Assistant Director - Apartment Life
Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, United States
This position is not eligible for new sponsorship.
Please address the qualifications in your cover letter and resume.
Questions? Contact: Search Support at
auxjobs@montana.edu
or 406-994-6468.
Overview The Assistant Director – Apartment Life, a mid-level manager within University Student Housing, oversees the day-to-day operations, activities, and staff for MSU’s University Student Housing’s apartment community of 700 students and their families/associates.
Position Details
Position Number: 4M0660
Department: Family Housing Administration
Division: Auxiliary Services
Appointment Type: Classified
Contract Term: Fiscal Year
Semester:
FLSA: Exempt
Union Affiliation: Exempt from Collective Bargaining
FTE: 1.0
Benefits Eligible: Yes
Salary: Salary commensurate with experience, education, and qualifications.
Recruitment Type: Open
General Statement
University Student Housing (USH) at MSU offers a unique, on-campus living experience for students and their families/associates. USH manages 18 on-campus communities (11 Residence Halls and 7 Apartments) housing up to 6,500 residents. The department aims to provide reasonably priced living environments that are clean, attractive, well-maintained, comfortable, with safety features; ensures orderly administration of the program; and offers a learning environment and related cocurricular programs to promote maturity and academic success.
Duties and Responsibilities The AD is a full-time, live-on staff member reporting to the Senior Associate Director and will actively engage with an apartment community of 700 residents. Responsibilities focus on retention and success of non-traditional students, upperclassmen, and graduate students, supporting the whole household experience and promoting family well-being, connection, and stability as central to student success.
Oversee 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 coordinate with the Associate Director of Administrative Operations to keep rents current and in good standing.
Collaborate with the Associate Directors to oversee the assignment processes and operations to maximize occupancy.
Perform a wide variety of administrative tasks in support of Housing’s and MSU’s processes; ensure compliance with policies and guidelines.
Monitor budgets and ensure program expenses align with departmental goals.
Manage staff resources to address student issues, including mental health, by working with the Behavioral Intervention Team, University Police, Dean of Students, and campus partners.
Directly supervise 2 live-in Community Directors and oversee the work of 22 student staff.
Implement programming and promote retention tailored to non-traditional, upper-class, and graduate students, including activities for children and family members 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 campus and community services.
Participate in Housing’s campus-wide emergency response rotation and respond to emergencies as needed across Housing areas.
Collaborate as a team member and perform other duties in support of the department’s mission.
Required Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills
Bachelor’s 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, overseeing operational workflows, and ensuring 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
Master’s 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.
Exhibit strong self-motivation to support residents and campus students.
Be competent at creating and supporting student engagement programming to support recruitment and retention.
Demonstrate strong and effective communication and presentation skills for groups of varying sizes.
Demonstrate experience in facilitating change, managing conflict, and problem solving.
Exhibit interpersonal skills to motivate employees to maintain high quality.
Be attentive to residents’ needs and demonstrate customer service knowledge.
Quickly learn and apply new skills and knowledge from changing information and technology.
Demonstrate good judgment and decision-making.
Be self-motivated, take initiative, and work independently.
Demonstrate logical and creative thinking to develop solutions.
Make on-the-spot decisions based on knowledge of state and university policies, procedures, goals and objectives.
Understand federal and state housing laws.
Maintain attention to detail and multitask under tight deadlines while performing effectively under pressure.
Represent the department in a courteous and professional manner.
Position Special Requirements/Additional Information This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements, but a general description of the job. Montana State University reserves the right to assign or reassign duties at any time.
Full-time, live-on position with a furnished apartment and a board plan (when food service is open for residential service).
Occasional travel for professional development.
Evenings, weekends, long hours, holidays (as needed) and consecutive days during peak times.
Participation in Housing’s campus-wide emergency response rotation.
Physical Demands To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations.
Navigate campus and the areas in and around the residence halls and apartment communities.
Occasionally move items up to 30 lbs.
Occasionally work outside and in inclement weather.
This position has supervisory duties?
Yes
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 starting on
March 18, 2026
and continue until an adequate applicant pool is 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
auxjobs@montana.edu
or 406-994-6468.
Montana State University is an equal opportunity employer. MSU does not discriminate 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 Veteran’s Employment Preference Act, MSU provides preference in employment to veterans, disabled veterans, and certain eligible relatives of veterans. To claim veteran’s preference, please complete the veteran’s preference information located in the Demographics section of your profile.
