Residence Director Job Description

Select, train, supervise, and evaluate undergraduate Residential Life staff and provide leadership for a residence hall/apartment cluster of 1-7 buildings. Lead/participate in departmental committees and manage administrative and operational functions in assigned residence halls/apartments. Provide services directly to students, such as personal and disciplinary counseling, and social/educational events/activities. Maintain a balance between administrative workload and student interactions. Maintain liaison relationships with other Student Affairs and Campus Life offices. Participate in the overall planning and management of the residence hall system.

1. Supervise 9-19 undergraduate resident/apartment assistants (RA/AAs), 1 senior resident assistant) and 1 student office assistant in college residence halls and/or on-campus apartments.
2. Work to implement goals and priorities as outlined in the departmental strategic plan, including student learning and development, as well as operations components in assigned residence halls.
3. Recruit, select, and train resident/apartment assistants and senior resident assistant. Provide leadership to staff in setting goals for the year; monitor work performance for accuracy and completeness in accordance with department and college goals and objectives; ensure staff compliance with established Residential Life policies and procedures. Conduct staff performance evaluations on a regular basis and during the yearly departmental evaluation process. Select, supervise, train, and evaluate student office assistant(s).
4. Develop and implement in-staff training and development programs for RA/AAs in conjunction with the Assistant Director for Staff & Programs.
5. Chair/co-chair and serve on department and divisional committees.
6. Provide leadership for the day-to-day operation of one or more Residential Learning Communities, First Year Residential Experience, and/or Upper Years’ experience; assist with large-scale educational and community-based initiatives.
7. Serve as personal counseling resource for staff and students in support of roommate conflicts, personal crises, and other concerns. Work in collaboration with the Case Manager to support and follow up with students of concern.
8. Develop knowledge of campus and community resources to ensure timely and efficient referrals when appropriate.
9. Demonstrate an on-going commitment to diversity, inclusion, and social justice by addressing the needs and concerns of underrepresented students.
10. Develop and demonstrate a multicultural awareness and contribute to cultivating an inclusive, diverse and respectful College community. Demonstrate civil and inclusive behavior when interacting with staff, faculty, students, and visitors to the College. Promote a flexible, collaborative and inclusive work and living environment and engage in educational opportunities to increase awareness and understanding of diversity and inclusion.
11. Establish and maintain communication with students living in the residence halls/apartments through individual outreach and community meetings; serve as a mediator/facilitator when necessary to provide resolutions for interpersonal conflicts between students.
12. Serve as a Hearing Officer for students referred for Student Code of Conduct, Residential Life Rules and Regulations, and other behavioral concerns; administer appropriate sanctions and/or personal counseling to effectively resolve disciplinary problems in consultation with the Assistant Director for Staff & Programs and Assistant Director of Student Conduct & Community Standards.
13. Provide leadership for the execution and administration of department assessment efforts including student focus groups, staff focus groups, and internal and national benchmark surveys (i.e. EBI & Quality of Life).
14. Attend, participate in, and help plan professional development sessions and training.
15. In collaboration with the Assistant Director for Residential Education and Assistant Director for Staff & Programs, assist in the development and measurement of student learning outcomes for specific area; develop and coordinate proactive educational events/activities for students and staff; provide day-to-day oversight for student learning strategies designed to support residence hall community development and individual student growth.
16. Work with RA/AAs to assess student needs and interests; anticipate and promote educational, cultural, social, recreational, and service programs that are supportive to the residence community.
17. Maintain confidential student records, including personnel files and communication logs.
18. Oversee the day-to-day use of cluster-specific Engage portal; update student roster, maintain resources, manage groups, and supervise RA/AA created events, forms, and attendance tracking within the portal; develop timely and appropriate communication strategies to students living within the cluster (via Engage messaging and newsletters).
19. Manage operational functions for residence halls such as key distribution and collection, damage assessment, reporting and billing, maintenance requests, and hall openings and closings; serve as facility manager for residence halls including conducting room checks, reporting and following up on housekeeping, maintenance, and mover requests.
20. Maintain RA/AA event planning, staff development, and office supply budgets and monitor expenditures.
21. Work with the Assistant Director for Housing Services and Communications to manage and coordinate room assignments and changes in the hall(s) and communicate/resolve housing issues in accordance with established procedures.
22. Respond to all inquiries, and concerns from students, staff, and families related to the halls; assist the Assistant Director for Staff and Programs and Assistant Director for Operations in planning for summer renovations, making recommendations for the purchase of furnishings and equipment, recommending improvements of housekeeping services, and preventative maintenance and safety measures; proactively and reactively respond to unnecessary/unreasonable hall damages and vandalism.
23. Maintain effective working relationships with the Office of Facilities, Office of Public Safety and Emergency Management, Counseling and Psychological Services, other Student Affairs and Campus Life, and College offices.
24. Work with RA/AAs, Public Safety officers, Counseling Center staff, and Residential Life Management Team to respond to crisis situations in accordance with departmental and institutional emergency procedures; assume “on-call” responsibility for all area residence halls and apartments on a scheduled basis.
25. Assume an alternative summer assignment such as orientation, conference housing, housing assignments, staff training, and operations.

• Each Residence Director is responsible for training their Resident Assistants in an ongoing manner during weekly, two-hour staff meetings throughout the academic year.
• Residence Directors may serve as members of Residential Life hearing boards.
• From Monday through Thursday, one Residence Director is on duty for the campus. This Residence Director will carry a cell phone and be responsible for responding to problems in any area on campus.
• On weekends (Friday at 5:00 p.m. until 8:30 a.m. Monday morning) one Residence Director is on duty in each of the two areas on campus. These Residence Directors also carry a cell phone and are responsible for responding to problems primarily in their area and serve as a back-up for problems across campus.
• Residence Directors are generally expected to be available two weekends per month throughout the academic year (one of which will be the duty weekend).

Bachelor’s degree and professional Student Affairs experience required. Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to effectively work and interact respectfully within a diverse and inclusive environment, demonstrated leadership and supervisory abilities are required. The incumbent will also be required to live in the residence hall 12 months per year. Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration, College Student Personnel or Counseling and/or previous graduate or professional work experience in Residence Life preferred.

Ithaca College is committed to building a diverse academic community and encourages members of underrepresented groups to apply. Experience that contributes to the diversity of the college is appreciated.