Residence Director

St. John's established in 1870, has three New York City campuses; international locations in Rome, Italy; Limerick, Ireland; and Paris, France; and study abroad locations around the world. The Princeton Review and other top rankings consistently recognize the University's outstanding academics, diverse student body, dynamic internship and volunteer opportunities, focus on student life, and diverse study abroad offerings. St. John's University offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate programs in its six colleges and schools, with a growing number of programs offered online. The University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and 12 other major academic and professional associations.

A dedication to diversity, equity and inclusion is at the heart of our mission.  As a Catholic and Vincentian university, St. John's is committed to institutionalizing practices of inclusive excellence to ensure that we welcome and celebrate the intrinsic worth of all members of our community.  We will become an even stronger university as we enhance equity at every level of our institution. Our graduates will excel in the competencies and values required for leadership and service in a rapidly evolving world.

Department: Office of Residence Life

Specific Job Title:   Residence Director

Reports to: Director for Residence Life

Campus:  Queens

Job Summary:

The Residence Director works collaboratively with the Residence Life staff and University community to create a positive living learning environment for students consistent with the University's Catholic mission.  The Residence Director is a 12 month, live-in position, reporting to the Associate Director, responsible for the overall management of a residence hall of between 200 and 550.  The primary focus of the position is on developing students through large-scale programming, conduct meetings, student outreach, and advisement.  The Residence Director oversees the overall facilities management of their building which includes, but is not limited to, weekly walk-throughs, room change processing, check-ins/check-outs, key system management, and break housing inspections.  Additional responsibilities include serving as a conduct hearing officer, advising hall council and student organizations, serving in the on-call duty rotation, coordinating departmental projects such as RA Selection and RA Training, and working with the Offices of Facilities and Public Safety to promote student safety.  The Residence Director position requires evening work.

Essential Functions:

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The description of the task should include the intended result or outcome, e.g. compiles monthly reports to allow monitoring of the department's budget.

Crisis Intervention

• Serve in a 24-hour, crisis intervention duty rotation, responding to students in distress, facilities and other on-campus emergencies

• Serve as a resource and referral agent

• Liaise with Public Safety, Counselor on Call, campus partners and families/emergency contacts, as appropriate

• Provide post-crisis incident follow-up at the individual and community level

• Complete incident reports

• Serve as a member of the Students of Concern Committee, working with university colleagues to discuss student intervention techniques, progress and action steps to resolve academic, social, behavioral and other concerns.

Supervision, selection, training and evaluation of student staff

• Supervise a staff of 7 to 12 RAs, including 1 Senior Resident Assistant.

• Plan and facilitate weekly staff meetings.

• Conduct bi-weekly meetings with individual staff members.

• Evaluate staff on semester basis.

• Participate in Resident Assistant recruitment and selection process.

• Instruct 6 week leadership based Resident Assistant course as part of the RA Selection process.

• Facilitate and participate in extensive RA training program, as well as on-going developmental training sessions.

Administration/Operations

• Direct overall management and operation of the residence hall.

• Establish office hours for availability to residents and staff.

• Submit administrative reports and forms (e.g. room condition reports, room change forms, health and safety forms, community development logs).

• Supervise hall opening and closing procedures at the beginning and end of each semester and during vacation periods and breaks.

• Assist with room selection for returning students and room assignment process for new students.

• Maintain inventories of all residence hall equipment and furnishings.

• Coordinate assessment initiatives to determine student satisfaction.

• Oversee department projects as assigned.

• Conduct weekly building inspections.

Programming/Staff Development

• Supervise staff and Hall Council in outcomes-based programming development.

• Provide ongoing development for resident assistant staff.

• Track hall programming efforts in university programming database and master calendar.

• Support and attend University events and programs.

• Supervise living/learning community initiatives as assigned.

• Research and present sessions for Professional Staff Development series.

• Submit a program proposal for regional/national conference or an article for publication.

• Partake in university training and development workshops.

• Attend weekly departmental staff meetings/ SCC meeting.

• Attend bi-weekly 1:1 meeting with Associate Director of Residence Life.

• Support the overall student development of the residential community, including promoting personal responsibility, civic engagement, academic success, career readiness and cultural competency.

Student Conduct

• Communicate guidelines of conduct that protect the individual student's rights and define student responsibility.

