Director for Residential Learning

Profile

Job no:
496153
Work type:
Regular Full-Time
Location:
Glassboro, New Jersey
Categories:
Managerial

Position Title:
Director for Residential Learning

Department:
Residential Learning and University Housing

Position Summary:
Reporting to the Assistant Vice President for Residential Learning and University Housing, the Director for Residential Learning is responsible for providing leadership and oversight of the residential learning functions of the Department of Residential Learning & University Housing including working in a collaborative manner with co-directors to support the overall success of the department with attention to maintaining a holistic understanding of and focus on department priorities, resources, business practices and the need for a cohesive team approach; hiring, training, supervision and evaluation of various employees; management and implementation of residential learning initiatives; development and coordination of living-learning communities and theme housing programs; use of a residential curriculum framework for facilitation of residential environments consistent with the strategic goals of the University; support of departmental assessment activities; collaboration with other Student Life departments and staff; as well as collaboration with Community Standards, the Wellness Center, Public Safety and other university departments for conflict mediation and crisis intervention when necessary.

The Director must be knowledgeable about all aspects of managing a successful student housing program, with a particular depth of experience and skill in areas that will report to them. The Director must understand the needs of diverse groups of students and staff and be effective in developing programs and services that establish an inclusive residential community. The Director must demonstrate skill with staff hiring, training, supervision, and evaluation. The Director must be adept in mediation and conflict resolution, and communicating with parents of students who live on campus. The Director will employ evidence-based best practices to implement and evaluate programs and services and maintain program effectiveness. The Director is responsible for working collaboratively and developing productive working partnerships with multiple university departments. This is a live-off position, which requires the incumbent to participate in a rotation providing 24/7 on-call support to in-hall staff and to assist with emergencies that occur after normal business hours.

Functional areas of responsibility:
Hiring, training, evaluation, and supervision of staff
Oversight of residential learning initiatives and programs
Addressing student conduct issues and implementing appropriate University protocols
Crisis intervention and conflict mediation
Assessment and evaluation of department programs and services
Essential duties and responsibilities:
Recruit, Select, train, and supervise assigned staff.
Oversee the recruitment, selection, training, and evaluation of Residential Learning graduate and paraprofessional student staff.
Oversee all staff training and in-service sessions throughout the year including the summer staff training.
Oversee the creation of staff manuals and other documents for staff training needs.
Assure the development and thorough documentation of protocols and procedures to assure legal compliance, ethical standards, and best practices.
Provide leadership to develop, implement, and assess residential learning program effectiveness in the areas of co-curricular programming, living-learning communities, community safety, and customer services.
Stay abreast of research regarding best practices for the development, assessment, and institutionalization of successful residential learning programs to serve a diverse staff and student population.
Use relevant student development theory and evidence-based best practices to develop and institutionalize residential learning initiatives that support student needs and meet University strategic goals.
Promote an understanding of the supports and systems that are most effective in helping students that are underrepresented, underserved, or who experience systemic and culturally based forms of bias and prejudice to succeed in higher education.
Support strategies to promote recruitment, retention, and graduation of all students, with particular attention to the unique needs of underrepresented and underserved students.
Build partnerships that support student, staff, and faculty involvement in residential.
Support the department's annual assessment and evaluation process.
Assist in the opening and closing of all campus residences at the beginning and end of each academic semester as well as during summer session in collaboration with other Directors and professional staff.
Facilitate regular Residential Learning staff meetings with the Assistant Directors.
Serve on various department, division, and University committees as assigned.
Provide support and intervention as needed to assist in-hall staff to mediate, manage, and resolve crisis incidents, conflicts, and student conduct incidents within the residential community. Provide referral assistance as needed. Review incident reports and follow-up appropriately on a daily and case-by-case basis.
Supervise and lead housing professional staff in responding to critical incidents and emergencies occurring on campus and in the residential community, and work collaboratively with Public Safety and other University departments to assure that crisis and emergency response matters are effectively managed.
Monitor compliance with all relevant policies, procedures, standards, and laws and conduct annual policy reviews.
Serve in an on-call capacity on a scheduled basis to support in-hall staff and facilities concerns, 24 hours a day. This position is considered an essential employee during certain emergencies.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications:
Education:
Master's Degree in Student Affairs, Student Personnel, Higher Education Administration or a closely related field.
Experience:
Five (5) years of related and progressively responsible post-master's experience in residence life/residential education/university housing with direct experience providing supervision and training to staff, implementing educational initiatives and overseeing living-learning communities in a college/university context.
Abilities, attitudes, knowledge, and skills:
Demonstrated knowledge of residential living-learning programming.
Well-rounded/holistic understanding of best practices in the management of student housing, including the operations and business dimensions of a successful housing department.
Energy, creativity, positive attitude, tolerance for ambiguity, and sense of humor.
Demonstrated leadership ability.
Demonstrated ability to foster and maintain collaborative working relationships.
Ability to establish and maintain rapport and trusting relationships with students, parents, and colleagues.
Demonstrated leadership skills and an ability to facilitate teams and groups.
Strong administrative as well as organization and planning skills.
Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality of sensitive information.
Sensitivity to and ability to work with students, faculty, and staff of diverse backgrounds including varied socio/economic status, sexual identities/orientations, gender identities or expressions, cultures, ethnicities, nationalities, national origins, ancestries, races, colors, religions, abilities/disabilities, and ages.
Knowledge and skill with program assessment and evaluation methods and processes.
Knowledge of all Federal, State, and municipal laws relevant to the work to be performed.
Ability to work in a stressful and changing environment and with great attention to detail.
Demonstrated ability to handle multiple assignments and balance competing priorities and develop efficient work plans.
Availability to work varied and flexible hours including some evenings and weekends.
Core Competencies:
Strong analytical, and organization skills; excellent interpersonal, cultural/intercultural, and community relations skills; excellent oral and written communication skills; excellent presentation, teaching, training, and student education skills; strong conflict resolution skills; excellent program development skills.

Language Skills:
Ability to communicate effectively and interact tactfully with all levels of university students, staff, faculty, and trustees; read, analyze, and interpret documents, budgets, and contracts; and respond effectively to the most sensitive inquiries or complaints.

Reasoning Skills:
Ability to define problems, collect and analyze data, assess needs and program effectiveness, and apply data and analysis skills to the formulation of proposals and solutions.

Technology:
Proficient in the use of technology to carry out electronic communication and develop both printed and electronic documents using computers and the Internet. Experience with Windows or Macintosh system software, Microsoft Office (Excel, Microsoft Word, Power Point), Outlook and other e-mail software, and Banner (preferred).

Work Environment:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Advertised:
Feb 24 2022
Eastern Standard Time
Applications close:
Mar 10 2022 11:55 PM
Eastern Standard Time
Rowan University

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