Community Director, Residence Life

University of Chicago • Hyde Park, IL

10d • $43,000 - $55,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The University of Chicago Department of Housing & Residence Life invites applications for one Community Director position. The Community Director will be responsible for fostering inclusive communities within their assigned residence hall for 350- 750 residents, directly supervising resident assistants, supporting Resident Head and Resident Dean programming, and contributing to the overall mission of Housing & Residence Life.

Requirements

• Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Nice To Haves

• Master's degree in Higher Education, Student Personnel, or a closely related field strongly preferred.
• At least one year of experience in a student affairs/student personnel position.
• Graduate-level residence life staff experience, supervising student staff, and advising student organizations.
• Demonstrated understanding of the developmental objectives of the college student residential environment.
• Familiarity with Maxient or other conduct systems as well as housing database software (Star Rez) a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to supervise, train and evaluate the work of others.
• Remain organized and productive in high demand periods.
• Remain calm and productive while interacting with individuals displaying intense emotions.
• Respond promptly, directly, and effectively to internal and external inquiries and requests for service while managing competing demands.
• Work productively with a diverse range of students, residential staff and faculty, and managers across the campus.
• Give and receive feedback constructively.
• Adjust to unpredictable circumstances.

Responsibilities

• Foster an inclusive and welcoming environment by overseeing academic, community, and departmental initiatives.
• Serve as a role model to student staff, engaging in intentional and educational conversations.
• Organize and support a variety of cultural, intellectual, and recreational activities that contribute to the overall development and engagement of residents.
• Provide regular interaction to challenge and support students in their individual growth and development.
• Support primary advisors to the house councils in assigned community.
• Serve as a referral agent to campus resources, providing non-clinical counseling and crisis management interventions with students.
• Advocate for student success, considering all aspects of identity that may impact students’ experiences at the university.
• Act as the primary crisis response person for their residential community.
• Participate in an on-call rotation with other HRL professional staff through the calendar year.
• Ensure emergency preparedness by being knowledgeable about departmental and university protocols and resources.
• Collaborate with UCPD, UChicago HELP, College DOS, and other campus partners during after-hours incidents, ensuring coordinated response and follow-up.
• Provide supervision to student staff and support them in their assigned responsibilities.
• Play an integral role in the recruitment, selection, training, and evaluation of student staff members.
• Uphold student expectations for residential community behavior and respect for others.
• Facilitate the Housing & Residence Life Student Conduct process, providing a space for students to take accountability for their actions, learn about community expectations, and repair harm caused in the community.
• Serve as an initial review hearing officer, adjudicate conduct cases, and administer educational sanctions.
• Collaborate and liaise with the Assistant Director for Operations to address community and building-related facilities issues, ensuring timely resolution and minimizing resident impacts.
• Report concerns to appropriate facilities and operations staff.
• Oversee damage billing and conduct regular safety drills and inspections.
• Collaborate with Housing Assignments for occupancy management, utilizing the Mercury Residential Management System for roster verifications, room changes, and cancellations.
• Identify and intervene in holistic health and wellness concerns, providing support and resources for residents.
• Coach resident assistants to recognize signs of stress, anxiety, and sleep deprivation, fostering a community of wellness.
• Cultivate an environment where residents adopt positive coping mechanisms and strategies for mental health awareness.
• Encourage resident assistants to create a community that prioritizes getting to know residents by name and story, fostering a sense of connection and support.
• Collaborate closely with Resident Deans to align residential experiences with intellectual and cultural initiatives.
• Provide support to Resident Heads in creating and sustaining communities within the Residence Halls.
• Facilitate regular communication and shared planning sessions to enhance the overall residential experience.
• Ensure a unified and supportive approach that aligns with the broader mission of Housing & Residence Life.
• Embrace and support the House Tables tradition, recognizing residential dining as a cornerstone of community life.
• Encourage residents to utilize meal plans, fostering community connections during meals or snacks in their home Dining Commons.
• Collaborate with UChicago Dining and student leaders to enhance the communal dining experience as an authentic extension of community space.
• Participate in departmental meetings, committees, and working groups to advance Housing & Residence Life priorities.
• Attend Care Team meetings and collaborate with campus partners to support student well-being and coordinated care.
• Manage timely documentation, reporting, and follow-up using systems such as Roompact, Maxient, and StarRez.
• Maintain consistent and timely communication with campus partners, Resident Heads, Resident Deans, student staff, and departmental colleagues to support coordinated operations and student success.
• Support summer operations, including conferences and transitional periods, through administrative tasks and on-site coordination as needed.
• Facilitate training presentations and workshops for resident assistants, Resident Heads, and/or student leaders as assigned.
• Maintain accurate records and contribute to departmental assessment and reporting efforts.
• May recommend and guide student discipline processes and procedures.
• Provides on-site expertise and management of serious student life problems and crises, such as student deaths, life-threatening facilities emergencies, and other traumatic events.
• May advise Inter House Council, attend meetings, and serve as a liaison to several University Offices.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Benefits

• The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off.
• Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook .

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees