Residence Director Position Description

General Description: 

The Residence Director works collaboratively with the Residence Life staff and University community to create a positive living learning environment for students consistent with the University’s Catholic mission.  The Residence Director is a 12 month, live-in position, reporting to the Associate Director, responsible for the overall management of a residence hall of between 200 and 550 students.  The primary focus of the position is on developing students through large-scale programming, conduct meetings, student outreach, and advisement.  The Residence Director oversees the overall facilities management of their building which includes, but is not limited to, weekly walk-throughs, room change processing, check-ins/check-outs, key system management, and break housing inspections. 

The Residence Director supervises a staff of 7-12 Resident Assistants and 1 Senior Resident Assistant.  The Residence Director works closely with the Campus Activities, Student Wellness, Student Conduct, and Campus Ministry staff to provide a vibrant campus life that complements students’ educational experience.   Additional responsibilities include serving as a conduct hearing officer, advising hall council and student organizations, serving in the on-call duty rotation, coordinating departmental projects such as RA Selection and RA Training, and working with the Offices of Facilities and Public Safety to promote student safety.  The Residence Director position requires evening work.

Qualifications: 

A master's degree in higher education or a related field is preferred and prior Residence Life experience is required.  Strong supervision, communication, and managerial skills are necessary.  Successful candidates will also be student focused, have a collaborative work style, have an appreciation for the Vincentian mission of St. John’s University, committed to nurturing living learning communities within the residence halls, and prepared to work with a diverse student population.

Responsibilities:          

Supervision, selection, training and evaluation of student staff

• Supervise a staff of 7 to 12 RAs, including 1 Senior Resident Assistant
• Plan and facilitate weekly staff meetings
• Conduct bi-weekly meetings with individual staff members
• Evaluate staff on semester basis
• Participate in Resident Assistant recruitment and selection process
• Instruct 6 week leadership based Resident Assistant course as part of the RA Selection process
• Facilitate and participate in extensive RA training program, as well as on-going developmental training sessions

Administration/Operations

• Direct overall management and operation of the residence hall
• Perform weekday and weekend duty
• Establish office hours for availability to residents and staff
• Submit administrative reports and forms (e.g. room condition reports, room change forms, health and safety forms, community development logs)
• Supervise hall opening and closing procedures at the beginning and end of each semester and during vacation periods and breaks

• Assist with room selection for returning students and room assignment process for new students
• Maintain inventories of all residence hall equipment and furnishings
• Coordinate assessment initiatives to determine student satisfaction
• Oversee department projects as assigned
• Conduct weekly building inspections

Programming/Staff Development

• Supervise staff and Hall Council in outcomes based programming development
• Provide ongoing development for resident assistant staff
• Track hall programming efforts in university programming database and master calendar
• Support and attend University events and programs
• Supervise living/learning community initiatives as assigned
• Research and present sessions for Professional Staff Development series
• Submit a program proposal for regional/national conference or an article for publication
• Partake in university training and development workshops
• Attend weekly departmental staff meetings/ SCC meeting
• Attend bi-weekly 1:1 meeting with Associate Director of Residence Life

Student Conduct

• Communicate guidelines of conduct that protect the individual student’s rights and define student responsibility
• Serve as initial disciplinary hearing officer
• Generate related student conduct correspondence to residents in a timely fashion
• Adjudicate conduct cases within 72 hours
• Advise and support Resident Assistants in matters of conduct
• Track incident reports and sanctions in university conduct database
• Consult with Director of Student Conduct and Director of Residence Life regarding referrals and other necessary action
• Enforce University and residence hall policies and coordinate with Public Safety as needed

Hall Council/Residence Hall Association

• Serve as primary advisor to Hall Council and student organizations as assigned
• Attend Hall Council general assembly and executive board meetings
• Attend required trainings for advisement of student organizations
• Adhere to protocols and procedures for advisement set by the Division of Student Affairs
• Meet regularly with Hall Council executive board members
• Demonstrate support for the RHA and Hall Council as a group by supporting and/or attending programs and events
• Facilitate the development of Senior RA as the co-advisor of hall council
• Participate in Hall Council leadership retreat

Miscellaneous

• Participate in professional staff selection process
• Maintain close contact with building desk attendants and maintenance staff, and have knowledge of desk procedures
• Establish regular communication practices with offices such as Public Safety, the Counseling Center, Student Life, and Facilities Services
• Coordinate various summer projects
• Serve on university committees as assigned

• Assist with departmental projects and initiatives as assigned by the Associate Directors/Director of Residence Life
• Other duties as assigned

Compensation: 

$58,500, 1 or 2 bedroom campus apartment, partial meal plan, competitive benefits package.