Residence Hall Director

12-month, full-time, live-in position in Abilene, Texas. Apartment and meal plan provided while the University is in session.

About the role

The Residence Hall Director (RHD) is a live-in professional responsible for the students living in one of the University’s three residence halls or University Apartments, overseeing approximately 150-200 students. As an integral part of the Student Affairs team, the RHD supports student development and residence life functions, positively influencing and improving the quality of life for residential students.

The RHD is part of the regular weekend, holiday, and break duty rotation and reports to the Director of Residence Life and Housing. This position is designed as an entry-level role, ideal for individuals interested in starting a career in Higher Education or pursuing a master’s degree.

Responsibilities

• Directly supervise 4 resident assistants.
• Assist in the recruitment, selection, training, and evaluation of paraprofessional staff.
• Coordinate staff meetings and manage resident advisor duty and front desk work schedules.
• Work with campus maintenance and housekeeping departments.
• Assist in the management of hall budgets.
• Address individual student problems and develop community within living/learning environments.
• Monitor and enforce published policies and regulations.
• Develop co-curricular programming focused on cultural diversity and inclusion.
• Manage residence life systems and residence hall operations.
• Serve as a source of information for staff, residents, guests, alumni, administrators, faculty, and parents.
• Conduct community meetings throughout the semester as needed.
• Assist staff in assessing resident needs and interests, ensuring programming follows the Developmental Programming model.
• Maintain accurate records of all student and staff-initiated programming.
• Assist in daily operations of the residence life program, including opening/closing, check-in/out, room changes, room assignments, and damage appeals.
• Serve as part of the on-call duty rotation, responding to emergencies and working with Resident Advisors, Campus Safety & Security, and other professional staff.
• Liaise with maintenance and housekeeping.
• Coordinate central office responsibilities such as RA recruitment, housing contracts, room assignments, and programming reports.
• Work evenings and weekends in the residence halls, including holidays and breaks.
• Monitor programming budget and respond immediately to crises or emergencies.
• Complete inter-departmental projects as assigned.
• Based on need, interest, and background, assist in operations of other Student Affairs areas such as Counseling & Disability Services, Student Advocacy & Support, Student Engagement, University Wellness & Recreation, Greek Life, or specific areas within Residence Life & Housing.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; minimum of one year of experience in student activities, residence life, Greek life, student leadership, and/or orientation preferred (undergraduate or graduate experience may be included).
• Strong written and oral communication, group facilitation, and program presentation skills.
• Ability to multi-task, work as part of a team, and relate well with college students from diverse backgrounds.
• Physical ability to work in an office environment, including occasional walking of campus and navigating stairs.
• Must be available to work evenings, weekends, and major holidays.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree preferred.
• Prior experience managing resources, computer literacy in Microsoft Office, and supervision of paraprofessional staff at the university level.
• Understanding of assessment and research methods, and creative uses of technology.

Benefits

• Apartment provided as part of the live-in position.
• Meal plan provided while the University is in session.