POSITION OBJECTIVE

The Assistant Director of Residence Life serves as the project leader for the recruitment, selection, training, development, and evaluation of all residence life staff. As a member of the Office of Residence Life, the assistant director supports a program of over 4,300 students in 42 buildings with an operating budget of approximately $2.2 million. Staff selection and development processes are essential to a successful residence life program because the nature of student staff positions is that they are generally short-term, part-time, large in number, and require intensive training of novices. The assistant director ensures that the recruitment, selection, training, development, and evaluation of the Residence Life staff work to implement the residential characteristic of Case Western Reserve University and support the intended outcomes of the overall Residential Experience and the First-Year, Second-Year, Upperclass, and Independent Living Experiences specifically. The assistant director supervises a department assistant.

As a student affairs professional at Case Western RU, this position will be expected to contribute to building a welcoming and inclusive community, focus on the well-being of others, and encourage curiosity among those we serve.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1. Design and manage the following projects and processes to ensure that the Office of Residence Life maintains a team of excellent staff who implement the vision and goals of the department. Develop and implement a recruitment plan that attracts a wide variety of candidates, particularly underrepresented groups, for the undergraduate, graduate, and professional residence life positions. Create and implement selection processes for the undergraduate, graduate, and professional residence life positions. Design and implement an integrated yearlong training program for the undergraduate and graduate residence life positions - including Spring on-boarding, August Training, January Training, and Inservices. Design and implement on-boarding and training programs for professional staff. Design corrective action and evaluation processes for the undergraduate and graduate residence life positions, and work with RCDs to implement, document, and review. Regularly assess staffing structure and make changes or recommendations to staffing numbers, compensation, and position responsibilities in close alignment with enrollment, assignment patterns, departmental goals, and other institutional needs. Chair the Resident Assistant selection and development and graduate staff selection and development, and professional staff selection committees, coordinating efforts in support of staff selection, training, and evaluation. Maintain and enhance a staff culture that is marked by a sense of community and respect for others; that values inclusiveness and builds workforce diversity; and that fosters cooperation and teamwork, with the supporting values of well-being, integrity, resiliency, curiosity, collaboration, and inclusion. In support of strategic enrollment changes, continue to adapt processes and services for international and out-of-state students with additional consideration given to special student populations including but not limited to women in STEM, BIPOC students, and students who identify as LGBT+, and students with disabilities. (50%)

2. Serve as a member of the department's leadership team. Work in tandem with the director, associate director, and assistant director in leading the office of Residence Life within the larger mission of the division of Student Affairs, and design and implement an experience for students that underpins, supports and enhances the intended outcomes of the residential experience. Indirectly supervise 11 full-time and 120-130 graduate and undergraduate student staff. (15%)
3. Recruit, select, train, supervise, develop and evaluate one Department Assistant. Develop the employee's confidence in their ability to be successful by meeting on a regular basis, share information and guide the department assistant to make decisions on how objectives will be achieved, and issues resolved in assigned areas of responsibilities. Provide the department assistant with clear expectations regarding organizational values and desired results, establish ongoing clear and honest performance feedback, and complete timely annual staff performance evaluations. Collaboratively identify professional and self-development plans. Work is to be completed in conjunction with HR policy and the student affairs processes and procedures to on-board new employees, create / update job descriptions, process promotions and additional duties (including compensation), and to off-board exiting employees. (7%)
4. Develop a marketing plan that highlights the department's unique purpose and voice, including appropriate social media strategies by incorporating department objectives and resources. Collaborate with the marketing manager in University Marketing and Communications. (10%)
5. Support each residential community by creating and implementing a vision for the material support of staff programming and community building, through the supplying and organization of residential community offices, the Residence Life Design Centers, and the Central Office. (10%)
6. Utilize institutional resources effectively and efficiently in accordance with university guidelines to develop and implement projects and processes within scope of responsibility. Manage departmental projects totaling approximately $250,000. Oversee fiscal processes including purchasing and monthly reconciling. (6%)

NONESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1. Represent the department and university to other colleges and universities through participation in local, regional, and national organizations. (1%)
2. Perform other duties as assigned. (1%)

CONTACTS

Department: Continuous contact with Director, Associate Director, Assistant Director, Department Administrator, and Administrative Assistant. Frequent contact with Residential Community Directors. Moderate contact with student staff for the purposes of project management and program implementation.

University: Regular contact with Student Centers, Tinkham Veale University Center, and Dining and Catering Services for the purposes of project management and event planning. Moderate contact with Division of Student Affairs Operations for the purpose of professional staff recruiting. Occasional to moderate contact with staff from the Office of Student Affairs, University Health and Counseling, University Police, Undergraduate Advising, other Student Affairs departments, University Housing, and Facilities to facilitate staff training. Infrequent contact with General Counsel for the purposes of reviewing staff agreements and other documents.

External: Frequent contact with employment candidates for the purpose of hiring in the department and allied departments. Regular contact with outside vendors and services for the purpose of acquiring services and products. Occasional contact with members of regional and professional associations for the purpose of professional development, leadership, and learning. Infrequent contact with prospective students and parents for the purpose of supporting admission recruitment and alumni for the purpose of programming and training.

Students: Regular contact with students for the purpose of recruitment, and with student leaders for the purpose of advising. Infrequent contact with students for the purposes of student concerns, assessment, and community-building.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

Directly supervise Department Assistant 2; supervisory responsibility includes the authority to hire, transfer, suspend, layoff, recall, promote, discharge, assign, reward or discipline subordinate employees or effectively recommend such actions. Indirectly supervise 11 full-time and 120-130 graduate and undergraduate student staff.

QUALIFICATIONS

Experience: 4 or more years of professional experience in the field of residence life and/or housing.

Education: Master's degree in an appropriate discipline required. Master's degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs, or Student Personnel preferred.

REQUIRED SKILLS

1. Function as an exceptional leader, with proven aptitude for supervision, building collaborative teams, developing staff to meet enhanced potential, and achieving administrative functions.

2. Proven ability to manage multiple large-scale projects, programs, and events on concurrent, overlapping timelines.
3. Demonstrated capacity to apply independent judgment and decision-making skills when applying, assessing, and interpreting university policies and procedures.
4. Commitment to and appreciation of working with diverse groups of individuals, including age, race, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, socioeconomic and educational background, and ability.
5. Ability to build formal and informal communication channels. Excellent oral and written communication skills. Ability to listen to others carefully and attentively.
6. Effective organizational and management skills that facilitate an overall ability to oversee an extensive portfolio of responsibilities effectively.
7. Ability to collaborate with campus partners and develop partnerships that enhance departmental functions and objectives.
8. Ability to meet consistent attendance.
9. Ability to interact with colleagues, supervisors and customers face to face.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Typical office environment. Some weekend and evening hours are required.

This position is eligible for hybrid work arrangement up to two remote days per week at the discretion of the department. New employees may begin a hybrid schedule upon approval from the supervisor, successful completion of an orientation period and signing the remote work checklist certification form.

In employment, as in education, Case Western Reserve University is committed to Equal Opportunity and Diversity. Women, veterans, members of underrepresented minority groups, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

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Case Western Reserve University provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the Office of Equity at 216-368-3066 to request a reasonable accommodation. Determinations as to granting reasonable accommodations for any applicant will be made on a case-by-case basis.

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