What are the responsibilities and job description for the Assistant Director of Residence Life position at Lafayette College?
The Assistant Director is a community development educator who manages aspects of the student staffing and development program, which intentionally encourages and supports student learning and success. The Assistant Director provides careful management of the daily operation of several residential areas, efficient coordination of various departmental processes, and collaboration with a variety of campus departments. The Assistant Director supports the Division of Student Life’s efforts in leadership development by supervising undergraduate Head Resident Advisors and providing development and direction to Resident Advisors. The Assistant Director lives on campus in order to provide close support to student staff, regularly attend campus events, be a presence in residential communities, and participate in the emergency on-call rotation.
POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES
Area Management: Supervise the Head Residents and Resident Advisors in designated areas of campus, evaluate area Head Residents and assist them in evaluating their staffs, and facilitate staff and leadership development for each Head Resident’s staff. Meet weekly with each Head Resident and co-lead the weekly Head Resident staff meetings. Advise professional colleagues regarding resident issues and respond as needed. Facilitate roommate mediation. Communicate facilities concerns to Facilities Operations.
Community Development and Programming: Encourage achievement of departmental Learning Outcomes and Division of Student Life efforts through intentional community development planning with area staff members. Collaborate with divisional and campus colleagues to provide a network of support for first-year students. In upper-level areas, advise RAs in implementation of developmentally appropriate programming based on class year and housing type. Develop and monitor programming budgets. Actively seek to build relationships with students, faculty and staff across the college.
Student Staff Selection and Training: Assist with the selection process for student staff and the planning and implementing of staff training (fall, spring, staff developments, and in-services). Execute various means of assessing learning outcomes.
Student Intervention and Support: Serve as a case administrator in the College’s student development and conduct processes while educating students about what it means to be a member of a residential academic community. Assist and counsel students who encounter difficulty (e.g. roommate conflicts, adjustment issues). Actively develop positive relationships with students through both formal and informal interactions.
Emergency Response: Respond to campus and off-campus emergencies as needed. Serve as a member of the Student Life On-Call staff rotation. Develop an effective working relationship with the Office of Public Safety, the Counseling Center, and other Student Life staff in order to respond to crises and support students in times of distress.
Special Projects and Professional Development: Take initiative to identify and pursue relevant professional development opportunities. The Division of Student Life is committed to supporting continued education through conference attendance, periodical subscriptions, and self-identified readings or instruction in areas of interest and relevant responsibility. Opportunities are available to collaborate with other departments on special projects and initiatives as well as to participate in Division and College-wide committees.
Other: Contribute to various departmental processes and tasks including: updating office website and publications, overseeing student storage areas, assisting with housing opening and closing, and assisting with management during the summer housing session. Perform other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS
• Bachelor’s Degree required, Master’s Degree in Higher Education or related field preferred
• 2-3 years of experience working in residence life or boarding schools; experience fostering a sense of community on campus through programming
• Experience working with diverse student populations
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Experience supervising and advising students; ability to motivate and inspire teams to work well under pressure, especially by leading by example
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Experience with reviewing, assessing, and evaluating student affairs initiatives and outcomes
• Ability to articulate the value of a residential college experience