ANNOUNCMENT OF POSITION VACANCY

FLSA Status:

United States of America (Exempt)

Compensation:

$51,000.00

Commensurate with education and experience. Excellent health and retirement benefits package: Click here for more information!

SECTION I - OUR VALUES CULTIVATE OUR VISION AND CULTURE

At CMU, we believe in acting from a foundation of goodwill. This belief gives us the courage to form meaningful relationships, embark on joint endeavors and take risks in the pursuit of new possibilities. It’s this courage that enables the Mavily to explore new ways of thinking and doing, knowing that there is no perfect solution, no perfect idea.

From this place of humility and courage, we’ve built a culture of resilience. We invest in the future by continuously adapting to change, overcoming challenges, and seizing new opportunities. We recognize that change is constant, and our resilience allows us to embrace it with confidence. Endless curiosity drives us to approach the unexpected as if it were expected, seeing opportunities for discovery and renewal in every challenge. In this community rooted in love and dignity, curiosity thrives, leading to endless opportunities for growth and advancement.

Inspired by the soul of the West—the spirit that our region embodies—we emerge as a force for positive change, harnessing our collective power to build a Human Scale University that reflects our values and brings to life our shared vision of the world we aspire to create.

Colorado Mesa University Core Values
Love - Extending oneself for nurturing the growth of self and others
Dignity - Respecting the intrinsic value of each person and believing that others act from a foundation of goodwill
Courage - Taking risks in the pursuit of new possibilities
Humility - Suspending one’s ego and pride to recognize that no idea is perfect and being open to the input of others
Resiliency - Investing in the future by adapting to changes, overcoming challenges and pursuing Opportunity
Curiosity - Cultivating awe and exploring the unknown
Power - The strength to act collaboratively with individual agency to achieve our goals

SECTION II – THE SEAT

At CMU, we look at every position as a seat. Every seat is vital and the individual in the seat contributes significantly to our mission of providing an affordable and accessible education and forming meaningful and mutually enriching partnerships that support the well-being and vibrancy of our community. As a human centric organization, a priority is to ensure we have the “right seats” in our organization, and that the expectations, ownership and accountabilities are defined and communicated clearly for the success of the individuals holding the seats.

The Manager of Communications in Residence Life serves as the front-facing voice and support system for a department that houses over 3,000 students. This individual is the first point of contact for students and families, plays a critical role in delivering exceptional customer service, and ensures consistent, clear, and timely communication. The position meets directly with students to address housing concerns such as roommate conflicts, appeals, exemption requests, and general questions, and regularly communicates with parents to resolve concerns and clarify policies.

The manager supervises 4–7 front desk student employees and leads the development and execution of the department’s communications strategy across email, web, social media, and printed materials. In addition, the position is responsible for training and recognizing student employees, managing shared inboxes and message templates, maintaining communication calendars, and supporting emergency communications and crisis response. This position also participates in the Residence Life administrator duty rotation and serves as a member of the Sexual Assault Response Team (SART).

OVERVIEW AND ROLE SCOPE OF TEAM AND/OR TASKS

• Serve as the first line of communication in the Residence Life office for student, parent, and campus partner inquiries. As the first point of contact for students and families, this individual delivers exceptional customer service and ensures communication is clear, consistent, and timely
• Meet individually with students to address housing-related concerns, including roommate conflicts, exemption requests, appeals, and general questions.
• Respond to parent and family concerns with empathy, professionalism, and solutions-focused support.
• Hire, train, schedule, and supervise 4–7 front desk student employees.
• Provide regular professional development to front desk staff focused on customer service, conflict de-escalation, and professional communication.
• Coordinate recognition programs or morale boosters to foster student team engagement.
• Maintain service standards and oversee processes including card encoding and front office supply check-out.
• Responsible for managing mail and packages sent to the Residence Life main office.
• Develop and implement broad and targeted communication plans related to housing deadlines, processes, and events.
• Leverage StarRez to segment student populations and send personalized, relevant messaging.
• Manage multi-channel communications, including emails, newsletters, portal messages, texts, and social media.
• Maintain and update the Residence Life website and social media platforms in collaboration with Marketing.
• Design marketing strategies and materials for Residence Life events and campaigns.
• Support department-wide initiatives by managing communication timelines and calendars.
• Manage email templates, auto-responders, and shared inboxes (e.g., reslife@coloradomesa.edu).
• Coordinate timely emergency or crisis-related communications.
• Participate in the Residence Life administrator duty rotation.
• Serve on the Sexual Assault Response Team (SART).

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

DISCLAIMER - This position description is only a summary of the typical functions of this seat, and not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and areas of accountability. 

CAPACITY REQUIREMENTS

• Excellent written and verbal communication and customer service skills.
• Ability to establish rapport, foster positive relationships and build trust with students, supporters, and colleagues.
• Experience supervising or mentoring student employees.
• Knowledge of or ability to learn housing management software (StarRez), digital communication platforms, and web content management tools (Cascade).
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced setting.
• Familiarity with inclusive communication strategies and accessibility best practices.
• Occasional evening and weekend work required.

ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE FOR RIGHT FIT

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Higher Education, Student Affairs, or related field.
• At least 2 years of experience in communications, student services, residence life, or customer-facing higher ed roles.
• Proven experience managing student staff and communication workflows.
• Familiarity with StarRez, Maxient, Cascade, Banner, or similar systems preferred.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

DIRECT INQUIRIES CONTACT:

Emily Bollinger, Director of Residence Life
Email: ecbollinger@coloradomesa.edu

HOW TO APPLY: Applicants will be asked to complete an online application by creating a profile and then providing personal and demographic information. In addition, please be prepared to upload a:

• Cover letter

• Resume

• Copy of transcripts for all degrees completed (if your transcripts include a social security number or birthdate, please redact that information before uploading the document. Official transcripts will be required upon hire)

Colorado Mesa University is particularly interested in candidates who have experience working with students from diverse backgrounds and who have a demonstrated commitment to improving the levels of access and success for underrepresented students within higher education.

Colorado Mesa University is committed to providing a safe and productive learning and living community. To achieve that goal, we conduct background investigations for all final applicants being considered for employment. Background investigations include reference checks, a criminal history record check, and when appropriate, a financial and/or motor vehicle history. Applicant must be able to verify U.S. employment eligibility. Colorado Mesa University is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to a culturally diverse faculty, staff and student body. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply. Any person with a disability as defined by the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) may be provided reasonable accommodation upon request to enable the person to complete an employment assessment. To request an accommodation, please contact the CMU Human Resources Office by phone or email. You may be asked to provide additional information, including medical documentation, regarding functional limitations and the type of accommodation needed.