Job Details

Director of Residence Life

Position Number: 7044878
Location: Santa Clara, CA
Position Type: Residence Life and Housing

Director of Residence Life

Position Title:
Director of Residence Life

Position Type:
Regular

Hiring Range:

$129,000 - $146,481/annually. Compensation will be based on education, experience, skills relevant to the role, and internal equity.

Pay Frequency:
Annual
A. POSITION PURPOSE

The Director of Residence Life provides strategic leadership for Santa Clara University's comprehensive residence life program and works collaboratively with campus leadership to advance the Residential Learning Community (RLC) model as a signature expression of the University's Jesuit mission and commitment to educating the whole person. Rooted in cura personalis and the values of community, justice, and service, the Director ensures that residential communities are safe, inclusive, developmentally supportive, and intentionally designed to advance integrated learning and student belonging.

The Director is responsible for the overall structure, direction, services, and programs of Residence Life. The Director has overall responsibility for professional and student staff and participates in the organization, implementation, and continuous improvement of the residence life program. The Director reports to the Dean of Students and directly supervises one Associate Director. The Associate Director supervises two Assistant Directors who provide day-to-day supervision for nine master's level Resident Directors. Indirect supervision includes approximately 160 student staff (Assistant Resident Directors, Community Facilitators/Neighborhood Representatives, Graduate Conduct Officers, and Desk Assistants).

The Director collaborates closely with Campus Ministry, Campus Safety Services, Counseling and Psychological Services, Dean of Students Office, Housing, Office of EEO and Title IX, Undergraduate Education, and other campus partners to strengthen the residential experience, respond effectively to student needs, support student accountability processes, and uphold community standards. The Director also provides leadership for policy development, implementation, and training to ensure consistent, equitable, and educationally grounded practices across the residential system.

This position is an on-call position and requires flexibility to work evenings and weekends. On-Campus housing is optional and can be discussed at the time of the interview.

B. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Staff Leadership and Development

Recruit, select, train, supervise, and evaluate the professional staff team, inclusive of an Associate Director, two Assistant Directors, and nine Resident Directors. Provide leadership, direction coaching and accountability to those directly and indirectly supervised.
Provide indirect supervision and oversight of approximately 160 Student Staff (Assistant Resident Directors, Community Facilitators/Neighborhood Representatives, and Desk Assistants).
Develop and oversee a comprehensive staff development program that supports professional excellence, inclusive community building, student mentoring, crisis response, and effective implementation of University policies and procedures.
Develop, implement and regularly review recruitment, selection, onboarding, and performance evaluation processes for departmental staff.
Monitor and assist in the selection, training, supervision, and evaluation of paraprofessional and other student staff.
Participate in and provide feedback directly to those responsible for the recruitment, selection, and evaluation processes of faculty directors, spirituality facilitators and other positions in the RLCs.
Schedule, plan and conduct departmental staff meetings as appropriate that are informative, collaborative, and productive.
Schedule and plan meetings with those responsible for faculty directors and spirituality facilitators and the Housing and Residence Life Management Team.
Initiate with the Housing Director a coordinated effort for joint team meetings of both the Housing and Residence Life offices to plan, coordinate, collaborate and debrief cross-departmental initiatives, operations, policies, and procedures.

2. Program Direction and Development

Provide vision and leadership for the planning, implementation, and continuous improvement of Residence Life programs and services in alignment with the University's mission, values, and strategic priorities.
Develop and implement departmental strategic planning that is consistent with student success, belonging, well-being, and integrated education.
Provide direction relative to residence life operations, student well-being, and the educational mission of residential communities.
Collaborate with the RLC leadership teams and Housing staff to develop and implement efficient and appropriate policies and procedures affecting residential communities.
Provide overall leadership in responding to student needs related to campus residences and in strengthening the intellectual, communal, and inclusive climate of the residence halls.
Partner with RLC faculty directors in planning and implementing residential learning communities and support residential staff in developing and delivering high-impact learning and engagement opportunities for students.
Coordinate cross-departmental efforts and partnerships to ensure that resources and programs are seamlessly presented to students living on campus (Campus Ministry, Campus Recreation, Campus Safety Services, Career Center, Center for Student Involvement, Co-Curricular Assessment, Counseling and Psychological Services, Dean of Students Office, Drahmann Advising and Learning Resources Center, Housing, Multicultural Learning, Sustainability, Undergraduate Education, and Wellness Center).
Stay abreast of trends in residence life and residential learning communities to ensure SCU's programs remain current with best practices at Jesuit institutions and nationally.
Collaboratively develop, implement, and sustain an assessment protocol for the on-campus residential experience, including continuous improvement plans and annual surveys, and use findings to improve programs, policies, staff development, and student outcomes.

3. Student Life Responsibilities

Serve as a Division of Student Life leader and University resource regarding student well-being issues impacting residential students.
Serve as an appeal officer for student conduct cases adjudicated within Residence Life.
Consult with students, staff, faculty, administrators, parents, and outside agencies as appropriate regarding student well-being issues.
Remain current on research, trends, and legal issues pertinent to position responsibilities.
Directly or through a delegate(s), ensure a Residence Life representative on the Student Well-Being Team and Behavioral Concerns Team.
Provide leadership and clear communication for emergency and crisis response for on and/or off campus situations affecting residential students.
Participate in on-call responsibilities to offer support, guidance, emergency, and crisis response that requires evening and weekend availability.
Oversee and provide guidance to staff at time of student alcohol and drug hospital transports and voluntary mental health transports and ensure parental notification is occurring when necessary.

