Assistant Director - Apartment Life

Position Details

Position Information Announcement Number: STAFF - VA - 26299 For questions regarding this position, please contact Search Support at auxjobsmontana.edu or 406-994-6468

Classification Title: Program Mgr Working Title: Assistant Director - Apartment Life

Brief Position Overview The Assistant Director - Apartment Life, a mid-level manager within University Student Housing, oversees the day-to-day operations, activities, and staff for MSUs University Student Housings apartment community of 700 students and their families/associates.

Position Number: 4M0660 Department: Family Housing Administration Division: Auxiliary Services Appointment Type: Classified Contract Term: Fiscal Year Semester: If other, specify from date FLSA: Exempt Union Affiliation: Exempt from Collective Bargaining FTE: 1.0 Benefits Eligible: Eligible Salary: Salary commensurate with experience, education, and qualifications. Contract Type: Classified Salary: If other, please specify Recruitment Type: Open

Position Details

General Statement University Student Housing (USH) at MSU offers a unique on-campus living experience for students and their families/associates as they focus on their academic success. Managing 18 active on-campus communities, 11 Residence Halls, and 7 Apartments, which are the home of up to 6,500 residents. The departmental mission includes provision of reasonably priced living environments, which are clean, attractive, well-maintained, comfortable, and include safety features; ensures the orderly and effective administration of the program through efficient management; and provides a learning environment and related co-curricular programs, which promote maturity and academic success.

Duties and Responsibilities

Reporting to the Senior Associate Director, the Assistant Director - Apartment Life (AD) is a full-time live-on staff member who actively engages on a day-to-day basis with an apartment community of 700 students, their families/associates. The AD focuses on retention and success of non-traditional students, upperclassmen, and graduate students residing in university-operated apartments. This role supports the whole household experience, recognizing that family well-being, connection, and stability are central to student success.

• Oversee the daily operations of 7 apartment communities in areas related to community standards, student conduct, community development, personnel, safety, and security.
• Oversee new-tenant welcome and orientation efforts for apartment communities.
• Ensure housing contract compliance and works with the Associate Director of Administrative Operations to ensure rents due from occupants are kept current and in good standing.
• Collaborate with the Associate Director for Administrative Operations and the Associate Director of Building Services to oversee the assignment processes and operational aspects at the apartment communities to maximize occupancy.
• Performs a wide variety of administrative tasks in support of Housings and MSUs processes.
• Ensures compliance with all policies and guidelines.
• Monitor budgets and ensure program expenses align with departmental goals.
• Manage staff resources to address a variety of student issues, including mental health, by working closely with the Behavioral Intervention Team, University Police, Dean of Students, and other campus partners.
• Directly supervises 2 live-in Community Directors, community engagement, and community operations, and oversees the work of 22 student staff.
• Responsible for implementing programming and promoting retention tailored to meet the needs of non-traditional upper-class and graduate students and tailored to engage children and family members of student tenants, especially during school breaks.
• Contribute to long-term planning and assessment initiatives to enhance apartment operations.
• Act as a primary resource and advocate for apartment residents, connecting them to relevant campus and community services.
• Participate in Housings campus-wide emergency response rotation and react to emergency situations as needed across Housing areas.

Required Qualifications - Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills

• Bachelors degree in higher education administration, business administration, public administration, property management, student affairs, or a related field, plus three to five years of progressively responsible professional experience in operations management, residential communities, student services, property management, or a related environment, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated experience supervising full-time professional staff and/or leading multi-layered teams.
• Experience coordinating complex processes involving multiple stakeholders, e.g., facilities, behavioral intervention, conduct, customer service, academic units, or compliance partners.
• Demonstrated experience managing competing priorities, oversee operational workflows, and ensure accountability in a dynamic environment.
• Experience responding to complex or sensitive situations involving policy interpretation, conflict resolution, or crisis response.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to work effectively with various populations and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated success in program development, implementation, or service delivery that supports client/customer success and retention.

Preferred Qualifications - Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills

• Masters degree in higher education administration, student affairs, or related field.
• Full-time professional experience in university housing, residence life, or multi-unit housing.
• Experience working with graduate students, student parents, international students, non-traditional students, or family housing populations.
• Experience managing housing contracts, facilitating contract terminations, or overseeing eligibility verification and compliance processes.
• Experience adjudicating or supporting policy enforcement processes in a residential or tenant-based environment.
• Working knowledge of property management principles, efficient occupancy management, and tenant satisfaction.
• Experience developing on-boarding education for tenants/residents related to housing expectations, rent processes, community standards, and community resources.
• Knowledge of federal, state, or institutional policies relevant to housing operations or tenant compliance.
• Experience serving on a leadership team, contributing to strategic planning, or organizational development.
• Experience planning community events that foster connection, engagement, and a sense of belonging in apartment communities.

The Successful Candidate Will Exhibit

• Comprehensive knowledge of a university residential housing operation.
• Strong self-motivation to conduct work in support of residents and other campus students.
• Competent at creating and supporting student engagement programming to support university efforts for recruitment and retention.
• Demonstrate strong and effective communication and presentation skills in front of groups of varying size.
• Exhibit effective training techniques.
• Demonstrate extensive experience in facilitating change, managing conflict, and problem-solving.
• Exhibit effective interpersonal skills with the ability to motivate employees to perform at and sustain a high level of quality.
• Be sensitive to the needs of residents and have an extensive knowledge of customer service.
• Have the ability to quickly learn and put to use new skills and knowledge brought about by rapidly changing information and/or technology.
• Demonstrate expertise in exercising good judgment and making consistent decisions.
• Be self-motivated, takes initiative, and works independently.
• Exhibit logical and creative thought processes to develop solutions.
• Exhibit proficient computer expertise.
• Demonstrate the ability to make on-the-spot decisions based on knowledge of state and university policies, procedures, department goals, and objectives.
• Have an understanding of federal and state laws pertaining to housing.
• Have excellent attention to detail and ability to multitask while meeting hard deadlines and capacity to work effectively and efficiently under extreme deadline pressure.
• Represent the department in a courteous and professional manner.

Position Special Requirements

• This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities, or requirements but a general description of the job.
• Nothing contained herein restricts Montana State Universitys rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.
• Full-time live-on position with a furnished apartment and a board plan when the food service is open for residential service.
• Occasional travel for professional development.
• Will work evenings, weekends, long hours, holidays as needed, and consecutive days without breaks during peak times.
• Will participate in Housings campus-wide emergency response rotation and react to emergency situations as needed across Housing areas.

Physical Demands

• To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations.
• The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
• Navigate campus and the areas in and around the residence halls and apartment communities.
• Occasionally move and place items to 30 lbs.
• Occasionally work outside and in inclement weather.
• This position has supervisory duties: Yes

Posting Detail Information

• Number of Vacancies: 1
• Desired Start Date: Upon completion of a successful search.
• Position End Date: If temporary
• Open Date:
• Close Date: Applications will be screened on March 18, 2026, however, applications will continue to be accepted until an adequate applicant pool has been established.

Special Instructions

• This position is not eligible for new sponsorship.
• Please address the qualifications in your cover letter and resume.
• Questions: Contact Search Support at auxjobsmontana.edu or 406-994-6468.

EEO Statement

• Montana State University is an equal opportunity employer.
• MSU does not discriminate against any applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, national origin, physical or mental disability, or any other protected class status in violation of any applicable law.
• In compliance with the Montana Veterans Employment Preference Act, MSU provides preference in employment to veterans, disabled veterans, and certain eligible relatives of veterans.
• To claim veterans preference, please complete the veterans preference information located in the Demographics section of your profile.