Residence Life Complex Director

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, United States

Updated: about 13 hours ago
Location: La Crosse, WISCONSIN
Deadline: ;

Posting Details 
Position Information


Recruitment Number 1489
Number of Vacancies 1
Working Title Residence Life Complex Director
Classification Title Residence Life Manager
Proposed Salary to be Offered 46,000
Appointment Percentage (Budget) 100
Position Summary
Residence Life Complex Director
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is in pursuit of exceptional candidates for the position of Residence Life Complex Director. Positioned between Minneapolis and Madison, along the majestic Mississippi River in the midst of grand bluffs and breathtaking outdoor scenery, lies La Crosse; a vibrant community with a historic downtown.
Our Complex Director position at UW-La Crosse is an opportunity for you to have a tremendous impact on the lives of college students. And our students, without a doubt, will have a greater impact on you. The culture of engagement at UW-La Crosse is phenomenal. The investment our students and staff have in developing strong communities and lasting relationships are what make our program special. We are student-centered, we care, and we have fun!
Residence Life is committed to creating an inclusive environment for our students and staff to feel a sense of belonging by valuing all races, ethnicities, cultures, sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions, abilities, and religious backgrounds, as well as other identities and experiences. Our Residence Life team works together to intentionally value the intersecting identities and unique lived experiences of our students and staff. We work collaboratively with various departments across the campus to enhance these values and to provide the best possible understanding of cultural humility and what truly inclusive communities can be. We invite applications from individuals who represent a wide variety of identities.
Complex Directors are mid-level Professional Staff in Residence Life and are an integral component in achieving our mission and guiding principles. We work in a collaborative yet autonomous environment. We desire to evolve and explore innovation and change to maximize our effectiveness, while finding balance in our career and personal lives. We also enjoy a strong sense of community among colleagues from across campus.
Complex Director primary responsibilities include:
  • Providing vision and leadership for multiple residence halls with a combined occupancy between 600 – 720 students
  • Creating intentional, inclusive communities that value diverse, intersecting identities
  • Supervising a graduate student, 20+ undergraduate student staff.
  • Overseeing residence hall operations, including front desk services, and advising Core Team (student leadership)
  • Addressing facilities needs and concerns, in collaboration with full time Custodians
  • Adjudicating conduct and supporting student well-being through centering student’s individual stories
  • Shared responsibility for the daily operation of summer camps and conferences


Beyond their residence halls, Complex Directors contribute to department goals and responsibilities through special projects, various committees and advising opportunities within Residence Life. In collaboration with their supervisor, Complex Directors will work through a professional development plan. In addition, we support and encourage you to enhance your experience with our campus partners through involvement on university committees and other professional development opportunities at UW-La Crosse, in the La Crosse community, in the state, region, and nation.
This is a 12-month annual appointment beginning June 28th, 2024. Anticipated 2024 – 25 annual salary is $46,000. Additional benefits include a partially furnished apartment, comprehensive State of Wisconsin benefits package, department professional travel funds, digital cable, internet, private in-hall storage, reserved parking, laptop computer, and personal washer and dryer. Residence Life supports inclusive live-in requests for additional apartment occupants. We also offer a pet policy. Additional information and specifics about benefits are available at www.uwlax.edu/reslife/employment-opportunities/professional-staff/ or by contacting Patrick Heise, Complex Director Search Chair, [email protected] or (608) 785-8973.
If Residence Life at UW-La Crosse is a place where you can envision incorporating your experiences and putting your Master’s Degree into practice, apply online at https://employment.uwlax.edu/ . The position is listed under the category Staff/Administrative. In your cover letter please include what interests you about being a Complex Director at UW-La Crosse.
Note: Electronic submission of application materials is required. For additional information about this position and to apply, please visit https://employment.uwlax.edu/
Position Type Staff/Administrative
Pay Basis Annual
FLSA Exempt
Contingent Upon Funding No
Is this position eligible for employment sponsorship, (H1B or PERM)? No
Required Qualifications
  • Master’s Degree in Student Affairs, Counseling, or a related field
  • Full-time Residence Life experience
  • Supervision experience of undergraduate students in a college setting
  • Commitment to learning and growing in identity development, social justice and creating inclusive communities
Preferred Qualifications
  • 3 years full-time experience as a Live-in/on Hall Director (managing administrative and operations functions of a residence hall)
  • Supervision experience of graduate assistants
  • Understanding of students, student development, and the value of student voice
  • Interest and experience in summer camps and conferences
  • Interest in serving the UW-La Crosse community and student body
Physical Demands
Reasonable Accommodations
UWL provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities who are employees or applicants for employment. Employment opportunities will not be denied because of the need to make reasonable accommodations for a qualified individual with a disability. If you need assistance or accommodation in applying because of a disability, please contact [email protected] or 608.785.8013. This job announcement and other material on this site will be made available in alternate formats upon request to an individual with a disability.
All position descriptions are required to provide physical demands and working condition/environment and may not be published in the job announcement. For information on the physical demands and/or working conditions/environment for this position, please contact Human Resources at [email protected] or 608.785.8013.
Working conditions and environment
  • Evenings and weekend work is expected to meet the needs of the department and to maximize our effectiveness in working with students.
  • Travel is necessary locally as well as occasionally to professional conferences.
Miscellaneous Information
Information about your benefits
Your benefits add an additional 40%+ to the overall financial package from the university.
Highlights include:
  • excellent flexible health insurance with low co-pays and good coverage.
  • paid holidays and sick days.
  • sick leave may be converted at retirement to pay for health insurance post-work at UWL.
  • after 5 years of employment, you become vested in our retirement system which ensures income post-career.
  • benefits at UWL are highly competitive with local industry and some of the strongest in state and nation.


