Residential Area Director

About the role

The Area Director - First Year Experience (AD-FYE) creates and facilitates an integrated residential learning environment that assists first year students in achieving the goals of the undergraduate experience by enacting the mission and goals of both the Office of Residence Life and the Division of Student Affairs.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and direction to the First Year Experience and support the planning and implementation of a cohort-based experience program, fostering a sense of home and student pride, belonging, and engagement.
• Actively collaborate with departments in the Division of Student Affairs and other university units to ensure that the residential experience complements and enhances the overall Case Western Reserve University experience.
• Select, supervise, and develop three (3) Residential Community Directors.
• Select, supervise, and direct a community leadership team, consisting of one (1) graduate-level Assistant Residential Community Director, 6 to 12 undergraduate-level Resident Assistants, and a community council.
• Serve as a member of the department's leadership team.
• Provide comprehensive leadership and support for a residential community of up to 480 first year residential students by assessing the needs and interests of first year students in order to complement and enhance the First Year Experience, the transitions to and from the first year, and the connections between the first year experience and other critical points in the student journey.
• Maintain, track, manage, and execute a system of intervention and referral that supports the health, wellbeing, and safety of the residential students in their community through collaboration with the Dean of Students Office, the Undergraduate Advising Support Office, University Health and Counseling Services, Student Conduct and Community Standards, and other relevant offices.
• Directly manage a 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.
• Support department-wide functions by participating and serving in one or more department-wide project teams.
• Collaborate in planning, presenting, and implementing department-wide functions of departmental staff recruitment, selection, and training of both graduate and undergraduate level staff members.
• Ensure support of and effective collaboration by the Community Councils by the Residential Community Directors.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Experience: 3 years of full-time professional experience in the field of residence life and/or housing required.
• Education: Master's degree in an appropriate discipline required. Master's degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs, or Student Personnel preferred.
• Skills: Commitment to and competency in working with individuals from different backgrounds and varying lived experiences. 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. Efficacious 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 marked by community engagement and respect for others. Ability to demonstrate successful support, education, and advocacy for all students, aligned with the values, mission, and messaging of the university, while adhering to the staff policy on conflict of commitment and interest. Willingness to learn and work with Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools and technologies. Ability to meet consistent attendance. Ability to interact with colleagues, supervisors, and customers face to face.