PURPOSE OF JOB Under the direction of the Executive Director of Student Life in the Student Life & Success sector, this educator and administrator provides visionary leadership and direction for the department; oversees living and learning environments; administers and manages the student housing program for the university; directs departmental operations; oversees the department budget; sets department goals; coordinates assessment efforts; and establishes learning outcomes and implementation strategies for the department.
The Director of Residential Life and Housing is responsible for overseeing the daily leadership and implementation of the educational and operational facets of the residential life and housing program within 18 residence halls housing over 2,000 students.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS Master's degree in higher education administration, college student personnel, educational policy, educational leadership, adult development, counseling, or a related field; supplemented with five years of related experience in increasingly advanced supervisory roles in higher education environments. An understanding and commitment to Lee University mission and faith statements.
DESIRABLEQUALIFICATIONS Experience supervising live-in professionals and will have contributed substantially to the development and management of a residential life program. Highly desirable: Experience working in a Christian liberal arts university with a diverse and multicultural population.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES
Manages the university's residential life and housing operations in the division of Student Life & Success; provides fiscal management for department budget; supervises professional and support staff, ensuring efficient operations and programming; and ensures compliance with all relevant policies, procedures, standards, and laws.
Displays evidence of strong and innovative leadership in building a residential community that contributes to the university's overall success as well as exceptional skills demonstrated in decision making, critical thinking, and crisis management.
Demonstrates the ability to plan, direct, and evaluate complex housing operations using employee performance, time, funds, and other resources for the accomplishment of short- and long-term goals of the university.
Evaluates and assesses university housing occupancy, retention, and projection trends; oversees theresidential facilities to maintain a safe, secure, and healthy living environment; confirms that all room assignments and billings are completed and communicated to students.
Works with staff and residents to create a welcoming residence hall environment and community that supportsacademic and personal pursuits; implements community standards in residential facilities.
Develops an educational environment in residence halls that is based on the mission of the university, ensuring that all activities, events, and programs are edifying and beneficial to the culture of the university.
Acts as a liaison between the residence life community and the faculty and staff of Lee University, serving onvarious faculty and staff committees; promotes engagement of students with the life of the campus.
Works closely with other offices/entities (e.g., First-Year Programs, Academic Support, and the Student Care Committee) to promote student success.
Sets goals for personal, professional, and departmental development and assesses performance in relation to the goals.
Assists in crisis assessment, intervention, and management regarding students and facilities; manages risk associated with life in the residence halls.
Provides development and training for staff in the department in areas related to student life, university policies and procedures, legal issues, etc.
Supervises the professional, support, and student staff in the
Generates reports on departmental performance and submits them to the Executive Director of Student Life.
Performs special projects and other duties as assigned.
KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES
Knowledge of college student development theory and theory-driven practice
Knowledge of Professional Competency Areas for Student Affairs Practitioners and demonstrated competency in all areas
Knowledge of residence life and housing operations
Knowledge of pertinent higher education law and standards of practice
Commitment to supporting the needs of students from underrepresented populations
Interpersonal/human relations skills
Written and verbal communication skills
Supervisory skills and abilities
Organizational skills
Strategic planning skills
Fiscal management skills
Ability to maintain confidential information
Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously
Ability to work a flexible schedule
Ability to operate a personal computer and various software programs
Ability to thrive in a demanding work environment
Crisis assessment, intervention, and management skills
Lee University is a private, comprehensive university located in Cleveland, Tennessee, in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Lee is emerging as a leader in higher education in the southeastern region, and is consistently ranked in the "Top Tier" in the South by U.S. News & World Report (Comprehensive Medium-Size Universities). Lee is also ranked by Princeton Review's "Best Colleges," and is one of the 141 colleges named Best in the Southeast.
Over the past two decades, Lee has become one of the largest Christ-centered private institutions in Tennessee, and the largest in the Appalachian College Association. During that period, the university has seen a remarkable transformation that has included significant growth in its academic programs, student enrollment, faculty expertise, and diversity, as well as an expanded sense of mission and vision.
OUR MISSION
Lee University is a Christian institution, which offers liberal arts and professional
education on both the undergraduate and graduate levels through residential and
distance programs. It seeks to provide education that integrates biblical truth as
revealed in the Holy Scriptures with truth discovered through th...e study of arts and
sciences and in the practice of various professions. A personal commitment to
Jesus Christ as Savior is the controlling perspective from which the educational
enterprise is carried out. The foundational purpose of all educational programs is
to develop within the students knowledge, appreciation, understanding, ability,
and skills, which will prepare them for responsible Christian living in a complex
world.