Area Director Jobs in Massachusetts

Location: Framingham, MA
Category: Staff
Job Type: Exempt
Posted On: Wed Apr 22 2026

GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES:

The Area Director provides active and visible leadership, direction, and oversight to coordination to an assigned area of residence hall communities in accordance with established policies and procedures. A residential area is defined as comprising two or more residence halls, along with two or more security desk operations, and with a combined design capacity in excess of 500 residents.

The Area Director is responsible for establishing and maintaining a living environment conducive to student growth and which supports learning and academic endeavor. The Area Director is expected to have the ability to work with diverse populations and support and advance departmental equity; inclusion and anti-racism initiatives.

The Area Director also leads student engagement efforts and contributes to campus recruitment, orientation, retention, and commencement events and activities; serves as a student conduct system hearing officer; supports and manages vacation period and group housing initiatives; and serves on department, student development, and campus committees and work groups as assigned.

This is a full-time live-on position and, as such, the Area Director is expected to have regular and significant presence in the residence halls, including on evenings and weekends. The Area Director is a designated essential personnel staff position and provides campus coverage in an on-call capacity.

Specifically assigned residence halls and on-campus accommodations are subject to change.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED:

The Director of Residence Life provides supervision to the Area Director.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED:

The Area Director provides supervision to student staff including Administrative Resident Assistants (ARAs), Resident Assistants (RAs), Security Desk Attendants (SDAs), and vacation, summer or other Residence Life staff members as assigned.

EXAMPLES OF SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Creates and maintains a community environment conducive to student learning and success.
• Responsible for overseeing or assisting in the recruitment, selection, supervision and training of Resident Assistants (RAs), Security Desk Attendants (SDAs), and other departmental staff members as assigned.
• Works with RAs, SDAs and other residence hall staff to provide adequate supervision and coverage in the halls according to established procedures.
• Conducts ongoing weekly supervisory meetings and periodic staff development sessions with staff on a group and individual basis.
• Plans, presents, documents, and attends staff training sessions and programs with staff throughout the year including Residence Life, housing, student conduct, regulatory-related, and student affairs training and professional development programs.
• Evaluates Resident Assistants, Security Desk Attendants, and other student staff in accordance with departmental procedures.
• Regularly interacts with residents through formal and informal contacts (i.e., office hours, floor programs, visiting student rooms, hosting open houses for students, etc.)
• Serves in an "on-call" capacity in rotation, in accordance with established policies and protocols, to provide year round after-hours campus coverage of the residence halls.
• Interprets and explains University regulations, policies, philosophy and expectations to individual students, groups of students, conference participants and guests in the residence halls.
• Fosters a community environment which values and supports identity development, diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism by sponsoring, promoting, leading, through example and/or providing appropriate programming and training to residents and staff. Participates in professional development activities to continually increase cultural competence and support inclusive community efforts.
• Acts in an advising and referral capacity to residents and guests.
• Responds promptly and thoroughly to assist residents in crisis, including direct meetings to identify resources and help evaluate and coordinate emergency and after-hours responses as necessary.
• Regularly inspects assigned residence hall(s) to monitor facilities, resident behavior, hall climate, programming, communications, safety/security and hall operations. Follows up on findings promptly and in keeping with departmental and campus standards; promptly reports facility maintenance needs discovered.
• Directly supervises the opening and closing of residence halls at the beginning and end of each semester, during vacation/summer housing periods, and during conference housing occupancy periods.
• Assesses residence hall damage in accordance with departmental guidelines including maintaining and submitting accurate records.
• Responsible for managing key and access control.
• Coordinates room changes within and/or between buildings with the appropriate Residence Life administrator according to established procedures.
• Attends and assists with the annual room selection process as directed.
• Works in conjunction with staff and appropriate personnel to ensure that building maintenance and capital improvement needs are communicated.
• Supervises the security desk and residence hall mail and package delivery for assigned hall(s) including recruitment, selection, and evaluation of personnel; supervision of operations and associated administrative duties.
• Manages hall programming and supplies budget. Initiates departmental purchasing initiatives as directed, including student staff training expenses, staff shirts, hall supplies, equipment, furnishings, programming and social supplies and programming related food/beverages.
• Serves as a Hearing Officer within the student conduct code system.
• Represents department and serves on Residence Life, Student Affairs and University committees, task forces and as a liaison to internal and external groups interfacing with the department.
• Other duties as assigned by the Director of Residence Life or designee.
• Responds to Title IX, Equal Opportunity, and Clery Security Agent responsibilities and acts in compliance with Clery, Title IX, VAWA, FERPA, ADA and other regulatory related responsibilities.
• Responsible for reporting to the Equal Opportunity Officer or Title IX Coordinator knowledge or receipt of reports of discrimination, discriminatory harassment, and retaliation from students or other members of the university community.
• Designated as a Campus Security Authority under the Clery Act.
• Accountable for ensuring that equal opportunity, inclusion, and equity are integrally tied to all actions and decisions in areas of responsibility.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Work takes place in designated residence hall or central office.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelors Degree
• Two years live-in housing/residence life staff work experience in a college or university setting.
• Experience and knowledge working with college programming and resident education initiatives.
• Competency in understanding student development, identity development, and higher education research and theories.
• Competency in knowledge, skills, and dispositions needed to foster equity and respond to issues of oppression, discrimination and social justice.
• Crisis management skills and experience including ability to remain calm, follow established protocols and use sound judgment in emergency situations.
• Strong conflict resolution and management skills.
• Demonstrated organizational and leadership skills.
• Demonstrated strong oral and written communication skills.
• Proficiency with computer software applications and/or data management systems including MS Office and automated survey tools such as Qualtrics.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master's Degree in student personnel, counseling, higher education administration, or related field strongly preferred at time of appointment.
• One or more years supervising residence hall staff.
• One or more years' professional experience in residence life or student affairs.
• One or more years' experience in student conduct administration.
• Comprehensive understanding of student development research and theories.
• Proficiency in statistical analysis, budget management and program evaluation.
• Previous work experience in crisis response and management.
• Experience working with StarRez and/or Guardian software solutions.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish or English and Portuguese.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

This is a full-time, exempt, benefits-eligible position in the Association of Professional Administrators (APA) bargaining unit with a union title of Staff Assistant. The starting salary range is $50,000-$55,000. This is a live-on position. The successful candidate will be assigned to a partially furnished apartment on campus. Utilities are included.

Framingham State University conducts criminal history and sexual offender record checks on recommended finalists prior to final employment for all positions.

Framingham State University is an equal opportunity employer. The University considers all qualified candidates without regard to race, color, sex, age, national origin, disability status, Veteran status, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other characteristics protected by law.

Members of underrepresented or minoritized groups, women, veterans, persons with disabilities, and all persons committed to equity, diversity, and inclusive excellence are strongly encouraged to apply.