Area Director

Job Title: Area Director
Department: Residential Life
Classification: Exempt
Grade: 10
FTE/Working Schedule: 1.0 FTE (40 hours/week)

Position Overview:

Carleton College provides housing for approximately 1,850 students in eleven residence halls, twenty-six houses, and nine townhouse apartments. The Area Director is a live-in staff member who works with the staff and students to develop a comfortable living and learning environment and assists individuals with their personal development. As a member of the Residential Life Staff within the Division of Student Life, the Area Director will serve in many capacities, including the roles of a community builder, educator, adviser, supervisor, and administrator. In these roles, the Area Director helps to shape the quality of the residential experience for the students

Compensation:

The expected annual salary for this position is $45,000.

Essential Job Functions/Responsibilities:

Supervision

• Conduct weekly staff meetings with Resident Assistants to provide information, coordinate initiatives, assist with residential issues, and provide on-going training and team development.
• Provide on-going feedback, advice, and support to student staff through consistent one- on-one meetings as well as formal feedback through performance evaluations.
• Encourage the achievement of specific goals and objectives in relation to the RA position.
• Participate in the annual pre-academic year orientation and training for Area Directors and Resident Assistants and in the development programs offered throughout the year.
• Share in the responsibility for the recruitment and selection of student staff.

Community Development

• Be visible in the residential area, viewed by residents as available and approachable.
• Be an effective role model, demonstrating the values appropriate to community living.
• Assess student needs and interests on a continual basis.
• Follow-up on student needs as determined by CARE team discussion or other interactions.
• Assist students in developing personal responsibility for their actions and respect for the rights of others.
• Establish an atmosphere conducive to academic success.
• Develop, encourage, and participate in activities and programs in the hall.
• Assist students with individual problems through advising, counseling, and referral.

Administration

• Attend weekly departmental meetings and monthly division meetings.
• Collect and disseminate Residential Life information to staff and residents.
• Manage crises and participate in the Residential Life on-call system and CARE team meetings. Serve as the building liaison in emergency situations.
• Complete weekly reports, term reports and end of the year reports.
• Communicate with custodial services, maintenance, and campus security services regarding building issues.
• Assist with opening and closing of residence halls. Be available on campus before the halls open each term and remain on campus until all areas are closed and closing activities are completed at the end of each term.
• Assist the department with the coordination of fire drills, fire safety inspections, and safety related issues.
• Provide assistance to the central office regarding accurate building rosters, room changes and facility issues.
• Assist in the hiring processes of Resident Assistants and Area Directors.
• Perform other duties as assigned within the Office of Residential Life.

Campus Liaison

• Become familiar with campus resources for student referrals, program development, and staff/student leader training.
• Establish a working relationship with other Student Life and campus offices to prevent and resolve student problems.
• Work with the custodial staff to ensure student support and clean facilities.
• Work within the Division of Student Life on committees, task force groups and special projects.
• Encourage and initiate interaction among residence hall students, faculty, staff and others.

Conduct and Community Standards Responsibilities

• Enforce College community standards as outlined by the Dean of Students' office and the Student Handbook.
• Serve as an appropriate role model for students and encourage students to accept responsibility for their own behavior.
• File and review reports through the online reporting system as appropriate.
• Meet with students to discuss situations that are not in accordance with our community standards.
• Consult with the on-call group regarding how to handle cases

Additional Job Responsibilities:

Other duties as assigned.

Supervision Received and Exercised:

• Conduct weekly staff meetings with Resident Assistants to provide information, coordinate initiatives, assist with residential issues, and provide on-going training and team development.
• Provide on-going feedback, advice, and support to student staff through consistent one- on-one meetings as well as formal feedback through performance evaluations.
• Encourage the achievement of specific goals and objectives in relation to the RA position.
• Participate in the annual pre-academic year orientation and training for Area Directors and Resident Assistants and in the development programs offered throughout the year.
• Share in the responsibility for the recruitment and selection of student staff.

Education/Experience/Skills:

Required:

• The Office of Residential Life seeks candidates with a master's degree and previous residence hall experience. All Area Directors must be committed to working with individuals and groups of traditional aged college students in a residential setting. In addition, the Area Director must be available to work on evenings and weekends. Area Directors are required to live in campus housing and to participate in the board plan.

Must have the ability to understand and follow written and oral work instructions, operations, safety procedures, and hazardous labels.


Note: This position description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employees may perform other related duties to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.


Review of applications begins immediately and continues until the hire is complete. We accept only online applications.

Carleton College is an AA/EEO Employer: We are committed to developing our staff to better reflect the diversity of our student body and American society. Members of underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.


Carleton also offers a robust suite of benefits including: A generous 403(b) retirement plan with a 10% employer contribution and 2% employee contribution. Medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance. Paid time-off, including 25 annual leave days, 8 paid holidays, and extra days at the end of the calendar year to make a continuous week off before New Year's. Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for all employees. A dependent tuition program after six years of service.

Founded in 1866, Carleton College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college of roughly 2,000 students located in the historic river town of Northfield, Minnesota. Carleton College occupies more than 1,000 scenic acres of campus, arboretum, over 100 campus buildings, and athletic fields. Located 40 miles south of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Carleton offers access to the cultural advantages of a major metropolitan area.