What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Residence Life position at Southern Wesleyan University?
Job type
Full Time
Location
Main Campus
Department
Student Life Office
Salary
TBD
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Director of Residence Life
Accepting applications
About this position
DIRECTOR OF RESIDENCE LIFE
Position Description
LOCATION: Central, SC
CLASSIFICATION: Regular, full-time, 12-month, salaried, exempt
On-campus housing, full meal plan
Salary Level VI
REPORTS TO: Assistant Vice President for Student Life
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The Director of Residence Life position at Southern Wesleyan University (SWU) is a highly relational role that provides leadership and vision for the residence life staff on SWU’s traditional campus. The Director leads the team of the full-time Residence Directors (RDs), graduate level Assistant Residence Directors (ARDs) and student Resident Assistants (RAs). This oversight includes management of the Residence Life operational budgets, planning of ARD and RA training retreats, coordination of ARD and RA hiring processes and front line student conduct meetings. The Director of Residence Life oversees housing assignments and details.
The Director promotes the spiritual and holistic development of students and supports the educational goals of SWU through mentoring and discipleship of students, modeling desired values, attitudes and behavior, and providing educational programs. This is a full-time, twelve-month, live-in position. Interested candidates should be enthusiastically willing to embrace and serve within the context of a flexible schedule, understanding that students are our work, and therefore should be willing to incorporate evenings and weekends into their schedule at varying times. The Director of Residence Life at Southern Wesleyan is also expected to be intentionally engaged across the Southern Wesleyan campus community, i.e. the dining hall setting, various athletic and fine arts events, chapel, etc.
This position will also be the live-in Residence Director for one of the on-campus residence halls. The Director will provide leadership to 6-10 Resident Assistants (RAs) as well as one 10-month, graduate level Assistant Residence Director (ARD). The Director will be expected to develop and lead with specific discipleship and mentoring plans for their RAs and lead within the context of the established curriculum and plan of personal and professional development of the ARD.
In Residence Life at Southern Wesleyan University, we exist to foster transformational community with students – loving God, loving people and teaching others to do the same.
About our ideal candidate
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Administer Student Life and Residence Life Policies
- Assist with planning and evaluation of Student Life goals and objectives.
- Direct the opening and closing of the residence hall each semester and over breaks.
- Provide leadership in implementing SWU’s restorative discipline process in the residence hall when appropriate.
- Assume direct supervision of Residence Life budgeting and expenses.
- Participate in scheduled Residence Life and Student Life staff meetings.
- Monitor furniture and equipment needs in the residence halls and apartments of SWU.
- Monitor residential physical plant concerns and communicate concerns to proper offices for resolution.
- Revise RA training manual and materials and plan training for beginning of each semester.
- Supervise Residence Hall Staff
- Participate in the selection, training, supervision and evaluation of the residence hall staff (RDs, RAs and ARDs).
- Orient staff to expectations, policies and procedures.
- Conduct weekly team meetings and one-on-one meetings with RDs, RAs, and ARD.
- Assist with the planning of residence staff training events.
- Manage Housing Assignments and Details
- Maintain up-to-date records within the housing assignment software, including housing assignments for new and returning students, meal plans and accurate student billing.
- Process commuter verification forms.
- Maintain current, timely and excellent communication with students regarding pertinent housing information.
- Work in conjunction with the Admissions Office to place new students in housing.
- Oversee and respond to student’s special needs that may warrant billing adjustment or special accommodations.
- Oversee Emotional Support Animal (ESA) applications and the process of approval. This includes working directly with the RDs to establish and maintain a healthy environment where ESAs are present in the residence halls.
- Work regularly with the Student Accounts Office and Dining Hall Contractor (currently Pioneer College Caterers) to assure student meal plans are accurate and well maintained.
- Oversee application process for the Jericho House community. This is a housing community that serves individuals with special needs/disabilities, and SWU students committed to mentoring and assisting these individuals.
- Foster Community Development
- Make personal contact with residential students and attempt to build community.
- Advise and counsel students.
- Refer students to appropriate offices for assistance.
- Assist in orienting new students to the residence hall and campus community.
- Facilitate interaction between faculty and students.
- Implement Educational Programs
- Attend various residence hall programs.
