Resident Director

Santa Clara University • Santa Clara, CA

18h • $70,000 - $70,304 • Onsite

About The Position

With eight Residential Learning Communities (RLCs) and one upper-division community, the Office of Residence Life employs nine Resident Directors (RDs). The Resident Director team is collectively called the Professional Staff. Resident Directors work collaboratively as part of the Leadership Team to provide oversight for an assigned residential community ranging in size from 240 to 550 residents. The Leadership Team plays an integral role in facilitating the implementation of a residential program that reflects the Jesuit mission of the University, namely the development of the whole person, and promotes a supportive and inclusive environment that encourages the academic, social, and spiritual growth of each student. In addition, the Resident Director serves in a collaborative role with Residence Life staff, the Housing Office, the Office of Student Life, Campus Ministry, and other campus partners to further develop and strengthen the overall residential program. The Leadership Team in each of our 8 Residential Learning Communities (RLC) includes a Resident Director, Faculty Director(s), Spirituality Facilitator(s), and Assistant Resident Director(s). These communities include Alpha, Cura, Cyphi, da Vinci, Loyola, Modern Perspectives, and Unity/Nobili Residence Hall. Each RLC is associated with a specific residence hall and organizes its community around one or two broad themes. The Leadership Team in our one junior and senior community in University Villas, includes a Resident Director, Spirituality Facilitator and Assistant Resident Director. This community does not have an RLC component and focus their engagement and programming efforts on the upper-division student experience. Due to the live-in nature and high visibility of the position, it is essential that Resident Directors model the values of a Jesuit, Catholic university and demonstrate the Department of Residence Life's commitment to the mission of Santa Clara University. The Resident Director position is a full-time, 12-month, four-year fixed-term position ending June 30, 2030, and requires flexibility of work hours, including work performed on weekends and evenings.

Requirements

• Master’s degree required
• 1-2 years post-undergraduate residential life experience preferred
• previous professional experience preferred
• Demonstrated ability to successfully work in a 24-hour/7 day environment with the ability to quickly respond to and handle time-sensitive situations for the entire residential campus.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, prioritize, and be flexible.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze and solve difficult problems and make well-reasoned and principled decisions on a variety of issues and situations.
• Demonstrated ability to provide a high level of professional discretion and integrity in handling confidential, sensitive information.
• Demonstrated ability to resolve conflicts utilizing counseling and arbitration skills.
• Demonstrated tolerance for ambiguity and extensive consultation to build consensus and to earn student, faculty, and administrative support.
• Demonstrated ability to provide clear, effective, and timely written and verbal communication to a variety of stakeholders including, but not limited to, students, faculty, staff, and parents.
• Knowledge of the Jesuit mission of the University, strategic initiatives, and major developmental issues of students at a highly selective, multicultural, residential university.
• Understanding and support of the Jesuit tradition of education and a commitment to the fundamental values of service to others, community, and diversity as well as a commitment to and demonstrated skills, knowledge, and awareness to serve the unique needs of the diverse campus community at Santa Clara University.
• Knowledge of student development theory and philosophy of Residential Learning Community concepts.
• Knowledge of housing functions essential; experience working with housing assignments and facility-related issues, including room changes and maintenance requests.
• Experience adjudicating policy violations; knowledge of conduct philosophy.
• Experience supervising others in a complex and dynamic environment.
• Experience advising volunteer student groups.
• Experience with technology, database management, social media, and digital communication.
• Capacity to work in a 24-hour/7 day environment with the ability to quickly respond to and handle situations for the entire residential campus.
• 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 within Bay Area or in- or out-of-state locations.
• May be required to occasionally travel to outside customers, vendors or suppliers.

Nice To Haves

• Higher Education, Counseling, Organizational Leadership, or a similar program preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership, direction, and support for residential education initiatives, responding to individual resident needs and coordinating co-curricular programming and assessment that promotes the theme of the community.
• Work collaboratively with the community Leadership Team, building staff, and other University departments to provide intentional opportunities for residents to enhance academic excellence, explore the spiritual component of their individual development, support general student wellness, and cultivate a passion for learning both inside and outside of the classroom.
• Maintain a positive presence and high level of visibility and accessibility in the community by role modeling responsible behavior, personal integrity, and a commitment to Jesuit education.
• In collaboration with the Leadership Team, facilitate the creation of an environment that promotes citizenship, respect, growth, academic success, and compassion among all community members.
• Actively demonstrate an understanding of diversity, identity, and intercultural competence in order to create an inclusive environment that affirms and celebrates the dignity of all people.
• Serve as an advisor and resource for individual residents through personal consultation and conflict resolution.
• Advise resident student leaders, providing opportunities for skill development through formal and informal training sessions.
• Contribute to the successful implementation of orientation sessions to introduce new students to their residential community and Santa Clara community standards and engage with families, through informal conversations and formal presentations.
• Supervise a team of community student staff members including 1-3 Assistant Resident Directors, 6-13 Community Facilitators/Neighborhood Representatives, and 5-10 Desk Assistants.
• Assist in the recruitment, selection, training, and evaluation of community student staff members.
• Foster staff unity and teamwork through the development and implementation of ongoing training efforts, weekly staff meetings, and staff events that prioritize opportunities for skill development and reflection for continued personal and professional growth.
• Communicate regularly with community student staff members via weekly staff meetings, one-one meetings, individual consultations, email, and daily personal contact.
• Motivate student staff and empower them to promote student growth and development with their residents.
• Serve as the primary university conduct hearing officer for assigned community and assist in other communities when needed.
• Initiate disciplinary procedures when appropriate and adjudicate student conduct violations in conjunction with the Office of Student Life.
• Participate in the recruitment, selection, advising, and training of Peer Conduct Boards and/or Graduate Conduct Officers, as assigned.
• Communicate, uphold, administer, and evaluate policies related to student life within the University and the community.
• Oversee safety, duty, and emergency procedures for assigned community, promote and enforce policies that protect and ensure the general welfare of students, and educate staff and residents about University emergency protocols and procedures.
• Effectively respond to and manage emergency and/or crisis situations via participation as the second-level responder in campus-wide, year-round, 24-hour duty coverage, requiring evening and weekend availability.
• Serve as a lower-level student of concern case manager in conjunction with the Office of Student Life.
• Exercise good judgment, ethical decision-making, and responsible citizenship both on and off-campus.
• Serve as a campus security authority when informed of allegations regulated under the Clery Act.
• Serve as a responsible employee for allegations regulated under Title IX.
• Communicate, support, and implement the philosophy and mission of the University, the offices of Housing and Residence Life, and the Residential Learning Community program.
• Assist with coordination of all aspects of facilities management, building operations, and room assignment and change procedures within assigned community in partnership with the Housing Office.
• Oversee fiscal management of all community budgets.
• Chair and/or contribute to multiple departmental and or campus committees, on a yearly, rotating basis including, but not limited to: Professional Staff, Senior Staff, Student Staff, and Desk Assistant recruitment, selection, and training; co-facilitating the Student Staff Course; departmental recognition efforts; and leading the Justice Starts Here initiative.
• Coordinate community efforts related to Admissions Office events including residence hall tours, resource fairs, and presentations, as assigned.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package for benefit eligible employees with programs and resources designed to promote and sustain personal health care, well-being, and the financial objectives of our employees and families.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level