Residential Community Director for First Year Experience - Cleveland, United States - Case Western Reserve University

Description

Job Description


POSITION OBJECTIVE

The Residential Community Director (RCD) creates and facilitates an integrated residential learning environment that moves first-year students toward achieving the goals of the undergraduate experience, working through the mission and goals of both the Office of Residence Life and the Division of Student Affairs.

This embedded position provides comprehensive leadership and support for a community of 440 first-year students.

Immersed in the student community, the residential community director actively manages the learning experience at both the community and individual level, monitoring and supporting students' holistic academic, social, and personal development throughout their transition to Case Western Reserve University and to successful retention to the second year.

As a student affairs professional at Case Western Reserve University, this position will be expected to contribute to building a welcoming and inclusive community, focus on the well-being of others, and encourage curiosity among those we serve.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Provide comprehensive leadership and support for a community of 440 first-year residential students by assessing the needs and interests of first-year students, ensuring that students create a just and humane community that cultivates meaningful interactions, fostering individual student success, and intentionally integrating the Division of Student Affairs' student learning domains: social and emotional competence, purpose and intentionality, cultural and human appreciation, community engagement, and problem-solving. (20%)
• Supervise and direct the Community Leadership Team, consisting of 1 graduate-level Assistant Residential Community Director, 12 undergraduate-level Resident Assistants, and a community council in implementing programs, initiatives, projects, and procedures that constitute the first-year residential experience, supporting departmental objectives, and furthering divisional strategic goals. (15%)
• Maintain, track, manage, and execute a system of intervention and referral that supports the health, wellness, and safety of the residential students in their community in collaboration with the Dean of Students Office, the Undergraduate Advising Support Office, University Health and Counseling Services, and other relevant offices. (15%)
• Facilitate creation of student-led community standards across residential floors, establish reporting measures for residential issues, and lead a comprehensive response to all community-based issues. Conduct educational intervention meetings with residential students reported to have violated the university standards of conduct. (10%)
• Serve on an after-business-hours supervisor on-call rotation and directly respond to student crises and emergencies for approximately 4,300 undergraduate students. During business hours, serve as the main Residence Life contact for crises and emergencies that occur within the First Year Residential Community. (8%)
• Support department-wide functions by participating and serving in one or more department-wide committees and collaborating in the planning, presenting, and implementing of departmental staff recruitment, selection, and training of both graduate and undergraduate level staff members. (8%)
• Manage residential community budget of approximately $125,000 by monitoring expenses for the community, authorizing routine expenditures, arranging for payment or reimbursement, and maintaining accurate records and oversight of financial expenditures within the budget. (7%)
• Work alongside the Offices of University Housing and Facilities Services to ensure efficient functioning of residential facilities by facilitating the following administrative processes: room inventory, room changes, maintenance requests, and facility emergency response procedures. (7%)
• Facilitate the community council's support of and collaboration with the Office of Residence Life's student leadership organizations: the Residence Hall Association and the National Residence Hall Honorary. (7%)

NON
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Perform other duties as assigned. (3%)


CONTACTS

Department:

Continuous contact with professional staff, graduate student staff, and undergraduate student staff within Residence Life for the purposes of student support and addressing concerns, supervision, project planning and implementation, programming, community development and ensuring the smooth functioning of the First Year Residential Community.

University:

Frequent contact with the Office of Student Affairs, the Dean of Students Office, Case Western Reserve University Police, University Health and Counseling Services, University Housing, Facilities Services, Disability Resources, Multicultural Affairs, Greek Life for the purposes of student support and addressing concerns, project planning and implementation, programming, community development, and assuring the smooth functioning of the First Year Residential Community.

Regular contact with the Undergraduate Advising Support Office, faculty, and course instructors about student support and addressing concerns.

External:

Regular contact with parents and/or family members of students for the purpose of answering questions and discussing their concerns within FERPA guidelines.

Periodic contact with outside vendors and services and members of regional and national professional organizations for the purposes of project planning and implementation, and professional development.

Occasional contact with prospective students and their families for the purposes of providing information during open houses and other enrollment related programming.

Students:

Continuous interaction with undergraduate students for the purposes of student support and addressing concerns, programming, and ensuring the smooth functioning of the First Year Residential Community.

Regular contact with the Residence Hall Association, community councils, and other student organizations for the purposes of programming, community development, and ensuring the smooth functioning of the First Year Residential Community.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

Provide direct supervision for 1 graduate-level staff member, 6 to 12 undergraduate student staff members, and a residential area of approximately 440 first-year students.

QUALIFICATIONS
Experience: 2 years of experience required.

Experience may include full-time equivalent experience, consisting of graduate and significant undergraduate leadership experience in Residence Life, or related fields.

Education:
Master's degree in an appropriate discipline required. Master's degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs, or Student Personnel preferred.


REQUIRED SKILLS

• Commitment to and appreciation of working with diverse groups of individuals, including age, race, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, socioeconomic and educational background, and ability.
• Proven team-building, supervisory and staff development skills.
• Strong knowledge of residence life for students and best practices for higher education.
• Ability to apply independent judgment and decision-making skills within the university policies and procedures. Capability to remain calm and make decisions in emergency situations.
• Effective organization, planning and management skills.
• Ability to build formal and informal communication channels. Excellent oral and written communication skills. Ability to listen to others carefully and attentively.
• Ability to collaborate and develop partnerships.
• Ability to maintain a work environment that is marked by inclusivity and respect for others.
• Ability to meet consistent attendance.
• Ability to interact with colleagues, supervisors, and customers face to face.

WORKING CONDITIONS
Typical office environment. Some weekend and evening hours are required.

Hybrid Eligibility

This position is eligible for hybrid work arrangement up to two remote days per week at the discretion of the department.

New employees may begin a hybrid schedule upon approval from the supervisor, successful completion of an orientation period and signing the remote work checklist certification form.

Diversity Statement

In employment, as in education, Case Western Reserve University is committed to Equal Opportunity and Diversity. Women, veterans, members of underrepresented minority groups, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

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Reasonable Accommodations

Case Western Reserve University provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities.

Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the Office of Equity at to request a reasonable accommodation.

Determinations as to granting reasonable accommodations for any applicant will be made on a case-by-case basis.