Director of Housing and Residential Life

FORT VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY (FVSU), a state and land-grant institution of the University System of Georgia, invites applications for the position of Director of Housing and Residential Life.

Fort Valley State University, the only 1890 land-grant university in Georgia, is a comprehensive institution that provides an education to over 2,800 students including graduate students. The university is located in the town of Fort Valley in Peach County, the original site of the state's peach industry. Its 1,365-acre (5.52 km2) campus is Georgia's second-largest public university in area.

Fort Valley State University is an affirmative action, equal opportunity institution and does not discriminate against applicants, students, or employees on the basis of race, gender, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, or marital or veteran status.

JOB SUMMARY:

The Director of Housing and Residential Life, Housing leadership and supervision for all functions of university housing services. The director is responsible for strategic direction related to the residential experience, facility management, and the business operations of a large-scale housing program. The director establishes goals and strategic planning to ensure effective and efficient operations which aligns within the University's strategic Plan in collaboration with the Dean of Students/Executive Director of Housing. The director is responsible for ensuring clean and well-maintained facilities, student support and development services, quality living spaces, as well as effective policies, programs and procedures.

The Director of Housing and Residence Life is supervised by the Dean of Students/Executive Director of Housing and Residential Life and Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management. The director directly supervises the Associate Director for Housing Business Operations, Assistant Director of Residential Life, and the Associate Director of Facilities and Maintenance for Housing.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Promotes a positive direction and mission for the department by developing, reviewing, and implementing appropriate policies and procedures to effectively operate the residential life program.
• Plans for continued growth and improvement by coordinating the development of short- and long-range goals for the department, evaluating progress and contracting with professional consultants, as needed, to achieve these goals.
• Ensures fiscal responsibility and accountability by coordinating the preparation of the annual budget, authorizing the expenditure of housing funds, and maintaining overall budget control.
• Provides for properly maintained facilities by coordinating and monitoring the department's maintenance repair and replacement requests and processes.
• Ensures the hiring and employment of quality personnel by directly or indirectly supervising the selection, training, and evaluation of all Residential Life/Housing staff.
• Encourages professional staff development by approving and/or appointing staff members to appropriate University committees.
• Works to maximizes occupancy in the residence halls by coordinating marketing efforts, monitoring the application and assignment process, and providing quality services and opportunities to students.
• Ensures fiscal accountability of business practices, including payments, transfers to the vendor, and commission collection and distribution.
• Serves as the liaison between the vendor and the residential and campus community, Financial Services, and other areas of the University.
• Ensures the development of an environment that fosters student development and enhances educational opportunities through the promotion of academic support programs, leadership opportunities, and financial support for students.
• Promotes a safe and secure environment through the implementation of various safety awareness programs, the distribution of pertinent materials, and the maintenance of equipment and hardware which contribute to the security of the residence halls.
• Assesses program outcomes and goal achievement by providing opportunities for student evaluation of the residential life and implementations of appropriate recommendations.
• Provides the appropriate communication with all constituents by meeting and counseling with students, parents, faculty, and staff about housing issues and concerns.
• Promotes a positive image of the University and department, while ensuring current practices and issues in the field are addressed, by attending professional conferences and monitoring and implementing, through research and education, current trends and developments in the field of residence life.
• Prevents institutional liability by ensuring departmental compliance with existing University and state fiscal and personnel policies and procedures regarding residence life systems.
• Facilitates the resolution of emergency or critical situations by responding to such incidents involving housing residents and by serving as a departmental spokesperson for all media inquiries.
• Maintains an active communication flow by providing reports to the Dean of Students/Executive Director of Housing and Residential Life and/or the Vice President of Student Affairs regarding the operations and activities of the department and other pertinent information relative to departmental operations.
• Facilitates a work environment that encourages knowledge of, respect for, and development of skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds.
• Remains competent and current through self-directed professional reading, developing professional contacts with colleagues, attending professional development courses, and attending training and/or courses as recommended by university executive leadership.
• Supports the overall mission of the University and the Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management by performing all other duties delegated by the Dean of Students/Executive Director of Housing and Residential Life or the Vice President for Student Affairs

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree (Master's preferred)
• 3-5 years' experience in the housing profession with exposure to various facets of residential life, such as budgeting, living/learning, student conduct, supervision, student development, programming, and building maintenance,
• Demonstrated experience in entry-level and mid0level management in housing with increasing levels of responsibility.
• Demonstrated development and management of a substantial budget and contract oversight experience preferred.
• Must have the ability and willingness to assume shared responsibility for residence hall system-wide on-call duty and respond to crisis and emergency situations. Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills are required.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• The incumbent will be required to live on campus for 12 months per year.
• The incumbent will be required to participate in and lead the professional staff and Resident Director on-call rotation.
• Regularly required to sit and/or stand, use hands and fingers, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls, reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear; lift and/or move up to 20 pounds.
• Occasionally lift 20 pounds overhead and 40 pounds from waist to shoulder
• Specific vision abilities required include close, distant color visions, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate.

USG Core Values Statement

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning, as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.