Residential Area Director

Salary Grade

Case Western Reserve University is committed to providing a transparent estimate of the salary range available for this position at the time of its posting. The salary range is between $49,257 and $62,311, depending on qualifications, experience, department budgets, and industry data.

Employees receive more than just a paycheck. University employees enjoy a comprehensive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare, retirement plans, tuition assistance, paid time off, and a winter recess.

Job Description

POSITION OBJECTIVE

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 O¿ce of Residence Life and the Division of Student A¿airs. This embedded (live-in) position directly provides comprehensive leadership and support for a community of up to 480 first year students. The area director provides direct support for the three (3) additional first year residential communities comprising the First Year Experience, including direct supervision of three (3) Residential Community Directors (RCDs). The area director serves as a member of the Residence Life leadership team. Immersed in the student community, the area director actively manages the learning process from the experience level to the community level. This includes monitoring and supporting students¿ holistic academic, social, and personal development while at Case Western Reserve University that results in successful retention to the second year.

As a student affairs professional at Case Western Reserve University, this position is expected to contribute to building a welcoming community, focus on the well-being of others, and encourage curiosity among those we serve.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• 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. (15%)
• Recruit, select, train, supervise, and develop three (3) Residential Community Directors. Develop employee(s) confidence in their ability to be successful by meeting on a regular basis, sharing information and guiding employees to make decisions on how objectives will be achieved and issues resolved in their assigned areas of responsibilities. Provide employees with clear expectations regarding organizational values and desired results. Establish ongoing clear and honest performance feedback. Collaboratively identify professional and self-development plans. Complete timely annual staff performance evaluations. Work is to be completed in conjunction with HR policy and the student affairs processes and procedures to on-board new employees, create / update job descriptions, process promotions and additional duties compensation, process staff performance evaluations and off-board exiting employees. (15%)
• 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. Provide leadership in implementing programs, initiatives, projects, and procedures that constitute the first year residential experience, supporting departmental objectives, and furthering divisional strategic goals. (12%)
• Serve as a member of the department¿s leadership team. Work in tandem with senior leadership (the associate director and assistant director) in leading the office of Residence Life within the larger mission of the division of Student Affairs, and design and implement an experience for students that underpins, supports, and enhances the intended outcomes of the residential experience. (8%)
• 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. Act as an indirect contact for all first year residential students, monitoring and supporting their holistic academic, social, and personal development throughout their residential experience. (8%)
• Design and provide vision for student-led development of a residential community through the lens of the division of Student A¿airs student learning domains (social and emotional competence, purpose and intentionality, cultural and human appreciation, community engagement, and problem-solving) that results in creation a just and humane community that cultivates meaningful interactions, fosters individual student success, and creates purposeful environments in support all community members. (8%)
• 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 O¿ce, the Undergraduate Advising Support O¿ce, University Health and Counseling Services, Student Conduct and Community Standards, and other relevant o¿ces. Lead a comprehensive response to all experience-based concerns and ensure completion by the appropriate community-based team. Conduct educational intervention meetings with residential students reported to have violated the university standards of conduct. Serve as a hearing officer for Residence Life or Student Affairs conduct cases as needed. (8%)
• Serve in an after-business-hours senior staff on-call rotation and directly respond to student crises and emergencies for approximately 5,100 undergraduate student on-campus beds within the residential communities and Greek housing system. During business hours, serve as the main Residence Life contact for crises and emergencies that occur within the first year residential community. (6%)
• 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 ¿nancial expenditures within the budget. Provide indirect budget oversight for an additional $375,000 experience and community funding by monitoring expenses, authorizing routine expenditures, arranging for payment or reimbursement, and maintaining accurate records and oversight of ¿nancial expenditures within the budget. (6%)

NONESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Support department-wide functions by participating and serving in one or more department-wide project teams. (4%)
• Work alongside the O¿ces of University Housing and Facilities Services to ensure e¿cient functioning of residential facilities through the following administrative processes: room inventory, room changes, maintenance requests, and facility emergency response procedures. (4%)
• Collaborating in planning, presenting, and implementing department-wide functions of departmental sta¿ recruitment, selection, and training of both graduate and undergraduate level sta¿ members. (3%)
• Ensure support of and effective collaboration by the Community Councils by the Residential Community Directors. Indirectly ensure community council¿s engagement with the O¿ce of Residence Life¿s student leadership organizations: the Residence Hall Association and the National Residence Hall Honorary. (2%)
• Perform other duties as assigned. (1%)

CONTACTS

Department: Continuous contact with professional sta¿, graduate student sta¿, and undergraduate student sta¿ within Residence Life for the purposes of student support and addressing concerns, supervision, project planning and implementation, programming, community development and ensuring the smooth functioning of the first year residential community.

University: Frequent contact with the O¿ce of Student A¿airs, the Dean of Students O¿ce, Case Western Reserve University Police, University Health and Counseling Services, University Housing, Facilities Services, Disability Resources, Multicultural A¿airs, Greek Life for the purposes of student support and addressing concerns, project planning and implementation, programming, community development, and assuring the smooth functioning of the first year residential community. Regular contact with the Undergraduate Advising Support O¿ce, faculty, and course instructors about student support and addressing concerns.

External: Regular contact with parents and/or family members of students for the purpose of answering questions and discussing their concerns within FERPA guidelines. Periodic contact with outside vendors and services and members of regional and national professional organizations for the purposes of project planning and implementation, and professional development. Occasional contact with prospective students and their families for the purposes of providing information during open houses and other enrollment related programming.

Students: Continuous interaction with undergraduate students for the purposes of student support and addressing concerns, programming, and ensuring the smooth functioning of the First Year Residential Community. Regular contact with the Residence Hall Association, community councils, and other student organizations for the purposes of programming, community development, and ensuring the smooth functioning of the First Year Residential Community.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Provide direct supervision for three (3) full-time staff members, one (1) graduate-level sta¿ member, 6 to 12 undergraduate student sta¿ members, and a residential area of up to 480 first year students. Provide indirect supervision and support for three (3) additional graduate-level staff, 34-36 undergraduate student staff, and 1,200 first year residential students.

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 A¿airs, or Student Personnel preferred.

REQUIRED SKILLS

• Commitment to and competency in working with individuals from different backgrounds and varying lived experiences.
• Proven team-building, supervisory and sta¿ 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.
• E¿ective 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.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Typical o¿ce environment. Some weekend and evening hours are required.

Hybrid Eligibility

This position is eligible for hybrid work arrangement up to two remote days per week at the discretion of the department. New employees may begin a hybrid schedule upon approval from the supervisor, successful completion of an orientation period and signing the remote work checklist certification form.

EEO Statement

Case Western Reserve University is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants are protected under federal and state laws and university policy from discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national or ethnic origin, protected veteran status, disability, age and genetic information.

Reasonable Accommodations

Case Western Reserve University complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act regarding reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the CWRU Office of Equity at 216-368-3066 to request a reasonable accommodation. Determinations as to granting reasonable accommodations for any applicants will be made on a case-by-case basis.

.