Required Documents
Resume
Cover Letter
Optional Documents
Supplemental Questions Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*)
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Please address the qualifications in your cover letter and resume.
Questions? Contact: Search Support at
auxjobs@montana.edu
or 406-994-6468.
Overview The Assistant Director – Apartment Life, a mid-level manager within University Student Housing, oversees the day-to-day operations, activities, and staff for MSU’s University Student Housing’s apartment community of 700 students and their families/associates.
Position Details
Position Number: 4M0660
Department: Family Housing Administration
Division: Auxiliary Services
Appointment Type: Classified
Contract Term: Fiscal Year
Semester:
FLSA: Exempt
Union Affiliation: Exempt from Collective Bargaining
FTE: 1.0
Benefits Eligible: Yes
Salary: Salary commensurate with experience, education, and qualifications.
Recruitment Type: Open
General Statement
University Student Housing (USH) at MSU offers a unique, on-campus living experience for students and their families/associates. USH manages 18 on-campus communities (11 Residence Halls and 7 Apartments) housing up to 6,500 residents. The department aims to provide reasonably priced living environments that are clean, attractive, well-maintained, comfortable, with safety features; ensures orderly administration of the program; and offers a learning environment and related cocurricular programs to promote maturity and academic success.
Duties and Responsibilities The AD is a full-time, live-on staff member reporting to the Senior Associate Director and will actively engage with an apartment community of 700 residents. Responsibilities focus on retention and success of non-traditional students, upperclassmen, and graduate students, supporting the whole household experience and promoting family well-being, connection, and stability as central to student success.
Oversee 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 coordinate with the Associate Director of Administrative Operations to keep rents current and in good standing.
Collaborate with the Associate Directors to oversee the assignment processes and operations to maximize occupancy.
Perform a wide variety of administrative tasks in support of Housing’s and MSU’s processes; ensure compliance with policies and guidelines.
Monitor budgets and ensure program expenses align with departmental goals.
Manage staff resources to address student issues, including mental health, by working with the Behavioral Intervention Team, University Police, Dean of Students, and campus partners.
Directly supervise 2 live-in Community Directors and oversee the work of 22 student staff.
Implement programming and promote retention tailored to non-traditional, upper-class, and graduate students, including activities for children and family members 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 campus and community services.
Participate in Housing’s campus-wide emergency response rotation and respond to emergencies as needed across Housing areas.
Collaborate as a team member and perform other duties in support of the department’s mission.
Required Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills
Bachelor’s 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, overseeing operational workflows, and ensuring 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
Master’s 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.
Exhibit strong self-motivation to support residents and campus students.
Be competent at creating and supporting student engagement programming to support recruitment and retention.
Demonstrate strong and effective communication and presentation skills for groups of varying sizes.
Demonstrate experience in facilitating change, managing conflict, and problem solving.
Exhibit interpersonal skills to motivate employees to maintain high quality.
Be attentive to residents’ needs and demonstrate customer service knowledge.
Quickly learn and apply new skills and knowledge from changing information and technology.
Demonstrate good judgment and decision-making.
Be self-motivated, take initiative, and work independently.
Demonstrate logical and creative thinking to develop solutions.
Make on-the-spot decisions based on knowledge of state and university policies, procedures, goals and objectives.
Understand federal and state housing laws.
Maintain attention to detail and multitask under tight deadlines while performing effectively under pressure.
Represent the department in a courteous and professional manner.
Position Special Requirements/Additional Information This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements, but a general description of the job. Montana State University reserves the right to assign or reassign duties at any time.
Full-time, live-on position with a furnished apartment and a board plan (when food service is open for residential service).
Occasional travel for professional development.
Evenings, weekends, long hours, holidays (as needed) and consecutive days during peak times.
Participation in Housing’s campus-wide emergency response rotation.
Physical Demands To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations.
Navigate campus and the areas in and around the residence halls and apartment communities.
Occasionally move items up to 30 lbs.
Occasionally work outside and in inclement weather.
This position has supervisory duties?
Yes
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 starting on
March 18, 2026
and continue until an adequate applicant pool is 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
auxjobs@montana.edu
or 406-994-6468.
Montana State University is an equal opportunity employer. MSU does not discriminate 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 Veteran’s Employment Preference Act, MSU provides preference in employment to veterans, disabled veterans, and certain eligible relatives of veterans. To claim veteran’s preference, please complete the veteran’s preference information located in the Demographics section of your profile.
Required Documents
Resume
Cover Letter
Optional Documents
Supplemental Questions Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*)
#J-18808-Ljbffr