Residence Hall Director

The University of Georgia (UGA), chartered in 1785, is the birthplace of public higher education in America and the state’s flagship university. UGA is ranked among the top 20 public universities by U.S. News & World Report. The main campus is located in Athens, approximately 65 miles northeast of Atlanta, with additional campuses in Atlanta, Griffin, Gwinnett, and Tifton. UGA employs approximately 3,100 faculty and over 7,700 full-time staff, serving more than 41,000 students across 19 schools and colleges.

University Housing, part of the Division of Student Affairs, manages nearly 2.8 million square feet of facilities and houses over 9,000 students. The department employs 220 full-time staff, 21 graduate assistants, and 565 undergraduate student workers, operating a $59 million budget derived from student housing fees and other non-state sources. University Housing focuses on providing comfortable, affordable, and secure housing while supporting academic success and personal growth through competency-based training and curriculum-based engagement.

About the role

The Residence Hall Director is a full-time, exempt, live-in professional responsible for creating safe, comfortable, and thriving residential communities that foster a strong sense of belonging and student learning. This role oversees one or more residence halls housing up to 1,000 residents, emphasizing the implementation of the residential curriculum, supervision of student staff, advising student groups, and supporting desk operations. The incumbent will actively engage in departmental initiatives and demonstrate a commitment to high-quality work.

Responsibilities

• Student Staff Supervision and Development (40% of time):
  • Recruit, select, train, supervise, and evaluate student staff, including graduate residents, resident assistants, desk assistants, and conference assistants.
  • Provide mentorship and support through one-on-one meetings, staff meetings, in-service sessions, and constructive feedback.
  • Develop, implement, and assess departmental training, including undergraduate staff training seminars and professional development sessions.
  • Foster accountability by setting clear expectations, addressing concerns, and ensuring adherence to policies.
  • Oversee administrative tasks such as performance evaluations, progress tracking, and record-keeping.
  • Support residence hall desk operations, including supervision of desk staff, key control, access control, mail operations, and security.
• Community Development & Administration:
  • Implement the Dawg Path Residential Curriculum by creating, facilitating, and assessing educational programs and initiatives.
  • Host, execute, and plan active learning and traditional area events aligned with departmental goals and learning outcomes.
  • Collaborate with campus partners to bring programming, resources, and support services to the residence hall community.
  • Advise and support community councils, including recruitment, training, and budget management.
  • Promote a sense of belonging through active engagement with residents and staff.
  • Manage administrative responsibilities, including purchasing processes and other operational tasks.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent.

Qualifications

• Preferred:
  • Master’s Degree in Higher Education or related field, or Bachelor’s Degree with 3 years of applicable full-time experience.
  • Previous experience in Housing and Residence Life.
  • Experience working with a curriculum model.
  • Experience supervising student staff and advising student leaders.
  • Participation in a crisis response structure, such as an on-call/duty rotation.
  • Experience managing a budget.
  • Demonstrated experience with student care and follow-up.
  • Experience serving on departmental, divisional, or university committees.

Skills

• Ability to collaborate with faculty and staff across university departments.
• Commitment to creating environments that support belonging.
• Strong organizational, problem-solving, and multitasking skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs and databases such as StarRez and Advocate.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills for interacting with faculty, staff, students, parents, and administrators.

University Housing Expectations

• Commit to a University Housing-first philosophy, promoting student success and supporting the missions of University Housing, the Division of Student Affairs, and UGA.
• Safeguard the physical security of facilities and protect sensitive information through adherence to cybersecurity policies.
• Embrace an entrepreneurial spirit to protect departmental resources and identify cost savings.
• Be present and punctual for all scheduled work, communicating proactively about absences.
• Provide a positive student experience through courteous, patient, and timely issue resolution.
• Maintain a positive and productive environment by following departmental, campus, and USG policies.
• Designated as Essential Personnel Pool, meaning you may be required to report to work during inclement weather or emergencies.
• Participate in departmental “all hands-on deck” events, such as move-in, move-out, and residence hall emergencies.

Physical Demands

• Sit at a desk and use a computer for moderate periods.
• Verbally communicate via telephone and in person.
• Organize and analyze large amounts of data with attention to detail.
• Interpret and apply policies and procedures.
• Respond to crisis situations, which may require long periods of presence.
• Frequently walk through residential facilities, including climbing stairs.

Pay

$50,000

Schedule

Full-time, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Evening and weekend work may be required.