Residential Director

Position Summary

The Residential Director provides the overall administration of student learning and housing components in a particular hall among four which houses approximately 420 students in a comprehensive residential living program. This position reports to the Director of Housing and makes appropriate decisions/or recommendations regarding the management and supervision of the assigned area and supervises and assists in the development of graduate assistant and student staff.

Responsibilities

• Serves as a member of the university’s housing leadership team; assists in the development and implementation of the mission, goals, principles, strategic direction, and evaluation of university housing.
• Serves as housing’s liaison with the Department of Campus Safety, Office of Student Affairs, Counseling Services, Student Health Services, Facilities/Maintenance, Office of Student Life and Dining Services.
• Assists in the planning and development of departmental guidelines to support organizational management.
  
  

Supervision/Staff Development

• Provides primary leadership, support and supervision, ongoing training, and evaluation of staff performance in assigned areas, particularly in community building, emergency procedures/crisis management, diversity, and policy implementation.
• In addition to individual supervision sessions, holds regular, weekly team meetings with staff in assigned area.
• Coordinates student staff recruitment, selection and continued training; implements all staff-related training.
• Establishes goals or coordinates goal setting for the year and develops a strategic plan by which the team achieves these goals.
• Ensures that Community Standards are created, maintained and fully utilized within assigned area. Challenges staff to effectively utilize standards to address hall community issues.
• Effectively builds a cohesive, creative, and effective staff who understands student engagement and retention practices.
• Trains housing staff in matters related to residential education, higher education, student affairs, and others as needed.
• Oversees the leadership development and training of graduate and student staff.
• Assists in developing departmental vision, goals, objectives, and strategic direction.
• Develops best practices along with long and short-range plans for facilities improvements, organizational management, special interest communities, and departmental retention efforts.
• Participates in the development and content of housing manuals.
  
  

Student Development/Programming

• Works closely with the Professional Staff and Graduate Assistants regarding residence hall staff programming efforts; develops, coordinates, implements and evaluates all activities related to the educational programming and developmental elements.
• Trains graduate and student staff on the department’s programming goals and objectives related to residential education.
• Coordinates and executes an area programming plan focusing on theme weeks/months.
• Oversees student staff programming budget; collection, expenditures, deposits, and monitoring of all accounts.
• Upholds university policies and the rights of all members of the community through example, education, counseling, conflict resolution and disciplinary action.
• Counsels' students as they encounter various developmental and/or adjustment difficulties and makes appropriate referrals to campus resources for residential students.
  
  

Evaluation/Assessment

• Establishes and ensures compliance of all policies and procedures for residence hall students and staff.
• Assists in the creation, implementation, and evaluation of all assessment activities/student learning outcomes in University Housing.
• Provides ongoing performance appraisals, as well as semester evaluations
• Other duties as assigned and appropriate for building a successful Residence Life program
  
  

Qualifications

• Bachelors required; Master’s degree in college student personnel, student affairs/higher education, counseling, or a closely related field is preferred. To be successful in this position, the Residential Director must have excellent interpersonal communication, organization, administrative skills, supervision experience and a commitment to the social and academic development of students.
• An expressed and demonstrated commitment to diversity, an understanding of a liberal arts college, a focus on student development and raising social awareness, and customer service are all critical for this position.
• Preference will be given to candidates with a solid background in student affairs, prior live-in/on residence life experience, and experience with judicial and crisis management.
• Multilingual skills highly preferred
  
  

Successful candidates should be committed to contributing to a climate that supports a diverse student body, serves first-generation college students, multilingual learners, and contributions to equity and social justice through their work.

Benefits

This is a full-time position, eligible for the usual and customary benefits. Avila University’s comprehensive benefit package includes a generous holiday schedule, tuition remission for employee and dependents, vacation and sick leave, employee assistance program, retirement benefits and health insurance.

The Community

Kansas City, a two-state metropolitan area with a population of nearly two million, offers a wide variety of cultural, educational and social life opportunities. Avila University, a Catholic university founded and inspired by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, provides undergraduate and graduate education in the liberal arts and professional studies, preparing lifelong learners who make meaningful contributions to the global community.

Additional Employment Information

Avila University is committed to equal employment opportunity and does not discriminate on the basis of, sex, race, religion, age, color, sexual orientation, disability, national or ethnic origin, marital status, veteran's status, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by law.

You must be at least 18 years of age to be employed by Avila University.

All new employees will be required to complete an "Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9)” and produce requested documentation after employment.

In compliance with the Higher Education Amendments of 1998, the university's annual security and crime statistics report is available at https://www.avila.edu/campus-resources/campus-safety. A copy of this report is available upon request from the Campus Safety Office in the Whitfield building any weekday between 8am and 5pm.

Avila University requires the successful completion of a background check as a condition of employment.