, creating a welcoming and supportive experience as they transition to Grounds.
• Student support responsibilities include mentoring, training, and/or supervising student staff and student leaders as well as helping students solve problems and respond appropriately to challenges and/or crises.
• Create and maintain positive professional relationships within the department and across the University.
• Participate in an on-call rotation.

• A Bachelor's degree and minimum of two years of experience are required. A master's degree or equivalent in Counseling, Higher Education, Student Affairs Administration, or other related field is preferred.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively and interact effectively with students, faculty, staff, and team members.
• Experience managing a budget or reconciling financials, with making data-driven decisions, and in being on call within a housing and residence life setting is preferred.