Maryville University is seeking a Director of Residential Life to oversee a campus population of approximately 1,000 residents spread across 10 campus residential facilities. The Director serves as a member of the Division for Student Life (DSL) leadership team, reporting to the Dean of Students. This highly collaborative role requires a high level of discretion and initiative in order to accomplish goals established under the University and DSL missions. The Director is expected to be innovative and to anticipate needs, exercise urgency in the completion of responsibilities, and demonstrate excellent attention to detail. The successful candidate must be committed to fostering a culturally diverse atmosphere for students, faculty, and staff.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
University Housing Operations
Leads the Residential Life team to develop and maintain the department’s strategic plan, ensuring alignment with the overall institutional strategic planning efforts in fulfillment of the University’s mission; implements and monitors ongoing benchmarking, assessment, and innovative improvements for all Residential Life areas to improve the residential student experience.
Develop and monitor operational budgets and allocation of expenditures in Residential Life; prepares cost estimates and justifications for budget item recommendations; suggests necessary upgrades or improvements to residential facilities.
Coordinate all University housing needs with campus partners such as Physical Plant and Public Safety to ensure smooth opening/closing activities and maintain a safe and productive living and learning environment.
Oversee all aspects of the housing selection process, including but not limited to: contract and policy review, room assignments and changes, key distribution/electronic access, etc.
Delivers a Residential Life communication strategy and projects associated with social media (e.g. Twitter, Facebook, blogs, video posting, etc.) and updates Residential Life content on the University website and internal portal.
Remains current with trends in housing operations and facilities; liaisons with local, regional, and national housing program leads for knowledge sharing and emergency planning.
Residential Education
Ensures department creates and delivers a robust series of ongoing programs for residential students that aligns with the educational mission and priorities of Maryville, with special emphasis on creating inclusive environments.
Serve as a member of the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Committee, representing the needs and challenges of the residential population.
Provide oversight related to Residential Life assessment efforts, such as collecting and maintaining statistics and data that will drive quality improvement and provide for program evaluation based on desired learning outcomes.
Act as a liaison with other University and external groups; serve on university and departmental committees as assigned; and participate in activities and projects related to student life matters.
Crisis Management and Student Conduct
Serve as on-call contact for campus emergencies; coordinates on-call rotation for professional staff and resident assistants within University housing.
Assists with case management for the resolution of residential student issues and concerns; serves on the Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT).
Assists with the administration of student conduct with ability to serve as a conduct officer, which can include investigating student conduct reports; interviewing, reporting and responding to parties and witnesses; and presenting findings to the Dean of Students.
Serve, as needed, on University-wide emergency response teams and participate in regular planning and training exercises.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
The Director of Residential Life will directly supervise two professional Residential Life Coordinators, two graduate assistants, and indirectly supervise 40+ student employees assigned to the Residential Life Office. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding accomplishments; addressing inappropriate behavior; and addressing complaints and resolving problems.
QUALIFICATIONS
Master’s degree required; a degree in higher education or a closely related area preferred.
Minimum of five years prior experience managing residential facilities in an educational environment.
Exceptional written and verbal interpersonal communication skills used to effectively communicate with students, faculty, staff, family members, and the general public.
Appreciation for and ability to work effectively with a diverse student population.
Strong organizational skills to prioritize and perform multiple tasks seamlessly with excellent attention to detail, while also demonstrating the highest level of customer service.
Demonstrated ability to achieve high performance goals, be adaptable to various competing demands, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
Highly resourceful team-player, with the ability to also be extremely effective independently and to demonstrate a proactive approach to problem-solving.
Proven ability to handle confidential information with discretion.
Knowledge and experience using integrated software systems and Microsoft applications (with proficiency in MS Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel) and the ability to quickly learn new software and databases.
WORKING CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL EFFORT
The Director of Residential Life is a full-time, 12-month live-off position with some evening and weekend work required. Job functions are primarily performed in a fast-paced, indoor environment frequently requiring multi-task functioning. Will work within standard office conditions. Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation. Lifting and moving items may be required. Required lifting may be broken down into less heavy, manageable components. Movement to and from other departments/buildings on campus. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.
Founded in 1872, Maryville University is a comprehensive and nationally ranked private institution with an enrollment of 10,000 students. Maryville offers over 90 degrees at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels, as well as several certificates that align with the undergraduate and graduate education levels. Maryville is recognized as the second fastest-growing private university in the United States by The Chronicle of Higher Education, serving students from all 50 states and 56 countries. More than 17,000 Maryville alumni work and live in the St. Louis region.
When you work with Maryville University, you are part of a vibrant community leading a revolution in higher education. With strategic precision and vision, we’re building a university for the future. Join a dedicated staff of professionals who are encouraged to explore, create and excel.
https://www.maryville.edu/about/maryville-at-a-glance/