Executive Director of Residential Life

The Executive Director of Residential Life ensures that the residential experience fosters educational, social, and personal growth in students as part of the overall co-curricular program.  The Executive Director has responsibility for: creating a welcoming and positive residential environment; monitoring the state of and proposing improvements to the physical infrastructure of residence halls; developing and implementing clear and educational housing and residential life policies; adjudicating student conduct issues; and liaising with the external food services provider to ensure quality in the dining experience and address issues as they arise.  The Executive Director works closely with other student-serving offices to promote student success, safety, persistence, and wellbeing.


Essential Functions:
The following list of duties is meant to be representative of the work performed in this position.  The omission of a specific duty or responsibility will not preclude it from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical extension of position responsibilities.

• Provide administrative leadership and supervision in the Office of Residential Life
• Oversee the effective, timely, and appropriate training of all residential life staff, both professional and student
• Develop and implement initiatives promoting student engagement and community development within residential life
• Support student success and retention; serve as member of the Core Retention Group
• Support students experiencing personal challenges; serve as member of the SafeIC Behavioral Intervention Team
• Collaborate effectively with offices on campus including, but not limited to: Facilities Management; Enrollment Management; Center for Student Engagement, Inclusion, and Belonging; Public Safety; Dining Services; Academic Affairs; Business Affairs; Athletics; Campus Events
• Adjudicate student conduct issues in an educational manner and in accordance with College policy
• Oversee and ensure the accuracy of all data in the residential life databases
• Engage in strategic campus capital planning pertaining to the residence halls, apartments, and houses
• Partner with the Office of Public Safety to coordinate and respond to safety and security issues affecting the residential students on campus
• Manage room and board assignments, coordinating the assignment process for all students, and facilitating room and board changes
• Work with the Office of Student Financial Services to ensure the billing for room and board is accurate and with dining services to verify the accuracy of board plan numbers 
• Respond to campus emergencies as a member of the Administrator On-Call process
• Serve as a member of the College's Incident Management Team
• Respond to campus emergencies as needed
• Provide direct support and intervention to students as needed and appropriate
• Serve on campus-wide committees and task forces as needed and appropriate
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in higher education, or related field required
• Previous experience working in residential life in the college setting and supervisory experience of professional staff required; strong preference for minimum of three years supervisory experience within student life or residential life
• Previous experience with facilities management  
• Excellent communication, organizational, and project management skills
• Basic counseling and conflict mediation skills
• Strong and broad knowledge of student development theory 
• Excellent professional judgment and ability to manage sensitive and confidential information 
• Ability to communicate and work effectively with students and their parents, faculty, and staff within all areas of the College
• Intercultural competence and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion
• Valid driver’s license and ability to obtain college vehicle driving certification
• Ability and willingness to work some evenings and weekends as needed

Additional Job Details:
Job Title: Executive Director of Residential Life
Department:  Office of the Provost
Reports to:  Provost and Dean of the College
Status: Full time, salary, 12 month
Date Last Revised:  January 2025
Salary Range: $58,000-$68,000
Benefits Information: To view benefit information related to this position, please visit this link.


About Illinois College:
Illinois College is a residential, private liberal arts college located in the heart of Illinois, 70 miles northeast of Saint Louis, Missouri, and 30 miles west of Springfield, the capital of Illinois. True to its founding vision in 1829, Illinois College is a community committed to the highest standards of scholarship and integrity in the liberal arts. The College develops in its students qualities of mind and character needed for fulfilling lives of leadership and service, fostering academic excellence rooted in opportunities for experiential learning while preparing students for lifelong success.

Salary : $58,000 - $68,000