• Serve as initial disciplinary hearing officer.

• Generate related student conduct correspondence to residents in a timely fashion.

• Adjudicate conduct cases within 72 hours.

• Advise and support Resident Assistants in matters of conduct.

• Advise and support students when their personal, social, or behavioral choices create conflict in the halls, within their relationships and negatively affect their academic progress .

• Track incident reports and sanctions in university conduct database.

• Consult with Director of Student Conduct and Director of Residence Life regarding referrals and other necessary action.

• Enforce University and residence hall policies and coordinate with Public Safety as needed.

Hall Council/Residence Hall Association

• Serve as primary advisor to Hall Council and student organizations as assigned .

• Attend Hall Council general assembly and executive board meetings .

• Attend required trainings for advisement of student organizations .

• Adhere to protocols and procedures for advisement set by the Division of Student Affairs .

• Meet regularly with Hall Council executive board members .

• Demonstrate support for the RHA and Hall Council as a group by supporting and/or attending programs and events .

• Facilitate the development of Senior RA as the co-advisor of hall council .

• Participate in Hall Council leadership retreat .

Miscellaneous

• Participate in professional staff selection process .

• Maintain close contact with building desk attendants and maintenance staff, and have knowledge of desk procedures .

• Establish regular communication practices with offices such as Public Safety, the Counseling. Center, Student Life, and Facilities Services .

• Coordinate various summer projects .

• Serve on university committees as assigned .

• Assist with departmental projects and initiatives as assigned by the Associate Directors/Director of Residence Life .

• Coordinate university and building-wide communications, deliver policy and procedure in both oral and written format.

• Leverage social media to deliver messaging to students, craft engaging content and develop marketing for departmental initiatives and events.

• Other duties as assigned .

Competencies:

Strong supervision, communication, and managerial skills are necessary.  Demonstrated experience working with and supporting international, first generation, student athletes, and diverse student populations is preferred. Special consideration given to multi-lingual candidates. Successful candidates will also be student focused, have a collaborative work style, have an appreciation for the Vincentian mission of St. John's University, committed to nurturing living-learning communities within the residence halls, and prepared to work with a diverse student population. Successful candidates will have the ability to work independently, demonstrate strong decision-making abilities and exercise sound judgement/ discretion.

Supervisory Responsibility:

The Residence Director supervises a staff of 5-12 Resident Assistants and 1 Senior Resident Assistant.

Work Environment:

This position operates in a professional office environment; This position is required to use standard office equipment such as personal computers, printers, etc.

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; move about; sit; to carry work and use controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; communicate. The employee must occasionally lift or move up to 30 lbs. Specific vision abilities required by the employee include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus, etc.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work:

Days and hours of work are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Travel:

Travel is primarily local and may include visits to the other NY campuses.

Required Education and Experience:

A master's degree in higher education or a related field and prior Residence Life experience is required.  Graduate Students in the final stages of completing their degrees are encouraged to apply.

Preferred Education and Experience:

Demonstrated experience working with and supporting international, first generation, student athletes, and diverse student populations is preferred. Special consideration given to multilingual candidates.

Experience with systems including: StarRez, Banner, Microsoft Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, Publisher), CANVAS, GroupMe and Social Media platforms including LinkedIn, Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram etc.

Other Duties:

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time, with or without notice.

Compensation:

Competitive salary, 1 or 2 bedroom campus apartment, partial meal plan while classes are in session, competitive benefits package

In compliance with NYC's Pay Transparency Act, the annual salary for this position is $62,400. St. John's University considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as market and organizational considerations when extending an offer.

This position may be relocated to any of St. John's University's physical locations at any time.

St. John's offers a competitive compensation program which is commensurate with your qualifications, experience, and contingent upon the departmental budget. We also offer an extremely comprehensive benefits program to meet the diverse needs of our workforce. Along with exceptional benefits such as medical, dental, life insurance, long term disability insurance, tuition remission, generous 403(b) employer contribution, employee assistance program, and liberal paid time off policies, faculty and staff can also enjoy St. John's performing arts, libraries, bookstores, dining facilities, campus recreation and sporting events

Any offer of employment is subject to receipt by St. John's University of satisfactory references, verification of employment and education.

St. John's University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages applications from women and minorities. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.