The Placement Exchange Job Board

The Assistant Director of Student Living is a full-time professional staff member responsible for leading a residential program in an area of approximately 2,000 students. The position includes educational, managerial, and administrative functions, and leads a team to establish a residential environment reflective of the University’s mission.

The Assistant Director directly supervises 5-6 Residence Directors, and provides indirect supervision for 2 Operation Coordinators, 50 Resident Advisors, and 45 Main Desk Assistants. Each Assistant Director will also be responsible for providing departmental leadership in one or more designated focus area such as: Residential Education, Student Leader Selection, Student Leader Training, Summer Programs, Technology, Liaison for Syracuse Welcome, and Liaison for Residential Tours.

Additionally, the Assistant Director shares in crisis response responsibilities for the Syracuse University campus, maintains liaisons with a variety of offices and academic departments, and participates in campus, divisional, and department committees as assigned.

Assistant Director Responsibilities

• Departmental Leadership and Residential Area Oversight Provide leadership for the vision and day-today management of a residential area of approximately 2000 residents. This encompasses all aspects of managing a residential area across multiple buildings, including: the residential curriculum, student leadership development programs, management of day-to-day operations, main desk operations, learning community connections, intercultural competency, conflict management, facility/ housing operations connections, budget management, etc.
• Lead weekly staff meetings in order to set the pace for the area and to ensure goal and tasks alignment within the area and office.
• Create and enact a team-developed vision for their residential area. Utilize strategies to connect with student leaders, student staff, and general students in their area.
• Provide departmental leadership in a concentrated area of focus, examples include: Leadership, Student Wellness, and Community Development, Conflict Management, Themed Housing, Student Conduct, Summer Programs, and Student Leader Training and Development.
• Supervision Trains, supervises, and evaluates 5-6 Residence Director direct reports. Provides indirect supervision for 2 Operations Specialists, 50 Resident Advisors, and 45 Main Desk Assistants.
• Provides professional development and coaching opportunities for direct and indirect staff in their line of supervision. Engages in performance management processes as needed; partners with Human Resources. Meets individually with direct reports on a weekly basis. Develops and enacts a plan to foster team development and manage team conflict, Maintains approachability and availability for all staff (including student staff) in their line of supervision.
• Ensures that direct reports develop strong supervision skills. Engages in culturally competent supervision practices.

• Provide leadership on the implementation of the SL Playbook to their residential area. Ensure that all staff in the line of supervision are knowledgeable of the SL Playbook and successfully implement the SL Playbook.
• Are well-versed on student development theory and can train others in this area.’ Actively support the SL Playbook internally, and to external stakeholders.
• Engage with external partners to develop and implement strategies for the curriculum.
• Develop partnerships with faculty and academic affairs units that support academic engagement in a residential context.
• Actively support student engagement in diversity/ inclusion/ intercultural competence initiatives.
• Engage in assessment and ensure that staff in their line of supervision are also engaging in assessment.
• Support SL student leadership development initiatives through attending events, connecting with SL student leaders, serving as formal and/or informal advisors, and ensuring staff in their line of supervision are also doing so.
• Work directly with campus partners such as the Living Learning Communities, the Housing, Meal Plan and ID Card Services, the Office of First-Year and Transfer Programs and Summer Programs to ensure an unsurpassed residential experience for students. ’ Assist with creating and reviewing policy for the Office of Student Living.’ Represent the Office of Student Living on search committees, divisional committees, and campus committees as needed.

• Serves in the Tier-2 on-call rotation in SL. When on call the Assistant Director is responsible for providing support and coordination to SL on-call Tier One staff (RDs) for all residential students (8,000 students) as well as coordinating support for off-campus residential students as necessary (12,000 students).
• Follows up with students of concern in both crisis and non-crisis situations in a caring, timely and effective manner. Utilizes Oranges Success and works with Residence Directors on their utilization of Orange Success to identify and respond to students. Refers student cases Behavioral Consultation Committee and the Threat Assessment Management Team as necessary; provides information and follow-up for SL representatives to these teams.
• Responds to inquiries and questions from parents/ families; partners with students, parents, and families to troubleshoot situations.
• Partners with various offices to provide support and referral to students.
• Coaches their direct and indirect reports on student support and crisis management response and follow-up.

Master’s degree in student personnel, higher education, or related field required plus 4 years of progressive experience in Residence Life/Student Affairs.

Assistant Directors must be well versed in all aspects of residential living, student development theory and emergency response.

Demonstrated expertise in at least two of the following specialized areas in residence life in addition to the general knowledge of all other areas: Supervision and Front Line Staff Support Counseling/ Advisement Education/Programming/Student Development Housing Operations Leadership Development Residence Education Healthy Living and Decision Making Alcohol and Other Drug Education judicial and Conflict Management.

The Assistant Director also supports the development of an inclusive residence hall community and demonstrates cultural competency in race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, ability, gender, gender identity expression, sexual orientation, religion or national origin.

About Syracuse University

Syracuse University is a private, international research university with distinctive academics, diversely unique offerings and an undeniable spirit. Located in the geographic heart of New York State, with a global footprint, and nearly 150 years of history, Syracuse University offers a quintessential college experience. The scope of Syracuse University is a testament to its strengths: a pioneering history dating back to 1870; a choice of more than 200 majors and 100 minors offered through 13 schools and colleges; nearly 15,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students; more than a quarter of a million alumni in 160 countries; and a student population from all 50 U.S. states and 123 countries. For more information, please visit www.syracuse.edu. About the Syracuse area Syracuse is a medium-sized city situated in the geographic center of New York State approximately 250 miles northwest of New York City. The metro-area population totals approximately 500,000. The area offers a low cost of living and provides many social, cultural, and recreational options, including parks, museums, festivals, professional regional theater, and premier shopping venues. Syracuse and Central New ...York present a wide range of seasonal recreation and attractions ranging from water skiing and snow skiing, hiking in the Adirondacks, touring the historic sites, visiting wineries along the Finger Lakes, and biking on trails along the Erie Canal. EEO Statement Syracuse University is an equal-opportunity, affirmative-action institution. The University prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender, national origin, citizenship, ethnicity, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law to the extent prohibited by law. This nondiscrimination policy covers admissions, employment, and access to and treatment in University programs, services, and activities. Commitment to Supporting and Hiring Veterans Syracuse University has a long history of engaging veterans and the military-connected community through its educational programs, community outreach, and employment programs. After World War II, Syracuse University welcomed more than 10,000 returning veterans to our campus, and those veterans literally transformed Syracuse University into the national research institution it is today. The University’s contemporary commitment to veterans builds on this historical legacy, and extends to both class-leading initiatives focused on making an SU degree accessible and affordable to the post-9/11 generation of veterans, and also programs designed to position Syracuse University as the employer of choice for military veterans, members of the Guard and Reserve, and military family members. Commitment to a Diverse and Inclusive Campus Community Syracuse University maintains an inclusive learning environment in which students, faculty, administrators, staff, curriculum, social activities, governance, and all other aspects of campus life reflect a diverse, multi-cultural, and international worldview. The University community recognizes and values the many similarities and differences among individuals and groups. At Syracuse, we are committed to preparing students to understand, live among, appreciate, and work in an inherently diverse country and world made up of people with different ethnic and racial backgrounds, military backgrounds, religious beliefs, socio-economic status, cultural traditions, abilities, sexual orientations and gender identities. To do so, we commit ourselves to promoting a community that celebrates and models the principles of diversity and inclusivity.

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