- Assist RAs in planning activities.
- Plan and implement educational activities congruent with the programming model.
- Participate in Professional Development
- Attend training sessions as offered by the Student Life Office.
- Attend annual regional or national student development conferences as directed.
- Maintain membership in a national professional organization (as budget permits).
7. Additional Responsibilities
- Cooperate with other campus offices in sharing non-confidential student information.
- Take the initiative to effectively address student life issues/needs that arise daily.
- Attend chapel regularly.
- Engage students regularly in the dining hall setting.
- Represent needs and concerns of students to supervisor
- Serve on faculty/staff committees as assigned.
- Participate in new student orientation programs.
- Other duties as assigned by supervisor or the Vice President for Student Life.
- Assist Admissions and other campus departments as directed with visiting groups and opportunities to use the community spaces within the residence halls.
- Assist Conference Services with summer groups and camps as directed.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree required. A master’s degree in counseling, higher education or related field preferred.
- Experience working in a higher education environment is strongly preferred.
- Must have excellent interpersonal and communication skills along with the ability to relate and work effectively with people.
- Maturity, confidentiality, integrity and discretion are essential.
- The ability to work with minimal supervision or instruction, the willingness to work in a team environment, and a commitment to customer service are essential.
- SWU is committed to maximizing the use of technology in its daily operations and in achieving its strategic goals; the ideal candidate will have a high comfort level with web-based, mobile and PC applications including but not limited to the use of Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, etc.).
OTHER REQUIREMENTS
- Mission and Lifestyle Expectations. SWU is a Christian liberal arts institution in the Wesleyan-Holiness theological tradition. In light of SWU’s unapologetically Christ-centered mission, all employees are expected to embrace the university’s Statement of Faith, commit to the mission of the university, respect the beliefs of the Wesleyan Church, adhere to its lifestyle expectations and demonstrate a mature relationship with Jesus Christ.
- Physical/Environmental Requirements. This position involves a variety of physical activity ranging from sedentary to light work. It may require the ability to sit for periods of time in an interior office environment along with some light activity outdoors. Infrequent lifting of objects up to 10 pounds may be required and, occasionally, items up and exceeding 20 pounds.
- Travel/Driving. May be required to drive university vehicles from time-to-time. Sporadic traveling associated with professional development conferences, training events, etc.
- Pre-employment Screening. Employment is contingent on the completion of a background screening.
About us
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
It is the policy of Southern Wesleyan University to provide and maintain equal employment opportunities to qualified individuals regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions (including but not limited to lactation), disability, genetic information, veteran-status, age, or any other classification protected by state, federal, or local law, unless a bona fide occupational qualification applies. The University reserves its right to operate as a church-related institution and to develop policies consistent with the religious tenets of its sponsoring denomination, The Wesleyan Church, and is permitted and reserves the right to prefer employees on the basis of religion (Title VII, Section 702-703, United States Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended).
University Mission
Southern Wesleyan University is a Christ-centered, student-focused learning community devoted to transforming lives by challenging students to be dedicated scholars and servant-leaders who impact the world for Christ. In addition to specific academic requirements, SWU provides quality undergraduate and graduate programs in a distinctively Christian environment that fosters the integration of faith, learning, and living. Candidates for employment must support the Christian mission of the university and give evidence of successful professional experience, mature faith, and consistent Christian lifestyle.
To view the university's profile, visit About SWU. To learn more about The Wesleyan Church-it's history, beliefs, and position on current issues-visit wesleyan.org/about. Applicants for employment are encouraged to view the following links providing additional information about how our campus community lives out these beliefs and practices.
Statement of Purpose
Doctrinal Statement
Community Expectations
University Core Values
Christ Centered: Purpose, Scholarship, Community, Transformation
- Purpose: A specific calling for a unique role in our world.
- Scholarship: Academic excellence in an innovative faith-centered environment.
- Community: Belonging to a connected and compassionate body of learners.
- Transformation: Christ’s redemptive work in individual and corporate life.
We believe that every individual has a God given purpose, brought to fruition by the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit and the challenge of scholarship. As we participate in a consecrated community of learners we are continuously transformed into the image of Christ both individually and corporately.