Benefit eligibility is determined at point of hire. This information is provided for illustrative purposes only. Benefits are also pro-rated based on the appointment percentage.
Information about UWL and the Surrounding Region
The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is a top-rated, comprehensive University of Wisconsin campus, located in the beautiful Driftless Area of southwestern Wisconsin. Known for scholarship, academic rigor, physical activity and a close-knit community, UWL remains dedicated to its century-old mission to train the whole person — “the mind and body.”
UWL has earned a strong reputation nationally for factors such as graduation rates, return on investment and great outcomes for low-income students. It is the No. 2 public college in Wisconsin on Forbes’ 2023 America’s Top Colleges list. And it is Wisconsin’s top-ranked public university with fewer than 25,000 students, according to U.S. News & World Report’s list of the Best National Universities.
UWL offers 130-plus degree programs from undergraduate to doctoral levels in the arts, social sciences and humanities; science and health; business; and education. UWL has three colleges: the College of Arts, Social Sciences, & Humanities, the College of Business Administration, and the College of Science & Health, as well as the School of Education and the School of Visual & Performing Arts. UWL has about 447 full-time faculty and instructional academic staff, including 82% with doctoral or terminal degrees.
UWL has strong student success programs that have contributed to a strong retention rate. This fall, students returned to UWL at one of the highest rates on record with 86.5% of the 2022-23 first-year class retained — the highest mark in a decade and the fifth-highest mark in the past 50 years.
UW-La Crosse’s strategic plan Sustaining Excellence continues to move our community forward through its four pillars: increasing community engagement, achieving excellence through equity and diversity, investing in our people, and advancing transformational education. More information about the ongoing work of Sustaining Excellence is available at www.uwlax.edu/info/strategic-plan.
The UW-La Crosse campus is in southwestern Wisconsin, nestled in a residential area of the City of La Crosse and positioned as part of a larger metro area with a population close to 140,000. The area, known as the 7 Rivers Region, is famous for its exceptional natural beauty, which includes the Mississippi River on one side, majestic bluffs on the other, and views of rolling farmland and forested valleys in between. Abundant water, woodlands and varying terrain provide ample opportunities for year-round outdoor recreation. Only a couple of hours from Minneapolis or Madison, La Crosse enjoys the affordability and charm of small- town living with larger city benefits. Three colleges, two world-class medical institutions, the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra, a restored 19th century downtown business district, and a number of galleries and art centers have made La Crosse a regional center for culture, entertainment, medical care, shopping, sports and recreation. More information about the La Crosse metro area can be found at Explore La Crosse and Choose La Crosse.
Learn more about UW-La Crosse here: https://www.uwlax.edu/human-resources/services/talent-acquisition-and-employment/finalist-welcome/
AA/EO Statement
The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer committed to assembling a diverse, broadly trained faculty and staff. We strongly encourage women, minorities, people with disabilities, and veterans to apply. UWL, in compliance with applicable laws and in furtherance of its commitment to fostering an environment that welcomes and embraces diversity, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, or protected veteran status.
DEI Statement
UW-La Crosse’s diversity and inclusion efforts are guided by our adherence to Inclusive Excellence. We define Inclusive Excellence as “… our active, intentional and ongoing commitment to bridge differences with understanding and respect so all can thrive." The goals of Inclusive Excellence are to increase the retention of diverse faculty, staff, and students while encouraging a campus climate that is inviting and welcoming to all. UW-La Crosse strives to promote acceptance of all facets of diversity from racial/ethnic diversity to diversity of thought and experience. UW-La Crosse ranks 6th nationally among the Top LGBTQ-Friendly Colleges for 2018-19 by AffordableCollegesOnline.org (ACO).
Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (Clery Act)
For the UWL Annual Security and Fire Safety Reports (i.e., Clery Report), which includes statistics about reported crimes and information about campus security policies, see https://www.uwlax.edu/police/annual-security-report/ or contact the University Police Department at 608.785.9999.
Redbook Position Yes
Division/College Student Affairs Division
Description of College / Department / Program / Division / Unit
The Division of Student Affairs’ role is to enhance and support students learning experience here at UWL. We work closely with faculty, staff, community members, alumni and most importantly, students to provide quality programs and services which promote learning, leadership, involvement, service and the celebration of diversity. The Division includes a number of departments: Admissions & Recruitment, Campus Child Center, Counseling and Testing, Student Health Center, Intercollegiate Athletics, Recreational Sports, Residence Life, Student Life, University Centers, and the Vice Chancellors Office. The staff of the Division is truly student-centered and concerned about the holistic development of the student.
Residence Life is committed to creating an inclusive environment for our students and staff to feel a sense of belonging by valuing all races, ethnicities, cultures, sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions, abilities, and religious backgrounds, as well as other identities and experiences. Our Residence Life team works together to intentionally value the intersecting identities and unique lived experiences of our students and staff. We work collaboratively with various departments across the campus to enhance these values and to provide the best possible understanding of cultural humility and what truly inclusive communities can be. We invite applications from individuals who represent a wide variety of identities.

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