Director of Residence Life

FLSA STATUS: Salaried, exempt

JOB STATUS: Full-time (at least 37.5 hours/week)

PRIMARY PURPOSE/ POSITION SUMMARY:

This role will set the vision and execute a Dominican mission-based residential student experience, creating a strategy for co-curricular engagement for students within the residence halls. This role is a live-off position responsible for the overall direction and oversight of a residential area of 650 students across the River Forest and Chicago campuses, the direction of comprehensive residential programming and themed/living-learning communities curriculum, and the direction of the department's day-to-day operations.

Responsible for the operational management and administrative direction of university residence life with broad responsibility. Oversees all activities of residence life and coordinates the operations of the university’s residence halls or assigned area. This position directs the long-range strategic planning, operations, and/or administrative activities of a department or major function. Analyzes the effectiveness of and establishes future direction for functional policies and programs. The primary duty is the management of other professionals, and support staff. This position reports to the Executive Director of Residence Life and Student Conduct within the Division of Student Success & Engagement. 

The director will have collective responsiveness to Dominican’s student body development needs, including serving as a hearing officer for a restorative justice oriented student conduct process. This position is responsible for leading the hiring, training, and skill development of residence staff, including an assistant director, two (2) area managers, seven (7) graduate assistants, and 17-14 student resident assistants. This role will emphasize the development of residence life staff, graduate assistants, and resident assistants’ ability to respond to students’ social determinants of health comprehensively and thoughtfully.

The director will also be central to emergency management, crisis response, and student support responsiveness, regularly serving with other staff in the “on-call” rotation. The director is central to creating and maintaining standard operating procedures, ensuring all student residents' safety, and creating procedural department efficiency. The role will provide fiscal management for the residence life budget.

The Director of Residence Life will collaborate with various campus partners and participate in institutional-wide strategic initiatives to enhance the student residential experience.

JOB COMPONENTS/PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Residence Life Campus and Community Partnerships

• In collaboration with the Executive Director of Residence Life and Student Conduct, develop, implement, and oversee a housing strategy to maximize housing occupancy in the residential life system with short-term and long-term housing options.
• Oversee the positive direction and mission of the department by developing, reviewing, and implementing appropriate policies and procedures to effectively operate the residential life program.
• Facilitate the use of housing resources to ensure the university supports students’ housing security needs with Campus Security and is used as an intervention to afford access to university resources.
• Collaborate regularly with Physical Plant and Operations to facilitate the timely completion of maintenance requests/projects within the residence halls.
• Ensures fiscal responsibility and accountability by coordinating the preparation of the annual budget, authorizing the expenditure of housing funds, and maintaining overall budget control.
• Develop a Residence Assistant and Graduate Assistant experience using a trauma-informed approach that prepares them to walk alongside residents, fostering community and ensuring student safety.
• Provide leadership for recruiting and onboarding new and returning students to the residential experience.
• Serve as an integral part of the conduct team, building a sense of restorative justice within the residence halls through the conduct process. Lead proactive data-informed interventions that facilitate community living and reduce community standard violations.
• Provides appropriate communication with all constituents by advising students, parents, faculty, and staff about housing issues and concerns and coordinating departmental publications to ensure timely distribution.
• Oversee summer and break housing for students and serve as liaison in planning for summer housing rentals.
• Serve as a liaison to Dining Services for the usage of meal plans for residential students.

Emergency and Crisis Response

• Oversee, manage, and participate in the on-call duty rotation with responsibility for 24/7 response at the Professional Staff Level. Respond to calls and involve others as necessary to respond appropriately to emergencies.
• Lead in emergencies and assist in resolving resident and facilities concerns and needs. This includes evenings, weekends, summer, and university breaks.
• Serve as an Assessment and Care Team member to craft interventions for students presenting with academic and interpersonal challenges; provide accompaniment and advocacy for complex challenges.
• Oversee the emergency housing insecure student plan.
• Serve as a liaison with the Division of Student Success and Engagement, including the AVP and VP of Student Success and Engagement, Campus Safety, and Wellness Center.
• Provide appropriate post-crisis referral and follow-up with students and staff as needed.
• Responsible for the ensuring the safety and security of residents as well as the development of crisis response plans.

Programming

• Using data-informed approaches, develop and implement programs for students that promote student involvement, contribute to a vibrant, active campus life, and encourage student development, leadership development, organizational development, and interpersonal skills within the residence halls.
• Oversee the development and implementation of a plan for themed/living-learning communities with the Area Managers for Residence Life and campus partners for curricular and co-curricular engagement opportunities within the residence halls.
• Develop and manage a communication flow for the residence halls that ensures students are aware of campus engagement opportunities.
• Oversee the planning and coordination of the New Student Orientation (SOAR) housing occupancy on behalf of Residence Life.

Data /Assessment

• Use data to improve existing initiatives and design new innovative interventions to influence the resident student experience.
• Manage the development of short- and long-range goals for the department, evaluating progress and contracting with professional consultants, as needed, to achieve these goals for continued growth and improvement.
• Provides an annual report to assess student learning, program satisfaction, and the overall effectiveness of Dominican’s resident student experience.
• Provide detailed reports on student residential housing capacity, fill rates, application completion, assignment process, and housing deposits.
• Assist in Student Success and Engagement Program assessment.

Leadership

• Directly supervises the Associate Director of Residence Life and two (2) Area Managers of Residence Life.
• Translates strategic and tactical business plans into department-specific operational plans. Has latitude to make operational decisions within broadly defined parameters and decision require a high level of judgement. Deviations from university policies generally requires higher managerial approval.
• Ensures the hiring and employment of quality personnel by directly or indirectly supervising the selection, training, and evaluation of all Residence Life employees.
• Sets performance standards and accountability
• Develops growth and development plans to maximize learning and development opportunities in order to improve team members’ performance and addresses departmental skill gaps, including but not limited to the diversity of student presenting needs.
• Work with Resident Life staff to design and implement a resident assistant recruitment, development, and support plan that is trauma-informed and fosters student leadership amongst their peers.
• Fosters and stewards an environment of collaboration and innovation within the department.
• Responsible for maintaining an inclusive working environment that is free from discrimination and harassment.

Perform other duties as requested, delegated, or assigned.

MINIMUM/REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master's Degree in College Student Personnel, Education, Human Services, Counseling, Higher Education in Student Affairs, or a related field.
• Four years of experience in the area of residence life
• Experience in budget management.
• Supervisory experience directly supervising professional, graduate, student, and live-in staff.
• Experience in implementing residential curriculums and strategies.
• Occasional night and weekend work required.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience working with advanced supervisory skills, demonstrated leadership of day-to-day residence hall operations, successful community-building strategies, conflict mediation skills, sound decision-making, and evaluative skills.
• Proficiency in MS Office programs, student databases, and residential management software (eRezLife software or similar); knowledge of effective campus residential marketing and social media communications trends.
• Strong experience in crisis response and management. Strong critical thinking skills with the ability to calmly address a crisis situations and maintain confidentiality.
• Strong experience working with residential curriculum models that apply student development, identity development, and leadership theory.
• Ability to provide direct supervision and leadership to full-time residence hall staff members and to provide a student-centered and customer-service orientation.
• Demonstrated ability to be student-focused and committed to nurturing inclusive communities within the residence halls