The Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, a leader in health and life sciences higher education in Boston, Massachusetts, invites inquiries, nominations, and applications for the position of director of residence life. The anticipated start date is early 2026, and the position is on-site, with two-day flexible work options following the probationary period. This is a live-off position.
MCPHS was founded in 1823 and is the oldest higher education institution in Boston. It is also the second-oldest and largest college of pharmacy in the United States. As a private, nonprofit institution, the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences has spent over 200 years evolving in remarkable ways—expanding its physical presence, broadening its academic offerings, and deepening its real-world impact. Focused on health- and life-sciences education, MCPHS has campuses in Boston, Massachusetts, Worcester, Massachusetts, and Manchester, New Hampshire, as well as online programs. In 2025, MCPHS earned national recognition for its strong return on investment. The University was ranked first for student earning power by The Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education, fifth nationally for potential lifetime earnings by the Center for Education and the Workforce (CEW), and third for economic value among U.S institutions.
MCPHS and the student affairs division seek a director of residence life to provide strategic leadership and direction for the Office of Residence Life (ORL), fostering an academically oriented environment while maintaining living conditions that promote student growth and personal development. An urban institution located in the heart of Boston, approximately 300 of the 1000 residential students live in MCPHS buildings. The campus maintains leases with Colleges of the Fenway (COF) partners, making collaboration, adaptability, and dynamic communication significant skill sets for this role.
Reporting to the senior associate dean of students, the director is responsible for the daily operations of ORL and the overall management of residential buildings, including halls both on MCPHS' campus and shared with COF institutions. The director directly supervises two full-time area coordinators and indirectly oversees three graduate assistants, a temporary support staff member, and 31 undergraduate resident assistants who serve nearly 1,000 students at MCPHS. The director is also responsible for managing a departmental operating budget of approximately $300,000.
The salary range is $100,000-$110,000, and commensurate with experience.
Qualifications
A bachelor's degree is required, along with significant and progressively responsible experience in leadership roles within residence life, housing, or student affairs administration. Candidates should demonstrate a strong track record in supervising professional staff, managing budgets and facilities, developing and assessing programs, administering housing operations and student conduct, and responding to crises and mediating conflicts. A master's degree and experience in a multi-campus system are strongly preferred, as are strong technical skills and familiarity with higher education administrative systems such as Maxient, Adirondack, StarRez. and Salesforce.
Application and Nomination
- Contact Anne-Marie Kenney at amk@spelmanjohnson.com for confidential inquiries.
- Applicants needing reasonable accommodation to participate in the application process should contact Spelman Johnson at 413-529-2895 or email info@spelmanjohnson.com.
