The Director of Residence Life provides exemplary leadership and vision for the residential experiences at Lafayette College. A successful candidate possesses strong leadership, supervisory, managerial, and organizational skills with demonstrated competencies in staff supervision and leadership, general administration, and project management. The director of residence life is a full-time, twelve-month, live-off position. Reporting to the Dean of Students, the director leads all aspects of the residence life office, which oversees approximately 2700 residential students across various residential facilities.
The director will join a highly skilled team at an exciting time in the college’s history as the residential experience becomes a hallmark of a Lafayette education. As such, the director is responsible for creating and sustaining an educational, vibrant, and inclusive community where students can thrive. As the leader of the department, the director oversees the residential education program; operations and facilities management; staff selection, training and development; and will work with a collaborative spirit that embraces cross-functional partnerships.
The ideal director is invested in both the individual and collective student experience and is able to communicate the value proposition and educational outcomes of the residential experience with stakeholders. Successful directors possess the leadership and management skills necessary to guide a smooth and efficient housing operation including occupancy management, student billing, and housing procedures. Effective leadership of professional staff and student leaders is paramount to the success of the residential program as the department leads and coordinates significant strategic projects and activities.
Responsibilities
● Departmental leadership and supervision of staff:
o Provide leadership for the Residence Life Department, set goals and objectives for residential life and housing services functions, establish policies and procedures, and evaluate departmental effectiveness.
o Directly supervise three staff members: senior associate director (Housing Operations), associate director (Residential Education), and office manager.
o Indirectly supervise three assistant directors and 90+ student staff members.
o Lead the recruitment, selection and training of professional staff which includes developing and providing ongoing opportunities for professional development/growth.
● Residential education programs and student development:
o Through collaboration with students, faculty, and administrative departments, provide leadership for divisional and departmental learning outcomes that promote integrating residential living with the college’s academic mission.
o Develop and lead a residential curriculum based on strategic priorities of the college, including development, belonging, and persistence.
o Identify needs, coordinate efforts and develop policies that promote safety, responsibility, and respectful living conditions to support student engagement and learning.
o Implements and facilitates initiatives to support student success and holistic well-being, and retention of residential students
o Provide vision for living learning communities, create opportunities for partnership, and communicate regularly with college stakeholders to support effective living learning and other affinity communities.
o Leverage best practices in residence life, housing, and student affairs (i.e., Americans with Disabilities Act, the Fair Housing Act, and Title IX), to create a student-centered residential experience that supports student development, sense of belonging, and JEDI.
● Financial Management:
o Serve as the department’s primary liaison to the Controller’s Office for occupancy forecasting, budget management, dining plan assignments, and housing billing processes.
● Occupancy Management and Room Assignments:
o Supervise staff in the implementation of all housing assignment processes.
o Liaise with Accessibility Services staff regarding housing accommodations needs.
o Review and update the housing contract. Maintain housing statistics.
o In collaboration with Fraternity & Sorority Life staff and living group advisors, manage the house rostering process.
● Management of housing facilities:
o Work cooperatively with the Department of Facilities Operations, Facilities Planning, and contract staff and vendors to offer housing facilities that support student success.
o Forecast and communicate facility needs, report on the physical condition of all College residential facilities, collaborate to establish priorities and schedules for renovation, repair, furniture acquisition, capital projects, and summer facility usage.
● Off-campus Housing:
o Serve as the primary point of contact for students living off-campus.
o Oversee the off-campus lotteries and the collection of documentation related to living off-campus (housing contracts, leases, certificates of occupancy, and landlord information).
o Communicate with students, parents, and College Hill neighbors regarding the rights and responsibilities of living in a community neighborhood.
o Develop and maintain positive working relationships with landlords, College Hill neighbors, and City Officials.
● Safety and Security and Emergency Response:
o Work closely with the Office of Public Safety and Facilities Operations to develop and review policies and practices to ensure the residence hall system’s safe management.
o Respond to emergencies across campus as needed.
o Develop an effective working relationship with the Office of Public Safety, the Counseling Center, and other Student Life staff to respond to crises.
o Participate in the on-call rotation.
o Serve on the Student Support and Intervention Team, Behavior Intervention Team, and other institutional committees as determined by the Dean of Students and Vice President of Campus Life.
● Student Conduct:
o Serve as a College case administrator and hearing officer.
o Review, maintain, and update all residence life policies.
● Other Responsibilities:
o Committees, Special Projects and Professional Development:
▪ Represent the department on various campus-wide committees.
▪ Support other Residence Life and Student Life projects as assigned and needed.
Qualifications
● Required
o Master’s Degree from an accredited institution of higher education, in higher education administration, student personnel, counseling, or a related field
o Minimum 7 years of progressive professional Housing and Residence Life or related experience, with increasing levels of responsibility at the assistant department head level or higher.
o Excellent oral and written communication skills
o Supervisory and Budgetary Experience
o Demonstrated commitment to working with a diverse and inclusive student body, faculty, staff, and other constituents.
o Ability to establish and maintain collaborative relationships with students, faculty, staff, and parents.
● Preferred
o Experience in a predominantly liberal art residential environment
o Proficiency with the Housing Director housing software and Maxient conduct software is strongly preferred
The successful candidate will demonstrate a personal and professional commitment to diversity and inclusion, the ability to work collaboratively across the campus, and the aptitude to build and maintain strong relationships with students, faculty, and staff, emphasizing dynamic communication and collaboration. They should also demonstrate experience with housing and residence life systems, conduct/judicial systems based on restorative practices within higher education, and leadership for crisis/risk management. Other preferred qualifications include planning/organizational skills, experience leading teams, advancing assessment, and developing learning outcomes, knowledge of student development theory, knowledge of higher education law, including Title IX, and an approach that is decidedly developmental, compassionate, just, and performed with integrity.
Application Instructions
● A cover letter indicating the candidate’s particular interest, qualifications, experience, salary requirements, and how their experience aligns with the position description; applicants should include their philosophy regarding their student development approach and their experience advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and access.
● Current resume or CV
● 3-5 professional references
● http://apply.interfolio.com/161982
Lafayette College is committed to creating a diverse community: one that is inclusive and responsive, and is supportive of each and all of its faculty, students, and staff. All members of the College community share a responsibility for creating, maintaining, and developing a learning environment in which difference is valued, equity is sought, and inclusiveness is practiced. Lafayette College is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from women and minorities