Residence Director

Join our community and experience Emerson College !

Job Description Summary
The Residence Director (RD) is responsible for the overall management of a residential community housing between 250-500 first-year or upper-class students. This unique position requires the RD to live on campus in order to fulfill frequent evening and weekend responsibilities (including, but not limited to advising students, facilitating and participating in programming efforts, as well as assisting with special campus events). Additionally, this role serves in an on-call capacity to respond to both emergency and non-crisis situations. This position also oversees aspects of the community and individual development that occurs in the Residence Halls including RA training, RA programming/community development, and Learning/Themed/Specialty Community support. This position operates outside of the standard business hours of the institution and requires work on evenings and weekends.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES

• Hire, train and supervise Resident Assistant staff. Review applications, conduct candidate interviews, and participate in staff selection meetings. Lead sessions and create instructional documents for staff training. Conduct weekly staff meetings and weekly individual supervision meetings. Provide feedback and encouragement to staff members. Hold staff accountable and provide ongoing opportunities for growth.
• Maintain an active presence within their residential area both by regularly scheduled office hours and attending programs and events within the building and campus communities. There will periodically be a need for work to be completed outside the traditional business hours of the College based on the needs of the community and processes occurring.
• Meet with individual students to discuss problems and concerns, provide assistance and/or appropriate referrals, follow-up on community related concerns, and provide challenges and opportunities for learning and student development. Respond to psychological, behavioral, medical, Title IX and maintenance emergencies by acting within established protocol.
• Adjudicate policy violations and update software associated with each documented violation. Serve as a primary hearing officer for violations in assigned areas and conduct meaningful discussions with students about the decisions they are making. Serve on conduct boards as assigned.
• Address facilities concerns in a timely manner. Make sure that housing facilities are maintained in a clean and safe manner. Address any concerns raised by students and ensure that problems are fixed in a timely manner. Make sure that residents are maintaining appropriate levels of cleanliness in facilities. Manage and track keys and lock inventory in the building.
• Facilitate roommate conflict resolution by training student staff in conflict resolution, facilitating the completion of roommate and suitemate agreements, regular following up on reported student conflict and meeting personally with students in a timely manner.
• Oversee RA programming and community development. Approve proposals for active and passive programs. Coordinate efforts in order to address educational and social needs of residents. Assist with logistical matters related to program completion. Manage budget for all hall events. Ensure that appropriate documentation has been submitted. Oversee building initiatives through EmConnect.
• Serve as a facilitator for Emersion, Emerson College's First Year Experience course each academic year. Advise Learning Community(ies)/themed housing/ specialty housing, including RA and student programming efforts.
• Supervise the Welcome Desk, including Welcome Desk Coordinator and Welcome Desk Assistants.
• Manage Hall Opening/Closing and maintain accurate records of residents in the building. Coordinate all closing and opening procedures for the residence hall at semester and holiday breaks. Maintain accurate records of students residing in the building.
• Prepare and follow up on systems and reports, including occupancy reports, statistics, incident reports, maintenance reports, evaluation, hall opening/ closing, and mid-year and annual reports by maintaining accurate records, utilizing management tools, documenting incidents, concerns and recommendations, checking office email and physical mail daily, and writing evaluative reports.
• Serve on departmental and institutional committees; attend departmental and area staff meetings and training. Work up to 5 hours a week (depending on the events and time of the year) on an assigned collateral assignment with other offices. Some areas considered are: Orientation Program Planning, Class Council, Late Night/Weekend programming, Leadership Development/Engagement, and Care and Concern.
• Actively serve in on-campus duty rotation, ensuring the professional staff are able to respond to any emergency or non-emergency situations that arise anytime students are on-campus. Examples of duty responsibilities include responding to emergencies impacting student physical or emotional health, residence hall facilities, or crucial operations; communicating via phone and providing keys to students who need to transition to quarantine/isolation housing; non-emergency responsibilities include responding to calls from concerned faculty, staff and parents.
• Perform other miscellaneous duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS - Qualifications are deemed required or preferred and represent what is needed to perform effectively in this Job.

• Master's Degree in College Student Personnel, Student Affairs, Psychology, or a related field required
• Minimum of 1 year of full-time experience working with college students required
• Experience in housing/residential life field required
• Proficiency with housing assignment software such as StarRez, and student conduct software such as Maxient preferred

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES - This may be representative but not all-inclusive of the knowledge, skills, and abilities commonly associated with the job.

• Comprehensive knowledge of student development theory, housing operations, and residential life
• Ability to effectively work with students from a broad range of backgrounds and life experiences
• Demonstrated understanding of developmental and social issues experienced by college students
• Knowledge of facilities management
• Strong analytical, technological and organizational skills
• Ability to supervise and train staff members
• Strong communication, interpersonal and customer service skills
• Ability to foster and maintain strong working relationships
• Ability to problem solve, use good judgment and think critically
• Ability to be flexible and adapt to changing circumstances
• Exceptional accuracy and attention to detail required

PHYSICAL ABILITIES - Activities commonly associated with the performance of the functions of this job. The physical demands described below are representative of those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• This position is generally sedentary in nature, movement throughout the area is required from time to time.
• Ability to have continuous oral and written communication with co-workers, supervisors, and customers is essential.
• Repetitive movements, occasional lifting of up to 10 pounds, reaching, lifting, stooping and the ability to read a computer screen, detect color-coding and read fine print will be expected.
• Ability to serve in an out-of-hours on-campus duty rotation is required.
• Ability to work outside of standard business hours and weekends on occasion

WORK ENVIRONMENT - Environmental or atmospheric conditions commonly associated with the performance of the functions of this job.

• General office conditions.
• Exposed to moderate noise levels
• This position lives on campus

Disclaimer: This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees may be required to follow other job-related instructions and to perform other job-related duties as requested, subject to all applicable state and federal laws. Certain job duties described herein may be subject to possible modification in accordance with applicable state and federal laws.

LIVE ON EXPECTATIONS

The Residence Director will live on campus so that they can fulfill frequent evening and weekend responsibilities, including advising students and assisting with special campus events.

IN-OFFICE EXPECTATIONS

This position is primarily a hybrid role with expected days in the office each week.

The hybrid arrangement will be made upon hire. Candidates must reside within a reasonable commuting distance of the Boston campus to ensure operational effectiveness. This arrangement must be approved as outlined in the Remote Work Policy.

Compensation: $47,550.00 - $56,950.00 annually, commensurate with experience.


Grade of Position: 23-05E

Employment Category: Regular

Scheduled Weekly Hours: 36.25

In addition to a competitive salary, Emerson College is committed to the health and well-being of our employees and family members. We offer a generous benefits package to regular staff scheduled to work 20+ hours per week.


Emerson Employment Categories influence work schedules, benefits eligibility, and time off policies. Benefits include outstanding health plans with limited out-of-pocket expenses, dental plans, generous time-off programs, and a 403(b) retirement benefit with a 9% employer contribution once eligible. Additional benefits, such as life and disability coverage and commuter offerings, are available.

Please refer to our benefits website for a full list of benefits and eligibility requirements.