Dean of Students

About This Role

Leading the residential living-learning experience, housing operations, and Campus Life at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) New York campus is the core of this senior leadership position. This role provides visionary leadership, strategic direction, and operational oversight, advancing an integrated, student-centered campus experience that supports student success, retention, belonging, well-being, personal development, and engagement both within and beyond the classroom.

Responsibilities

• Ensure that housing and Campus Life operations are aligned with institutional priorities, financial expectations, and the CIA’s commitment to a high-quality student experience
• Develop housing strategies based on 13 New York campus residential facilities (1816 beds) designed to maximize student demand for on-campus housing
• Facilitate opportunities to generate additional housing revenue
• Direct the annual housing budget, including budget development and submission, management of budget results and adjustments, and strategic planning for achievement of all budget goals
• Maximize occupancy through the housing selection process and deployment of strategic plans
• Evaluate and analyze important data and benchmarks including, but not limited to, housing occupancy, retention, and projection trends for each campus location
• Make recommendations to improve results and/or resolve issues
• Responsible for the overall upkeep of the residence halls in collaboration with the Facilities department
• Oversee the strategic management of residential facilities to include space utilization, construction, and renovation to maintain a safe, secure, and enjoyable living environment
• Manage the operations team responsible for calendar creation and dissemination, facilities management and routine maintenance, move-in and move-out, special events, intersession housing opportunities, and facility renovations/new construction
• Ensure a compliant environment in support of the CIA’s mission, adopting practices in support of the Clery Act, Title IX, and all other applicable laws
• Work closely with the Manager – Environmental Health and Safety and the Campus Safety department to ensure a safe residential housing environment
• Work in collaboration with branch campus partners to share best practices and include branch campus residential housing in all strategic plans
• Identify and develop assessment tools, coordinating data collection, evaluating outcomes, and developing actionable implementation plans to strengthen engagement and support continuous improvement
• Provide leadership in the composition, coordination, and data analysis of assessment reports across various Student Life departments, including Residence Life, Student Health, and Campus Recreation
• Supervise and guide the ongoing development, implementation, and assessment of a comprehensive residential curriculum focused on student learning and engagement
• Support the resolution of complex student concerns and critical incidents as needed, ensuring alignment with institutional policies and best practices
• Lead the development and execution of a comprehensive Student Life strategy that integrates residential education, campus engagement, student leadership, well-being, and belonging in support of institutional goals for student success and retention
• Serve as the divisional point person in the absence of the Vice President – Student Life
• Provide executive leadership, strategic direction and performance oversight to the Directors of Campus Life and Residential Life and Housing Operations, and related functional areas, including Campus Recreation, Leadership Development, Student Clubs, Student Council, and Orientation/Weeks of Welcome, ensuring cohesive programs and measurable outcomes across the student experience
• Coach, develop, and hold Student Life leaders accountable for advancing institutional retention, student belonging and leadership development through high-impact orientation programs, Weeks of Welcome events, campus traditions, and vibrant co-curricular activities
• Oversee high-level budget allocation, resource management, and risk mitigation strategies across recreational facilities, campus-wide traditions, and student organization funding
• Any and all other duties as assigned

Requirements

• Master’s Degree
• Minimum of seven (7) years of experience in student affairs, residence life, or in an appropriate higher educational setting
• Minimum of three (3) years of supervisory experience

Nice to have:

• Degree specialization in Higher Education Administration, Counseling, or other student affairs-related discipline
• Prior responsibility for a revenue budget in excess of $10M

Benefits

• Medical coverage available at no cost to qualifying employees
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Life insurance
• Short and long term disability insurance
• Retirement savings plan with high employer contributions
• Generous paid time off program

Important Details

• Schedule: flexible, including nights and weekends as required
• On-call rotation for emergency response
• Regular work requires the use of a computer, sometimes in excess of eight (8) hours per day
• Travel occasionally to other CIA locations due to business needs
• Ability to tour all areas of assigned facilities for extended periods of time, including walking and climbing stairs

About the Company

The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) offers a substantial benefits package.