Working Title: Assistant Director, Learning Initiatives
State Role Title: Administrative and Professional Faculty
Position Type: Administrative & Professional (Non-teaching Faculty)
Position Status: Full-Time
FLSA Status: Exempt: Not Eligible for Overtime
College/Division: Residence Life
Department: 300000 - Residence Life Admin
Pay Band: N/A
Pay Rate: Pay Range
Specify Range or Amount: $57,000-$60,000
Is this a JMU only position? No
Is this a grant-funded position? No
Is this a Conflict of Interest designated position? N/A
Beginning Review Date: 07/19/2026
About JMU:
Mission
We are a community committed to preparing students to be educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives.
Vision
To be the national model for the engaged university: engaged with ideas and the world.
Who We Are
Situated in the heart of Virginia’s beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the city of Harrisonburg is a vibrant community with a population of approximately 52,000. Harrisonburg is conveniently located approximately 120 miles from Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA.
JMU is a selective, public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and supportive environment for students, faculty and staff. The student body includes approximately 21,000 undergraduate and 1,800 graduate students, with over 1,000 full-time instructional faculty.
JMU offers thriving programs in the liberal arts, science and technology, and professional disciplines at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels. JMU has achieved national recognition for the high quality of its academic programs, focus on maintaining strong student/faculty interaction, and innovative faculty research.
General Information:
The Office of Residence Life at James Madison University is accepting applications for an Assistant Director, Learning Initiatives. The Office of Residence Life is committed to designing and maintaining a caring environment that encourages academic success, respect, personal growth, and responsibility to one’s community.
The Assistant Director, Learning Initiatives reports to the Associate Director of Learning Initiatives and supports the mission of the Office of Residence Life by supervising a full-time Coordinator and the Faculty in Residence program, facilitating the growth of the Residential Education Plan which maps to and supports the Student Affairs Strategic Plan, supporting assessment efforts within Residence Life, and managing all aspects of the Residential Learning Communities on campus.
This is a full-time, live off position that is part of a close-knit department with over 30 full-time staff members and over 250 student staff members.
Duties and Responsibilities:
#1: Leadership, Management, and Supervision – Directly supervise one Coordinator of Learning Initiatives, indirectly supervise a graduate assistant for the Resource Center and nine Program Advisers. Lead (with the Coordinator) all recruitment and selection efforts related to hiring Program Advisers. Manage administration and details for the Residential Learning Communities (RLCs) as well as any other specific housing communities in partnership with faculty initiatives. Participate in a cross-departmental team of staff, the Residential Experience Group, providing leadership, vision, implementation and improvement for the Residential Education Plan, which maps to and supports the Student Affairs Strategic Plan. Utilize current literature and learning theories to continuously improve the Residential Education Plan. Ensure staff members are educated and supported in all residential student learning initiatives including the Residential Education Plan and the RLCs. Provide leadership and support to the Faculty in Residence (FIR) program including communication and collaboration with current FIRs living on campus.
#2: Collaboration – Proactively develop and maintain relationships with departments across Student Affairs as well as other stakeholders where such relationships would promote efficiency/effectiveness in fulfilling your job description. Function as the liaison between Residence Life and various stakeholders in Academic Affairs to provide student learning and engagement opportunities within residence halls. Attend appropriate academic affairs meetings in order to foster close working relationships between departmental leadership and garner support for residential learning. Collaborate with Faculty in Residence (FIRs) to promote engagement and education in residential living.
#3: Student Staff and Resident Engagement – Engage with on-campus residents through the Residential Education Plan and through student staff employees in the resource center. Use information gathered in short-term and long-term planning, programming, and support for the Residential Education Plan.
#4: Resource Management –Manage spending related to the Resource Center and programming budgets. Supervise the ordering of inventory, supplies, and educational equipment. Ensure that equity is considered when resources are being used.
#5: Assessment–Assessment should address the learning and development of residential students and student staff. Provide leadership for the assessment of the RLCs, the FIR program and the Residential Education Plan particularly ICONs (Intentional Conversations).Serve as a liaison between Residence Life and Student Affairs Assessment and Technical Services (SAATS).
#6: Crisis Management –Participate in the on call rotation for residential campus. Provide support to staff during times of crisis.
#7: Committee Work – Serve on departmental and university committees.
#8: Professional Development – Accumulate a minimum of 20 hours of professional development during each performance evaluation period. Obtain hours by attending university, divisional, and department training. Attend conferences, get a certification, or other job-related training. Use professional development opportunities to stay relevant to trends and best practices.
Qualifications:
Required:
- Bachelor’s Degree with 1-3 years experience in Student Affairs or Higher Education or related field
- Demonstrated ability to foster a welcoming, respectful, and accessible environment for students.
- Experience with a Curriculum Model or Approach
- Demonstrated experience with Academic Support programs
- Ability to communicate with a variety of constituents
- Experience with Assessment and using data to drive decision-making
- Experience managing multiple projects simultaneously
- Supervisory experience with full-time employees
Preferred:
- Master’s Degree in Student Affairs or Higher Education or related field
- Full-time experience in Residence Life
- Experience with Residential Learning Communities
- Direct experience working with Faculty
Additional Posting Information:
JMU’s Dual Career and Community Resources Program is available for candidates that will be relocating to the area. For more information, please visit https://bit.ly/2OTF1NG.
Conditions of Employment:
Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.
E-Verify Notice: After accepting employment, new hires are required to complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. James Madison University uses the E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.
EEO Statement:
James Madison University is committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status.
We promote access, inclusion and diversity for all students, faculty, staff, constituents and programs, believing that these qualities are foundational components of an outstanding education in keeping with our mission. The university is interested in candidates whose experience and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality.
Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity: (540) 568-6991.
Reasonable Accommodation:
If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance searching or applying for jobs please contact us at (540) 568-3597 or [email protected]. You may also visit the JMU Human Resource Office, located at 752 Ott Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 and we will be happy to assist you.
