Residential Community Director – Upperclass Experience

POSITION OBJECTIVE

The Residential Community Director position creates and facilitates an integrated residential learning environment that moves upperclass students toward achieving the goals of the undergraduate experience, working through the mission and goals of both the Office of Residence Life and the Division of Student Affairs. This embedded position provides comprehensive leadership and support for a community of 500 to 800 upperclass students. Immersed in the student community, the director actively manages the learning experience at both the community and individual level, monitoring and supporting students’ holistic academic, social and personal development throughout their upperclass experience and through graduation.

Building a welcoming and inclusive community is the foundation of the work we do as professionals working with students. Fully including people of diverse backgrounds and perspectives helps us all thrive by working together, focusing on our collective well-being and helping students gain insight from their academic endeavors and real-world experiences.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Provide comprehensive leadership and support for a community of 500 to 800 upperclass students. Immersed in their community, the director acts as a primary point of contact for these students, monitoring and supporting their holistic academic, social and personal development throughout their upperclass years. (10%)

Design and provide vision to the development of the residential community, ensuring that students create a just and humane community that cultivates meaningful interactions, fosters individual student success and creates purposeful environments to support the Division of Student Affairs student learning domains: Social and emotional competence, Purpose and intentionality, Cultural and human appreciation, Community engagement and Problem solving. (10%)

In collaboration with Undergraduate Studies, Student Advancement, Post-Graduate Planning and Experiential Education and Student Affairs and campus departments, implement a developmental, intentional and comprehensive upperclass experience for the entire upperclass undergraduate population through community focused programs, services and partnerships. (10%)

Provide leadership in planning, presenting and implementing departmental paraprofessional staff recruitment, selection and training of graduate Assistant Residential Community Director and undergraduate Resident Assistants. (10%)

Serve as the point of contact for Student Advancement for students in the Residential Community, monitoring and supporting their transition through and out of their undergraduate experience by fostering engagement with appropriate resources and opportunities, providing general advice, assisting them with the navigation of university policies, procedures and requirements, responding to their inquiries and helping them establish educational goals. (10%)

Direct the Community Leadership Team consisting of 1 graduate Assistant Residential Community Director, 8 to12 undergraduate Resident Assistants and a community council in establishing programs, initiatives, projects and procedures that create the academic and residential experience, support departmental objectives and work toward divisional strategic goals and learning outcomes. (10%)

Assess the needs and interests of upperclass students and create residential communities that cultivate meaningful interactions and purposeful environments through programs that complement and enhance the Undergraduate Experience Model with emphasis on the Upperclass Experience, the transitions to and from the Upperclass experience and the connections between the Upperclass experience and other critical points in the student journey. (10%)

Maintain, manage and execute a system of intervention and referral in collaboration with the Dean of Students Office to support the health, wellness and safety of residential students through personal contacts with students and faculty and staff partners across campus. Serve in a supervisor on call rotation and direct response to student crises for 4,000 undergraduate students outside of business hours. Conduct educational interventions for student issues through the student conduct or other systems. (10%)

Assume leadership responsibility or representative participation in one or more committees as assigned by supervisors determined by regular review of committee composition or requested by the director according to professional interest. (10%)

Partner with the Office of University Housing, Facilities Services, Property Management and Capstone Management to create an environment that supports resident development, ensures the smooth functioning of the residential facilities and is responsive to resident concerns. Instruct and guide staff and residents in completing occupancy, room inventory, room change, work order and facility emergency response procedures. (5%)

Manage residential community budget, monitoring program and council expenses for the community, authorize routine expenditures, arrange for payment or reimbursement procedures and maintain accurate records and oversight of financial expenditures within the budget. Perform generalized administrative tasks to support the residential community. (5%)

NONESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Perform other duties as assigned. (<1%)

CONTACTS

Department: Daily contact with professional, clerical, secretarial, custodial and maintenance staff. Daily contact with graduate and undergraduate student staff and professional staff of Residence Life and Student Success.

University: Frequent contact with offices of Student Affairs, the Dean of Students Office, University Police, University Health and Counseling Services, University Housing, Disability Resources, Office of Multicultural Affairs, Greek Life, Post-Graduate Planning and Experiential Education. Regular contact with Student Advancement, faculty serving as advisors and first-year course instructors about individual student concerns.

External: Regular contact with parents and/or family members of students to answer questions and discuss their concerns within FERPA guidelines. Periodic contact with outside vendors and services and members of regional and national professional organizations. Occasional contact with prospective students and their families during open houses and other Enrollment related programming.

Students: Daily interaction with undergraduate students and student employees. Regular contact with the Residence Hall Association, community councils and other student organizations.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

Provide direct supervision for 1 graduate Assistant Residential Community Director, 8 to 12 undergraduate student staff members (Resident Assistants) and a residential area of approximately 500-800 students.

QUALIFICATIONS

Experience: 2 years of experience required. Experience may include full-time equivalent graduate and significant undergraduate leadership experience in Residence Life, or related fields.

Education: Master’s degree in an appropriate discipline required. Master’s degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs, or Student Personnel preferred.

REQUIRED SKILLS

Commitment to and appreciation of working with diverse groups of individuals, including age, race, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, socioeconomic and educational background and ability.

Ability to maintain a work environment that is marked by inclusiveness and respect for others.

Ability to apply independent judgment and decision-making skills within university policies and procedures.

Demonstrated awareness and experience addressing developmental needs and concerns of upperclass students.

Excellent interpersonal and administrative skills.

Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Ability to meet consistent attendance.

Ability to effectively interact with colleagues, supervisors and customers face to face.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Typical office environment. Some weekend and evening hours are required.