How To Become A Resident Services Director: What It Is and Career Path

What is a resident services director and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Karla Sluis

Resident services directors are responsible for helping clients with the lease and move-in processes. They generally work in an assisted living environment and are in charge of overseeing current residents and staff. They also ensure all health and safety standards are being met and may be in charge of implementing programs that ensure the emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being of clients.

Resident services directors earn an average salary of $37,000 annually or $17 per hour. Their duties include providing tours of the faculty to families with prospective residents, ensuring that clients receive the correct services, and managing staff scheduling and training. They oversee numerous patient plans and see that changes are made if their conditions change. They also ensure that communication between a client and the doctor flows smoothly.

In terms of academic qualifications, resident services directors typically hold a bachelor's degree in business administration, healthcare management, accounting, or other related fields. They are expected to have previous experience working in an assisted living setting. Some employers prefer candidates with excellent organizational skills.

What general advice would you give to a resident services director?

Karla Sluis

Marketing Manager, AXIS Health System

Your career will likely be a winding journey - not a single destination. You may end up in a totally different role than you thought you would. Follow your interests and be open to changing jobs. Be grateful for the experience you gain, and don't make the mistake of flaming or bad-mouthing an employer when you move on. Heal thyself! Remember self-care in this giving profession, and be mindful of your inner slave-driver. Take your lunch breaks, schedule your vacations, and practice what you preach with a healthy diet and exercise.

ScoreResident Services DirectorUS Average

Salary

4.9

Avg. Salary $62,648

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.1

Growth rate 28%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.6

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.72%

Asian 7.66%

Black or African American 11.81%

Hispanic or Latino 14.18%

Unknown 4.26%

White 61.38%

Gender

female 77.28%

male 22.72%

Age - 47

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 47

Stress level

7.1

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.8

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

4.9

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a resident services director

Explore resident services director education requirements

Most common resident services director degrees

Bachelor's

48.3 %

Associate

19.6 %

Master's

11.9 %

Start to develop specific resident services director skills

Skills	Percentages
Resident Care	12.37%
State Regulations	9.08%
CPR	7.98%
Social Work	7.12%
Memory Care	6.26%

Complete relevant resident services director training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New resident services directors learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a resident services director based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real resident services director resumes.

Research resident services director duties and responsibilities

Manage resident and facility accounts, budgets, social security applications, and Medicare and Medicaid benefits.
Attend weekly Medicare meetings and notify families of available coverage and mail necessary Medicare letters to families for confirmation.
Perform daily maintenance on boilers, HVAC unit and all mechanical system.
Perform HVAC, plumbing and electrical repairs including older circuit breaker boxes and meter stacks.

Get resident services director experience

Generally, it takes 4-6 years to become a resident services director. The most common roles before becoming a resident services director include licensed practical nurse, staff nurse team lead and registered nurse.

Prepare your resident services director resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your resident services director resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a resident services director resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable resident services director resume templates

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