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Bethel University

Director of Residence and Community Life

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Job Summary

The Director of Residence and Community Life provides relational leadership for Bethel University’s residential community, cultivating a living environment where students are known, supported, and challenged to grow academically, spiritually, and personally.

This role oversees the daily operations and long-term direction of community life and housing processes, ensuring that campus residences function not merely as places to live, but as formative communities where students experience belonging, accountability, and holistic development in relationship with God and others.

As a key leader within the Student Life Office, the Director of Residence and Community Life leads, mentors, and equips professional staff, graduate assistants, and student leaders to foster safe, inclusive, and Christ-centered residential spaces. The Director partners closely with Student Life colleagues and campus departments to align residence and community life programming and student conduct with University goals related to student thriving. This position plays a critical role in supporting student retention through proactive engagement, effective conduct processes, crisis response, and individualized support. The Director models Bethel’s Community Covenant and exercises sound judgment in complex situations. Through collaborative leadership, intentional relationship-building, and faithful stewardship of people and resources, the Director of Residence and Community Life advances Bethel’s mission to educate and equip students to lead lives of impact within a thriving, Christ-centered campus community.

The starting salary range for this position is $70,000 to $75,000 annually.

This position requires U.S. work authorization; sponsorship is not available.

Responsibilities

Residence Life Supervision – 45%

Supervise and lead residence life staff including selection, training, mentoring, evaluation and 1:1 meetings.
Lead weekly staff meetings.
Support direct reports in managing residence halls, providing effective housing and meal programs, and leading and training RAs/GAs.
Attend and participate in various Residence and Student Life meetings and development opportunities.
Oversee budget for programming and staff development.

Student Support & Conduct – 20%

Lead Student Conduct meetings, process, and team.
Counsel and advise students on lifestyle choices and campus community expectations.
Address policy violations and unhealthy living patterns with appropriate follow-up.
Mentor, counsel, and refer students to appropriate resources.
Provide on-call support for residence life staff and serve in an on-call capacity (rotating schedule).
Handle emergency situations and other student concerns in conjunction with staff.

Student Engagement & Program Development – 15%

Develop relationships with students by attending residence events and engaging with them.
Assess student residence needs and implement programs to address those needs.

Cross-Departmental Partnerships – 15%

Serve as a liaison between Residence Life and key campus partners, including Facilities Management, Security and Safety, Admissions, Campus Ministry, and other Student Life departments.

Additional Responsibilities – 5%

Oversee student study abroad approvals, stop-outs/withdrawals, and general dean/director meetings.

Required Skills

Proven leadership experience, including staff development, coaching, and training.
Proven strong interpersonal and communication skills, connecting and partnering well with staff, faculty, parents and students.
Ability to effectively exercise discretion and judgement, navigate ambiguity, and implement conflict resolution skills effectively.
Ability to collaborate effectively with internal and external partners, students, and families.
Must be capable of mentoring students professionally, spiritually, emotionally and personally.
Working knowledge of Microsoft Office and Google Suites.

Experience:

Required Experience

5+ years of experience in residence life.

Previous leadership experience in residence life.

Preferred Experience

7+ years of experience in residence life.

Previous experience in other areas of student life.

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in a related field required.

Additional Information

Additional Responsibilities:

Bethel’s mission is to educate and equip students to lead lives of impact through transformative academics in a Christ-centered community. Bethel’s employee community plays a central role in developing our students as whole and holy persons. To carry out this mission, Bethel uses the foundation of our guiding documents, the Affirmation of Faith, Community Covenant, and Key Policies. Bethel expects all employees to actively participate in creating our Christ-centered community by agreeing with and abiding by our core beliefs in the Affirmation of Faith and supporting all other beliefs as Biblical, responsible, and thoughtful approaches while avoiding dissension and divisiveness. Employees teach and mentor students and help one another uphold our Community Covenant commitments. As a result of these expectations, all University employees act as ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ by actively partnering with the University to carry out its mission and foster Bethel’s Christ-centered covenant community.

Other Duties: The essential functions, tasks and responsibilities of this position may change from time to time. Bethel University reserves the right to add or omit duties and responsibilities at the discretion of the University or its leadership. Additional tasks or duties required of the position, will be communicated to the incumbent with specificity to ensure the employee may perform their role with complete understanding. This job description is intended to describe the general level of work being performed; it is not intended to be all-inclusive.

Travel: This position may require local travel.

Work Environment:

This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as desktop and/or laptop computers, photocopiers and smartphones.

The work environment involves working for a suburban, Christian university in which all employees are expected to have a demonstrated commitment and personal relationship with Jesus Christ, a commitment to the mission and values of the University, and an agreement to abide by all University policies.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to adjust focus. The job requires extended periods of sitting and traversing the Bethel Campus on a regular basis, along with reaching, lifting, pulling and pushing, as needed. Reasonable accommodations may be made to ensure people are able to perform the essential functions.

The mental and physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an individual to successfully perform the essential functions of this position.

Expected Hours of Work:

Typically, days and hours of work are Monday through Friday, with the expectation to work specific schedules and hours as identified and communicated by management. Evening, weekend, and on-call work may be required as job duties demand. This position averages 40 - 45 hour per week and works 12 months per year.

Benefits:

Bethel is committed to offering meaningful benefits to our employees including health insurance, retirement plans, and a generous time off package. Learn more about these offerings here.

Learn more about our commitment to diversity in hiring .

Bethel University is a leader in Christ-centered higher education with approximately 4,700 students from 50 states and 32 countries enrolled in undergraduate, graduate, seminary, and adult education programs. Based in St. Paul, Minnesota, Bethel offers bachelor's and advanced degrees in nearly 100 fields. Educationally excellent classroom-based and online programs equip graduates to make exceptional contributions in life-long service to God and the world.

Bethel University’s Christ-centered mission includes a commitment to equal educational opportunity and equal employment opportunity. Bethel does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, sex, marital status, disability, status with regard to public assistance, familial status, or age in its admissions, educational programs, or employment practices.

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