Community Director, Residence Life

University of Chicago • Chicago, IL

1d • $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

• Community Development and Engagement: 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.
• Advising and Student Success: 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.
• Crisis Management and Emergency Response: 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.
• Supervision and Leadership: 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.
• Student Conduct and Accountability: 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.
• Operations and Occupancy Management: 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.
• Student Care and Wellness: 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.
• Collaboration and Support for Resident Deans and Resident Heads: 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.
• House Tables and Community Dining: 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.
• Administrative and Departmental Responsibilities: 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: Entry Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees