Community Director, Residence Life

Department
 

CSL Housing and Residence Life: Community Life

About the Department
 

The University of Chicago is one of the nation’s leading institutions of higher education and research. Campus and Student Life (CSL) is a division comprised of 20 departments that serve the University’s 17,000 college, graduate, and professional school students, as well as the campus community more broadly. CSL is importantly charged with the dual task of supporting all students in the University, graduate and undergraduate, and managing multiple campus departments and services that serve the entire campus community. CSL’s programs and services focus on supporting student academic success, providing opportunities for personal growth and leadership development, developing community and engagement through the residential housing and dining program, and in areas such as artistic expression, community service, spiritual exploration, and athletic competition. The University of Chicago community includes approximately 7,000 undergraduates and 10,000 graduate, professional, and other students and there are over 300 recognized student organizations working together to create a vibrant and dynamic student life. At the University of Chicago, students in the College embody a spirit of relentless curiosity, characterized by an unwavering commitment to inquiry and a dedication to free expression. Our students are not mere consumers of knowledge; they are active participants in a vibrant academic community that values the exploration of complex issues, rigorous debate, and intellectual engagement.
The University of Chicago is located in the Hyde Park/South Kenwood neighborhood, a racially and economically diverse residential community of 43,000 people on the shores of Lake Michigan, about fifteen minutes south of downtown Chicago. The core mission of Housing & Residence Life is to help develop and support inclusive communities that engage residents in exceptional living experiences within secure and well-maintained environments that foster a sense of belonging and support the academic initiatives of the University. The primary strategy for the delivery of such an environment is through a residence life program that which aims to develop strong residential communities that are self-regulating, supportive of academic success; provide a strong sense of belonging, and rich opportunities for personal, cultural, social and intellectual development. The leadership of residential faculty and adult staff in fostering these experiences is key to the success of the mission.

Job Summary
 

The University of Chicago Department of Housing & Residence Life invites applications for one Community Director position. The Community Director will be responsible for fostering inclusive communities within their assigned residence hall for 350- 400 residents, directly supervising Resident Assistants, supporting Resident Head and Resident Dean programming, and contributing to the overall mission of Housing & Residence Life.

Responsibilities

• Community Development and Engagement:

• Foster an inclusive and welcoming environment by overseeing academic, community, and departmental initiatives.

• Serve as a role model to student staff, engaging in intentional and educational conversations.

• Organize and support a variety of cultural, intellectual, and recreational activities that contribute to the overall development and engagement of residents.

• Advising and Student Success:

• Provide regular interaction to challenge and support students in their individual growth and development.

• Serve as a primary advisor to the house councils in assigned community.

• Serve as a referral agent to campus resources, providing non-clinical counseling and crisis management interventions with students.

• Advocate for student success, considering all aspects of identity that may impact students’ experiences  at the university.

• Crisis Management and Emergency Response:

• Act as the primary crisis response person for their residential community.

• Participate in an on-call rotation with other HRL professional staff through the  calendar year.

• Ensure emergency preparedness by being knowledgeable about departmental and university protocols and resources.

• Supervision and Leadership:

• Provide supervision to student staff and support them in their assigned responsibilities.

• Play an integral role in the recruitment, selection, training, and evaluation of student staff members.

• Student Conduct and Accountability:

• Uphold student expectations for residential community behavior and respect for others.

• Facilitate the Housing & Residence Life Student Conduct process, providing a space for students to take accountability for their actions, learn about community expectations, and repair harm caused in the community.

• Serve as an initial review hearing officer, adjudicate conduct cases, and administer educational sanctions.

• Operations and Occupancy Management:

• Collaborate and liaise with the Assistant Director for Operations to address community and building-related facilities issues, ensuring timely resolution and minimizing resident impacts.

• Report concerns to appropriate facilities and operations staff.

• Oversee damage billing and conduct regular safety drills and inspections.

• Collaborate with Housing Assignments for occupancy management, utilizing the Mercury Residential Management System for roster verifications, room changes, and cancellations.

• Student Care and Wellness:

• Identify and intervene in holistic health and wellness concerns, providing support and resources for residents.

• Coach resident assistants to recognize signs of stress, anxiety, and sleep deprivation, fostering a community of wellness.

• Cultivate an environment where residents adopt positive coping mechanisms and strategies for mental health awareness.

• Encourage resident assistants to create a community that prioritizes getting to know residents by name and story, fostering a sense of connection and support.

• Collaboration and Support for Resident Deans and Resident Heads:

• Collaborate closely with Resident Deans to align residential experiences with intellectual and cultural initiatives.

• Provide support to Resident Heads in creating and sustaining communities within the Residence Halls.

• Facilitate regular communication and shared planning sessions to enhance the overall residential experience.

• Ensure a unified and supportive approach that aligns with the broader mission of Housing & Residence Life.

• House Tables and Community Dining:

• Embrace and support the House Tables tradition, recognizing residential dining as a cornerstone of community life.

• Encourage residents to utilize meal plans, fostering community connections during meals or snacks in their home Dining Commons.

• Collaborate with UChicago Dining and student leaders to enhance the communal dining experience as an authentic extension of community space.

• Supervises and evaluates the housing system’s professional and support staff. Prepares and implements housing and dining assignment policies and procedures.

• Participates in the selection, training, and management of the Residence Life team.

• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications
 

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

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Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

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Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Master's degree in Higher Education, Student Personnel, or a closely related field strongly preferred.

Experience:

• Graduate-level residence life staff experience, supervising student staff, and advising student organizations.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Demonstrated understanding of the developmental objectives of the college student residential environment.

• Familiarity with Maxient or other conduct systems as well as housing database software (Star Rez) a plus.

Preferred Competencies

• Demonstrated ability to supervise, train and evaluate the work of others.

• Remain organized and productive in high demand periods.

• Remain calm and productive while interacting with individuals displaying intense emotions.

• Respond promptly, directly, and effectively to internal and external inquiries and requests for service while managing competing demands.

• Work productively with a diverse range of students, residential staff and faculty, and managers across the campus.

• Give and receive feedback constructively.

• Adjust to unpredictable circumstances.

Working Conditions

• Function in a 24-hour on-call environment and maintain productivity.

• The typical work week is Monday through Friday with routine requirements for evening and weekend work.  

• University setting.

• Live full-time in a residence hall. Community Director staff are required to live in the residence halls and may do so with or without a spouse or significant other and their respective children.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)

• Cover Letter (required)

• References Contact Information (3)(required)

When applying, the document(s) MUST  be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family
 

Student Affairs & Services

Role Impact
 

People Manager

FLSA Status
 

Exempt

Pay Frequency
 

Monthly

Scheduled Weekly Hours
 

37.5

Benefits Eligible
 

Yes

Drug Test Required
 

No

Health Screen Required
 

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
 

No

Posting Statement
 

The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

 

Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

 

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.

 

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.  A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.  Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

 

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu . Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.