Resident Director

About the role

The University of Kentucky Office of Residence Life is seeking dedicated, student‑centered professionals to serve as Resident Directors (RDs). Resident Directors play a vital role in creating inclusive, safe, and engaging residential communities that support student learning, development, and success.

The primary goal of the Office of Residence Life is to provide a comprehensive living‑learning experience that supports the academic mission of the University of Kentucky. Resident Directors are full‑time, live‑on professional staff members who hold primary responsibility for advancing this mission within an individual residence hall or residential community. Resident Directors provide leadership through staff supervision, student support, community development, and operational management while collaborating closely with campus partners across the Office for Student Success and the University.

Responsibilities

• Leadership and Supervision: Recruit, hire, train, supervise, and evaluate undergraduate student staff, including Resident Advisors and other assigned student employees. Provide ongoing coaching, feedback, and performance management to student staff to support their development and accountability. Lead regular staff meetings, individual check‑ins, and professional development initiatives.
• Student Support and Community Development: Foster a positive residential environment that supports students’ academic success and personal growth. Respond to and manage student concerns, crises, and incidents using a care‑focused, developmentally appropriate, and policy‑aligned approach. Serve as a visible presence in the residence hall and an accessible resource for students.
• Residential Education and Programming: Oversee and support residential educational and academic programming initiatives, including Living‑Learning Program collaboration when applicable. Partner with campus offices to deliver intentional learning opportunities that align with institutional student success goals.
• Conduct, Policy, and Safety: Implement and enforce university and residence hall policies in a fair, consistent, and educational manner. Conduct in‑hall conduct meetings and document outcomes in accordance with departmental and University procedures. Train and support student staff in safety, security, and emergency response protocols.
• Operations and Administration: Manage daily residence hall operations, including monitoring security systems, submitting and tracking maintenance requests, coordinating room assignments, approving payroll, and completing required departmental documentation. Ensure accurate record‑keeping, timely reporting, and compliance with University, HR, and Residence Life policies. Participate in duty rotations and after‑hours on‑call responsibilities as assigned.
• Collaboration and Professional Engagement: Work collaboratively with campus partners, including Housing, Student Success units, and other University departments. Contribute to department‑wide initiatives, committees, training programs, and assessment efforts. Model professionalism, accountability, and ethical decision‑making in all aspects of the role.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree
• One year of related experience
• Occasional lifting, pushing, and/or pulling of objects up to 50 lbs.; occasional standing or walking with objects up to 10 lbs.; sitting at a computer workstation for extended periods of time; and occasional job-related travel
• Days, evenings, weekends, and on call; the Resident Director lives on-site in the residence hall

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in College Student Personnel, Higher Education Administration, or a related field
• At least one year living and working in an on-campus residence hall setting

Skills

• Experience in higher education or working in a residential setting
• Evidence of administrative skills
• Good interpersonal skills and judgment
• Independence and professionalism