Assistant Director, Residence Life

Position Summary:

The Assistant Director of Residence Life is responsible for assisting in the management and administration of the residential life program, with a focus on creating a safe, inclusive, and engaging living and learning environment for students in housing. The Assistant Director of Residence Life plays a crucial role in creating a positive and supportive living environment for students, contributing to their personal and academic success, and ensuring the smooth operation of residence halls and housing operations.

This is a full-time, 12-month live on campus position and is part of the professional staff on-call rotation.

The Assistant Director must understand the mission of Catholic higher education and be committed to the core values, mission, goals and objectives of Holy Family University.

Direct Reports:

• Community Assistants (9)
• Graduate Assistant, Community Development & JDEI (1)
• Residence Hall Association, Executive Board (1-5)
• Summer Community Assistant (1-2)
• Work Study Student Staff, when applicable

Essential Functions: Job duties that must be performed, with or without reasonable accommodation, and may include any of the following tasks, knowledge, skills and other characteristics. This position description is illustrative and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and tasks performed by incumbents in this position.

Student Support

• Provide support and guidance to students living in residence halls housing.

• Assist with conflict resolution and mediate disputes among residents.

• Effectively document student meetings, conversations and engagement via university-specific documentation tools.

Student Conduct

• Address and manage student conduct issues and policy violations for residential students.

• Serve as the primary student conduct adjudicator for residential students.

• Work collaboratively and efficiently with the University Student Conduct Administrator to develop adjudication processes that are rooted in best practices and efficiency in management.

• Serve as an Administrative Hearing Officer and Judicial Hearing Board Administrator.

Staff Supervision

• Supervise and train Community Assistants (CAs), Graduate Assistants (GAs) and other residential life staff.

• Provide ongoing professional development and support to the residential life team.

• Develop bi-annual performance review documentation and related processes; Complete performance reviews.

• Collaborate with staff to ensure the well-being of residents and the effective operation of residence halls.

Administrative

• Assist in the development and implementation of residence life policies and procedures.

• Develop, review and edit new and current residence life policies and procedures.

• Manage residence hall occupancy, including room assignments, move-in/move-out processes, card access and key distribution.

• Maintain accurate records and data related to residential life occupancy; Complete periodic occupancy reports.

• Design, inform and execute a residence life assessment plan.

• Develop a comprehensive training schedule for Summer and Winter training of residential life staff.

• Assist in the development and execution of the housing selection process.

• Develop a dynamic and inclusive student staff selection process.

• Assist in the development of Opening Week.

• Participate in performance evaluations.

• Participate in Student Life team meetings.

• Serve as a member of the Community Coordinated Response Team (CCRT) for our Office of Violence Against Women, Department of Justice Campus Grant Program.

• Serve as a member on the Homecoming planning committee.

• Participate in student visit days and University recruitment events.

• Serve as a member of university committees and/or working groups.

Community Programming and Engagement

• Plan, coordinate, and execute programs and events to promote community building and resident engagement.

• Foster an inclusive and welcoming community that supports students' personal and academic growth.

• Assist in the development, facilitation, execution and assessment of a programming model.

• Maintain data related to community programming and engagement facilitation.

• Advise the Residence Hall Association.

• Maintain cross-community relationships and build collaborative programming and engagement initiatives.

Collaboration and Communication

• Collaborate with other campus departments, including student life, facilities management, public safety and dining services.

• Communicate with residents and families regarding important information, break housing, policies, and events.

Budget Management

• Assist in managing the residence life budget, including allocating resources for programs and initiatives.

Crisis Management & On-Call Responsibilities

• Respond to and manage emergency situations in the residence halls.

• Collaborate with Public Safety and other relevant departments to ensure the safety of residents.

• Serve in the emergency on-call rotation for Community Assistant (CA) support.

• Follow all duty requirements and maintain all necessary documentation.

• Properly document incidents in the campus-based incident reporting system.

• Act as a mandated reporter.

• Follow all procedures when responding to on-call incidents, contacting Public Safety, 911, the on-call Counselor and other constituents.

• Participate in annual professional on-call training opportunities.

• Conduct wellness checks of at-risk students

Non-Clinical Case Management

• Aid in non-clinical case management efforts.

• Facilitate low level in-take meetings with students that may be experiencing barriers to student success, persistence and retention.

General Expectations:

Employees are expected to accomplish assigned duties in an efficient, effective and competent manner and to strive for improvement and excellence in all work performed. Employees must understand the mission and demonstrate the core values of the University. Additionally, demonstrate the ability to effectively interact with and work with students, faculty and staff, and the public. Employees must follow and abide by all University policies, rules, regulations and guidelines.

If an alternative work location is permitted or should become necessary, the employee must be able to perform all parts of this job description while working away from the office, on campus or a combination, and be proficient or willing to become proficient in the technology needed to work away from the office.

Education & Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree in higher education, student affairs, or a related field preferred.

• Previous experience in residence life, student conduct, event/programming management, higher education or a related field.

• Understanding of and commitment to social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion in residential communities.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of student development theory, counseling skills, and conflict resolution techniques.

• Strong communication, organizational, and administrative skills.

• Knowledge of and ability to follow university policies and procedures.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the campus community.

• Strong interpersonal, problem-solving and critical-thinking skills.

• Independent, self-starter and team participant.

• Student-centered, mission driven with a focus on serving first-generation college students.

• Ability to multitask.

• Flexibility with variable time commitments, especially during evenings and weekends.

Work Environment:

Operates in an office environment that may have frequent interruptions. The area is well-lit, temperature controlled and free from hazards. Noise level is generally quiet to moderate.

Physical Requirements:

Communicates frequently, in person, over the phone, or via a computer. Hearing is needed for extensive telephone and in person communication. Regularly required to sit for long periods of time; use hands to finger, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms. Manual dexterity is needed in order to operate a computer keyboard. Operates standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.

Certification/Licensure: (Specify preferred or required)

• No requirements

Other important information: (Ability to travel, work outside of normal business hours, such as weekends, nights, etc.)

• Night and weekend work is to be expected due to the nature of the position and on-campus housing emergency response responsibilities.

• Travel for engagement activities is periodically required.

• Travel to other HFU campuses is required.