Residence Director (Multiple positions)
About University of Massachusetts Amherst
UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.
Job Summary
The Residence Director has overall responsibility for leading the development of safe, inclusive, and learner-centered residential communities of approximately 350 to 600 undergraduate students.? The Residence Director is a live-in position and reports directly to an Assistant Director of Residence Education.
Essential Functions
- Provides leadership for student learning within assigned residential communities using the Residential Curriculum framework. Engages in lesson plan design, needs assessment analysis, evidence-based improvement and report authorship for assigned communities.
- Contributes to University student success goals by promoting and developing an inclusive culture of student engagement and learning in the residence halls and on-campus to support the community needs of all residential students.?
- Develops connections with residents, is present and available in the halls as the leader of the community, and serves as a positive role model.?
- Works effectively with campus partners and stakeholders including course instructors, academic school/college staff, Student Affairs and Campus Life, Residential life and other University staff members.
- Maintains relationships and partnerships with supervisor, co-workers, and parents/family of students.
- Advises at least one volunteer leadership group (typically House Council.) Serves on University committees and work groups in a member or chair role.
- Contributes to the effectiveness of the Residence Hall Association and National Residence Hall Honorary by attending meetings and programs, submitting award nominations, and encouraging student involvement.? Attains knowledge of campus data that informs these efforts.
- Staff Leadership and Supervision - Supervises a team of undergraduate Resident Assistants (RA’s) to implement residential curriculum strategies, build relationships with residents, respond to incidents, and fulfill all RA position expectations.? May directly supervise an Assistant Residence Director (graduate assistant).
- Abides by University expectations regarding employee conduct, time reporting, use of technology and social media, and maintenance of records.
- In first-year communities, provides on-site support to a staff of live-in academic Peer Mentors and works closely with their graduate assistant supervisor.?
- Facilitates staff meetings and training programs and provides on-going training for RA’s and Peer Mentors.
- Serves as lead instructor for EDUC 391R: CORE – Creating Opportunities for Residents to Engage, a one-credit course for Resident Assistant and Peer Mentor candidates.
- Leads and participates in diversity and inclusion workshops and trainings.
- Incident Response & Community Standards - Coordinates front-line response to incidents including those that are highly complex in nature; e.g., sexual misconduct, alcohol and drug related behavior, mental health concerns, bias incidents, health and safety concerns, and community conflict..?
- Identifies critical issues, assesses student behavior, and communicates effectively with supervisor and on-call staff to formulate appropriate responses for individual students and the residential community.? Follows up with students as outlined by established campus case management, makes appropriate referrals, and maintains accurate case management records.?
- Educates staff and students about University and residence hall policies, safety and security protocols and systems.
- Helps residents understand their rights and responsibilities through residential policy enforcement, providing educational resources, and maintaining accurate conduct records.
- Understands University emergency preparedness practices and responds effectively and in collaboration with emergency responders.
- Supports residence hall operations by reporting maintenance issues, developing working relationships with hall maintenance staff and service desk staff, monitoring and administering resident occupancy processes, participating in residence hall opening and closing processes, supporting health and safety inspections.
- This position is designated as a Title IX Responsible Employee and as a Clery Act Campus Security Authority.
- General Responsibilities - Manages assigned community budget and follows all University purchasing policies and procedures.
- Actively engages in staff meetings and required staff training and development initiatives.?
- Ensures all responsibilities and projects are completed in a thorough and timely manner including accurate completion of reports, documentation and other administrative tasks, per departmental standard operating procedures.?
- Takes responsibility for professional self-development and contributions by developing goals, participating in workshops, campus training opportunities, campus collateral assignments, and professional conferences approved by supervisor.
- Participates in University initiatives that support student recruitment, student transition, and student success.
- Participates in selection and search processes for Residential Life full-time, graduate and undergraduate student positions.
- Performs on-call responsibilities on a regularly scheduled rotation during the year, including all University break periods and holidays; which includes being accessible by department issued cell phone 24 hours per day and remaining within required radius of campus during periods of on-call responsibility.?
- Supervises Summer Session housing (includes staff supervision), Summer Pre-College and/or residential programs hosting minors (includes staff supervision); participates in and supports the New Student Orientation ?and Transitions Program as directed.
- Attains working knowledge of applicable collective bargaining unit agreements (CBA) for graduate and undergraduate staff.
- Creates and engages students in a positive and respectful workplace defined by personal and professional competence, integrity, and collaboration.
- Contributes to the implementation of organizational goals to uphold an inclusive and diverse environment.
Other Functions
- Performs other related duties as assigned to meet Department, Executive Area/Division, and University goals and objectives.
- On an as needed basis, signs out and operates University golf cart with a valid driver’s license.
Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)
- Master's Degree at time of hire.
- One (1) academic year of post-baccalaureate experience as a live-in residence hall staff member at the time of hire.
- Valid Driver’s License.
- Demonstrated experience supervising undergraduate student staff in a residential environment.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills, active listening, decision-making and evaluative skills.
- Demonstrated experience with incident response, follow-up with students of concern, and/or on-call experience. Experience with reporting workplace concerns to supervisor and engaging in solution focused practices.
- Ability to work independently, manage routine work and assigned projects (balancing multiple priorities, completing administrative tasks, and meeting deadlines.)
- Ability to maintain appropriate levels of privacy and confidentiality with sensitive information and behave in ways consistent with law and University policy.
- Demonstrated experience working with diverse student populations and developing inclusive communities.
- Excellent interpersonal skills including a strong ability to relate effectively with a highly diverse work force, ability to establish and maintain positive and effective working relationships, commitment to team success, and customer service orientation.
- Established skills in typical office suite software such as Microsoft Office applications. Ability to utilize electronic systems and databases in completion of work tasks.?
Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)
- Working knowledge of student learning outcomes, learning strategy design, and outcomes assessment.?
- Demonstrated experience with web-based student information data management systems.
Physical Demands/Working Conditions
Typical office environment.
Additional Details
UMass Amherst Residential Life designates Residence Director staff as essential personnel who may be expected to work in the event of a university closure.
Staff member is provided a furnished on-campus apartment in which they are expected to reside and on-call compensation.
On a flexible schedule, Residence Directors generally work Monday through Friday including a minimum of two evenings per week.? Residence Directors are also expected to be on campus for evenings and weekends for significant campus events such as staff training, residence hall move-in, Halloween, Super Bowl, other major campus events, and high activity spring weekends.
Work Schedule
37.5 hour work week.
Flexible hours within a Monday- Friday 8:30am-5:00pm work environment.? Required to work some nights and weekends including on-call coverage
This position is designated as essential personnel by Residential Life.
Salary Information
Level 26
PSU Hiring Ranges
Special Instructions to Applicants
Along with the application, please submit a resume, cover letter, and contact information for three (3) professional references. The position will remain open until filled.
UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, disability, military status, or genetic information in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University.? To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans.? It is the policy of the UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.