4. Policy and Procedure Making, Interpretation and Implementation

Initiate, implement, evaluate and monitor policies for the department which are effective, efficient and relative to the personal, social, physical, intellectual, and cultural development and general well-being of students.
Ensure departmental policies and procedures are equitable, student centered, and aligned with the University's commitment to cura personalis.
Be responsible for development and implementation of policies and procedures that guarantee the delivery of accurate, timely, and courteous service.
Continually monitor and strengthen the implementation of safety and security protocols, procedures, and policies in the residence halls and proactively act to address issues or initiate necessary changes.
Provide primary direction and revisions for the Residence Life Policies.
Collaborate in the development, evaluation, updating, communication, and oversight of policies related to student life within the student residences, e.g.:
- Student Conduct Code
- Student Conduct Procedures
- Housing and Residence Life policies and procedures
- Room assignment priorities
Promote approaches to student accountability that emphasize student learning, community responsibility, and restorative practices.

5. Budget Management

Prepare and submit departmental operating budget plans and proposals.
Manage and coordinate a multi-million dollar staff and operating budget.
Respond to budget changes and make decisions based on departmental priorities and potential student impact.

6. Facilities Administration

Coordinate efforts of the residence life staff in the reporting and tracking of maintenance and custodial issues in the residence halls.
Assist Housing staff in monitoring of maintenance and custodial services provided by Campus Facilities within all University residence halls.
Participate in establishing priorities for Residential Learning Community rehabilitation and renewal projects with Housing.
Actively participate in new facility planning, including building construction planning for new buildings and renovations, with attention to providing effective living and learning environments for students.
Provide input on the short- and long-range accommodation needs for Housing and Residence Life and provide prioritization when need extends beyond building design capacity.

7. Liaison Responsibilities

Maintain ongoing and close consultation and collaboration with Housing, Campus Safety Services and Counseling and Psychological Services.
Provide consultation as appropriate to those departments concerned with Residence Life related issues.
Confer with, counsel and advise students, faculty, staff and parents regarding the activities, programs, and services available to students through Residence Life, through programs such as New Student Programs, Admissions, Open House, Preview Days, Alumni and Development programs, and on an individual basis as needed.
Represent the University in establishing community relations in those areas involving Residence Life.
Ensure Residence Life representation on the University's Dining Contract Committee.
Serve on University committees as assigned including serving as an ex officio member of all University committees pertaining to Residence Life programs and services.
Represent the department of Residence Life to alumni, parent groups and University committees by articulating the mission, goals and priorities which have been established.

C. PROVIDES WORK DIRECTION

1. One Associate Director*

*The Associate Director supervises two Assistant Directors who provide day-to-day supervision for nine master's level Resident Directors.

2. Indirect supervision includes approximately 160 student staff (Assistant Resident Directors, Community Facilitators/Neighborhood Representatives, Graduate Conduct Officers, and Desk Assistants).

D. PROVIDES WORK DIRECTION FROM

1. Dean of Students

E. QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Qualifications

Master's degree in related fields required.
Minimum of 10 years full-time, professional experience within a residence life or student affairs program required.
Ability to communicate effectively through written and verbal means. Demonstrated presentation skills desired.
Understanding and support of residential learning community concepts and practices.
Extensive knowledge of student development theory and philosophy of Learning Community concepts.
Familiarity with faculty expectations and culture.
Success in cultivating collaborative relationships with numerous departments and programs that interact with residence life.
Familiarity with the uses of technology in a residence life context.
Experience in managing budgets.
Demonstrated experience in conflict mediation and resolution.
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple tasks and exercise sound judgment.
Strong analytical and organizational skills.
Ability to operate in a highly confidential manner and with minimal supervision.
Ability to work nights and weekends.
Understanding and support of the Jesuit tradition of education and a commitment to the fundamental values of service to others, community, and diversity.
Commitment to the vision, mission and values of Santa Clara University.

F. PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended, the California Fair Employment & Housing Act, and all other applicable laws, SCU provides reasonable accommodations for qualified persons with disabilities. A qualified individual is a person who meets skill, experience, education, or other requirements of the position, and who can perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodations.

Considerable time is spent at a desk using a computer terminal.
May be required to travel to other buildings on the campus.
May be required to attend conference and training sessions with Bay Area or in- or out-of-state locations.
May be required to occasionally travel to outside customers, vendors or suppliers.

G. WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described below are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of the job.

Typical office environment.
Mostly indoor office environment with windows.
Offices with equipment noise.
Offices with frequent interruptions.

Telecommute

Santa Clara University is registered to do business in the following states: California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, and Illinois. Employees approved to telecommute are required to perform their work within one of these states.

EEO Statement

Equal Opportunity/Notice of Nondiscrimination

Santa Clara University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, gender identity, marital status, parental status, veteran or military status, physical or mental disability, medical conditions, pregnancy or related conditions, reproductive health decision making, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. For a complete copy of Santa Clara University's equal opportunity and nondiscrimination policies, please visit the Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX website at https://www.scu.edu/title-ix/.

Clery Notice of Availability

Santa Clara University annually collects information about campus crimes and other reportable incidents in accordance with the federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. To view the Santa Clara University report, please visit the Campus Safety Services website. To request a paper copy please call Campus Safety at (408) 554-4441. The report includes the type of crime, venue, and number of occurrences.

Americans with Disabilities Act

Consistent with its obligations under the law, Santa Clara University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants who wish to request a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact the Department of Human Resources ADA Team at hraccommodations@scu.edu or by phone at (408)554-5750.

To view the full job posting and apply for this position, go to https://wd1.myworkdaysite.com/en-US/recruiting/scu/scu/job/Santa-Clara-CA/Director-of-Residence-Life_R7247