Resident Director

Apply for Job Job ID 53684
Location Evanston, Illinois
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Department: Residential Experience
Salary/Grade: EXS/5

About Northwestern University: Recognized both nationally and internationally for the quality of its educational programs at all levels, Northwestern University is a private institution founded in 1851. The University has two campuses located on Lake Michigan: a 240-acre campus in Evanston, the first suburb north of Chicago, and a 25-acre campus in Chicago. Northwestern also has a campus in Education City, Doha. Northwestern University in Qatar (NU-Q) offers undergraduate degree programs in communication and journalism.

Northwestern combines innovative teaching and pioneering research in a highly collaborative environment that transcends traditional academic boundaries. It has distinguished itself by encouraging innovation and integrating experiences across fields. Northwestern provides students, faculty, and staff exceptional opportunities for intellectual, personal and professional growth in a setting enhanced by the richness of Chicago.

Northwestern University's Residential Services focuses on the needs of residents and fosters conditions for them to experience meaningful engagement, develop a sense of social belonging, help educate about and support well-being, develop agency in the residential experience, and champion a welcoming community. Northwestern's Residential Services program serves nearly 4,300 undergraduates and nearly 650 graduate students in more than 27 residence halls, 10 residential colleges, and 3 graduate apartments. Visit our website for more information about the department's mission and operations:

Resident Directors (RDs) are professional staff members who live on campus and manage a residential area of approximately 350-700 students. Resident Directors supervise one Assistant Resident Director (ARD) and between 12 and 18 undergraduate or graduate Resident Assistants (RAs/GRAs). Resident Directors work as part of the Office of Residential Experience and collaborate with the broader Residential Services team to foster residential community that fulfills the mission, vision, and goals of the Division of Student Affairs. RDs promote student agency and accountability while empowering residents to make healthy, informed decisions. RDs also facilitate opportunities that support students' academic success, personal development, and well-being. This position includes working with students, staff, and faculty from a variety of different backgrounds in a rigorous academic environment.

Frequent evening and weekend availability are essential and expected.

Principal Accountabilities:

Assist in the development of the Residential Experience in a select area of campus consisting of one or more residential buildings, housing approximately 350-700 students.

• 20% Develop meaningful relationships with students by providing opportunities for growth and development. This will be achieved through:
  • Developing and implementing Residential Experience Framework initiatives, including significant opportunities to be present and visible in the community (e.g., programming, community walks, attending student events, overseeing RA community building, etc.)
  • Supporting conduct and community standards processes as a case resolution coordinator and adjudicating violations of Residential Services and University policies and procedures
  • Collaborating with and supporting academic initiatives (e.g., Faculty-in-Residence collaboration, supporting residential colleges, etc.)
• 20% Directly supervise 12-18 undergraduate or graduate Resident Assistants (RAs/GRAs)
  • Co-lead and co-facilitate the recruitment, training, and development of up to 18 RAs/GRAs with an Assistant Resident Director
• 10% Directly supervise and facilitate the recruitment, training, development, and evaluation of one Assistant Resident Director (ARD)
• 10% Serve in the on-call duty rotation; On-call duty responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
  • Responding via phone and in person to various emergency and crisis situations (i.e., mental health concerns, medical assessments, facilities issues, fire alarms, etc.)
  • Collaborating with emergency personnel and after-hours resources to provide student support
  • Submitting incident reports to document issues and concerns
  • Supporting on-call RAs and GRAs
• 10% Provide support for student well-being:
  • Conducting health and safety checks for residents of concern
  • Locating and talking to students about issues for which any negative impacts are in the past, part of an ongoing issue that is already being managed, or not yet present
  • Providing referrals to resources to address the student's concern(s)
  • Follow up with students after distressing situations
• 5% Serve on, with the possibility of leading, one to two departmental committees.
  • Committees include (may change from year to year depending on the needs of the Office of Residential Experience):
    • Hall Staff Recruitment and Training
    • Operations
    • Staff Development
    • Appreciation
    • RA Recruitment, Selection, and Training
• 5% Serve as a liaison for information from the hall level to the central office, including but not limited to:
  • Observing student trends and needs and relaying information to partners in Area Leadership Team meetings and to other administrators.
  • Communicating information from Residential Services staff to students
  • Distributing flyers and postings throughout residential communities

Assist in the maintenance and administration of a residential community, which will be achieved through:

• 5% Managing facilities opening and closing
• 5% Managing occupancy and facilities and assist with access control
• 5% Ensuring good stewardship of finances
• 5% Utilizing technology, including but not limited to: Maxient, ERezLife, When to Work, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft 365, RMS Mercury, and KeyTrak

Other duties as assigned - Duties and assignments are subject to change at the Department of Residential Services' discretion.

Minimum Qualifications and Competencies:

A successful candidate will have the following:

• Bachelor's degree
• 1-3 years full or part-time previous experience in residential life, housing, student activities, or student affairs
• Experience supervising paraprofessional staff within residential life, housing, student activities, or student affairs
• Excellent interpersonal communication, organizational, and administrative skills/experience
• A commitment to student development

Preferred Qualifications and Competencies:

• Prior work experience working closely with faculty members in a residential setting
• Completed master's degree in higher education or related field
• Intermediate knowledge or experience processing spreadsheets, email, and database software programs
• Strong problem-solving and prioritization skills
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, complex organization
• Ability to engage in critical thinking and intentional decision making
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent mediation and conflict resolution skills
• Experience working with individuals from a variety of backgrounds
• Ability to work both independently and in a team environment
• Strong customer service skills

Compensation: The pay for the Resident Director position is $51,350 per year. Resident Directors also receive housing accommodations and a meal plan to use when the campus dining halls are open. At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality healthcare plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts, and more. Visit to learn more.

Employment Term: Resident Director roles are 3-year term appointments with the possibility of a one-time one-year extension.

Work will extend beyond academic terms and require RDs to be on campus before the start of each academic term for move-in responsibilities and after the closing of buildings at the end of academic terms for move-out. These and other timeframes may be designated "vacation blackout" or "limited time away" by the RCS leadership team at the start of each academic year.

Benefits: At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful and competitive benefits. The available benefits package for this position will include health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance; paid vacation and holidays; paid medical/sick and parental leave; tuition benefits for the employee and dependents; pre-tax and flex spending accounts for commuting and dependent care; generous retirement savings options; and wellness programs. For a comprehensive overview of available benefits, including eligibility details, visit us at to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness: Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles. We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at to learn more.

Professional Growth and Development: Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at to learn more.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. View Northwestern's non-discrimination statement . Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View additional information on the accommodations process .

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