Skip to main content

This job has expired

Director, Residential Life

Employer
Colgate University
Location
New York, United States
Salary
Salary Not Specified
Date posted
Mar 24, 2020

Job Details

Department Statement

Colgate University, among the top liberal arts colleges in the country, seeks an energetic, motivated, and highly visible Director of Residential Life. Reporting to the Associate Vice President, the Director of Residential Life takes an active leadership role in creating residential communities that foster student learning, engagement, and success, while also ensuring that the department is contributing to the Dean of the College division and to the University’s pursuit as one of the small handful of truly outstanding colleges and universities in the nation and the world.

This is a distinctive opportunity for an accomplished professional with a strategic approach to student affairs to elevate the breadth and depth of the residential education available to Colgate students. It is an exciting time for the University as Colgate is in the first year of its third century. President Brian W. Casey is leading the campus through a comprehensive Third-Century Plan to raise the institution’s profile as a distinctive and strong undergraduate liberal arts institution to even-higher levels of achievement. Under the leadership of Vice President and Dean of the College Paul J. McLoughlin II, there has been tremendous growth, including the recent addition of career services to the division and a steadfast commitment to enriching the student experience. The energy on campus is palpable as four Residential Commons living-learning communities were created five years ago, and long-term goals have been established for further enhancing the student experience.

The next Director of Residential Life will provide leadership for a comprehensive, contemporary, professional, innovative, and service-oriented department. The Director will also serve as a collaborative partner to the VP and Dean of the College; to further develop the residential experience in ways that challenge and support students; and to guide Colgate to be a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable institution. This position is integral to the Division’s success and the ability to create an unparalleled education as a residential, liberal arts university.

Accountabilities

As Director of Residential Life, this position is primarily responsible for the effective administration of all aspects of Colgate’s comprehensive residential program. This includes approximately 2,500 beds across 12 traditional residence halls, 17 Broad Street Houses (which includes interest communities and fraternity and sorority chapter houses), 3 apartment complexes and 9 townhouse units. In total, the residential inventory is nearly 200,000 total square feet. This director is responsible for the effective and efficient execution of housing strategies and residential programs developed to support all residence communities as well as their ability to enrich the student experience and the broader University.

Areas of responsibility include:

  • Arranging, directing, reviewing, and monitoring personnel activities for the department, including staffing projections, compensation, staff development, and evaluation for eight professional staff, one part-time employee, and approximately 80 student staff members
  • Ensuring that the residential experience is student-centered, safe and secure, and focused on students’ development within communities
  • Developing a departmental strategic plan and implementing relevant divisional and University objectives, in collaboration with other departmental and University colleagues
  • Oversight of housing-related software systems (Symplicity) and the accuracy of its data;
  • Stewarding on-campus housing processes as well as those related to the private, off-campus student living experience within parameters set by the University and in cooperation with the Village of Hamilton;
  • Maximizing the occupancy of facilities with awareness of revenue needs, enrollment planning and accessible housing needs;
  • Planning and oversight of facilities management, capital renovation, and tracking the ongoing maintenance of all housing facilities, including serving as a liaison with the University’s Facilities department;
  • Managing escalated conflict mediation, advice, and resolution with roommate and families, including providing guidance that actively supports the growth and intellectual development of students;
  • Development and oversight of programs that align with and foster the development of students within living areas including the Residential Commons;
  • Training and recruitment of student Community Leaders, ensuring that all student leaders receive sufficient training to meet their obligations;
  • Ensuring event registration, conduct and other relevant University policy and processes are followed by department staff and student leaders; and
  • Assessing and making appropriate judgements in the initial response to emergencies occurring in residential areas.


As part of this role, the incumbent is responsible for the following:

  • As required, effective emergency response and crisis management as part of division on-call rotation and for residential life;
  • Effective financial management of department funds and budgets;
  • Effective development of residential policies;
  • Effective marketing and communication strategies;
  • As required, may be responsible for providing effective advice, counsel, and leadership on University committees.
  • This position is responsible for the job evaluation, development and continued professional growth of all direct reports.
  • Responsible for the effective supervision of staff as assigned.
  • Ensures selection and hiring of high-quality employees; ensures appropriate distribution of work assignments and quality of employee work product; ensures fair, accurate and timely performance assessments and feedback to include identifying areas for professional development and documenting and conducting disciplinary measures, as needed.
  • Responsible for ensuring fair and accurate decisions regarding employment status (hire, promotion, salary increases, termination); ensures the creation of effective opportunities and programs for employee mentoring, development and sustained performance.
Professional Experience/ Qualifications

Additional required skills and abilities of the ideal candidate include:

  • Progressive experience in the supervision and management of a dynamic portfolio of programs and services;
  • Experience with housing information management systems;
  • Demonstrated strategic thinking and planning combined with assessment;
  • The ability to work collaboratively and constructively with students, families, faculty, and staff;
  • Demonstrated evidence of building and maintaining strong relationships with key partners;
  • Demonstrated personal and professional commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion;
  • Broad understanding of housing operations, residential education, and capital planning;
  • Capacity to create a collegial, productive, and positive team environment;
  • Professional philosophy that sees residential education as integral to the liberal arts mission and Colgate’s Third Century Plan
  • Strong written and interpersonal communication skill, with particular emphasis on effective communications with students;
  • Strong record of assessment and continuous program improvement; creative thinking and problem-solving;
  • Accessible, student-centered approach that inspires, motivated, and empowers student leaders and staff.
Preferred Qualifications Education
  • A Master’s Degree in Student Affairs, Higher Education, or related field with a minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in housing and residential life are required.
  • A Doctoral Degree and demonstrated accomplishments in developing or contributing to the creation of a residential college system, collaborative learning, learning communities, diversity and inclusion efforts, and student staff development are preferred.
Job Open Date 03/24/2020 Job Close Date Open Until Filled Yes Special Instructions Summary EEO Statement

It is the policy of Colgate University not to discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of their race, color, creed, religion, age, sex, pregnancy, national origin, marital status, disability, protected Veterans status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, being or having been victims of domestic violence or stalking, familial status, or any other categories covered by law. Colgate is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Candidates from historically underrepresented groups, women, persons with disabilities, and protected veterans are encouraged to apply.

For more information, click the "How to Apply" button.

Company

Colgate University

Colgate is a distinctive, leading American university known for its intellectual rigor, world-class professors, campus of stunning beauty, and alumni famously loyal to their alma mater.

Time and time again, the world has shown an urgent need for citizens with the ability to create, explore, examine, and connect human knowledge. Colgate University has been answering that call through centuries of academic rigor in the liberal arts tradition.

Colgate attracts world-renowned faculty in a breadth of subject matters as well as innovative leaders in higher-ed administration, all dedicated to building on an educational tradition that has prepared generations of Colgate graduates for success. 

Colgate is deeply invested in employees’ success, and we all work together to ensure that students receive the premier education that is at the University’s core.

The Colgate campus, ranked as one of the most beautiful in the nation, is a place where students develop lifelong bonds with each other, faculty, and staff.

Colgate is located in the village of Hamilton, a community of about 3,800 residents who enjoy downtown’s art galleries and restaurants and who take pride in the many historic homes and public buildings.

Colgate University

Get job alerts

Create a job alert and receive personalized job recommendations straight to your inbox.

Create alert