Resident Director – Campus Housing

UIC is among the nation’s preeminent urban public research universities, a Carnegie RU/VH research institution, and the largest university in Chicago. UIC serves over 34,000 students, comprising one of the most diverse student bodies in the nation and is designated as a Minority Serving Institution (MSI), an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPSI), and a Hispanic Serving Institution (HIS).  Through its 16 colleges, UIC produces nationally and internationally recognized multidisciplinary academic programs in concert with civic, corporate, and community partners worldwide, including a full complement of health sciences colleges.  By emphasizing cutting-edge and transformational research along with a commitment to the success of all students, UIC embodies the dynamic, vibrant, and engaged urban university.

Campus Housing Campus Housing supports the academic mission of the University of Illinois Chicago by creating on-campus residential communities that actively assist in enhancing a student’s sense of belonging, increasing a student’s self-awareness, and developing a student’s skillset to transform their local and global communities through positive change. Campus Housing values collaboration, commitment to excellence, growth mindset, inclusivity, innovation, relationship building, and a student-centered approach. With the university and department at the forefront of change, employees must demonstrate the ability to make timely, well-informed decisions, use professional judgment in complex situations; and demonstrate critical, creative, and reflective thinking skills. The Resident Director must be able to effectively handle complex situations; work calmly and accurately to de-escalate situations and resolve escalated issues through constructive and creative approaches.  

Position Description:

This position oversees the administration of a designated residence hall(s) in the context of a non-traditional workday, with an emphasis on student engagement and community development. This position guides residents to engage in residential communities, participates in initiatives that support academic achievement including working with Faculty-in-Residence, collaborates with academic departments, manages resident interventions and referrals, and identifies, encourages, and advises student leaders.

This position coordinates the administrative functions of a residence hall such as student oversight, student employment, management of programming budget, guest housing, facility management & maintenance, and manages all aspects of Campus Housing programmatic efforts the community development model and serves as the conduct officer for both Campus Housing and the Dean of Students in student conduct hearings.  This is a live-in position that requires the ability to execute independent judgment in providing direction and assistance while acting as a first responder to student crises and provides duty coverage for evenings, weekends, and holidays. This position may supervise and develop undergraduate staff, Sr. undergraduate staff, and/or an Assistant Resident Director. 

Key Responsibilities/Duties:

 Supervision

• Establish expectations, goals, and vision for the academic year and lead hall staff toward the successful realization of them.
• Provide onboarding, training, and development to RA staff and other staffs they may oversee.
• Provide ongoing feedback and evaluation to RAs and other student staff as needed.
• Plan, assign and review work of Resident Assistants to ensure group objectives are met.
• Hold staff accountable to job expectations, job description, department, and University policies and procedures.
• Facilitate weekly staff meeting.

Crisis / Emergency Response

• Participate in 24-hour on-call rotation schedule with other RD Staff that includes evenings, weekends, and some holidays.
• Respond on-site to medical, mental health, facilities, and weather emergencies during on-call duty.
• Act as the first responder in minor and major emergency situations within own hall and other halls when on-call.
• Provide ongoing emergency response training and drills for hall staff.
• This is a live-in position.

Administrative

• Manage a co-residential housing facility of occupancy ranging from 250-600 students.
• Work with Campus Administrative Team in maintaining occupancy management through Star Rez System.
• Work with area Housing Officer to maintain desk functions within hall/area.
• Create and monitor various staff budgets that include hall programming, staff, and student organization budgets.
• Create and distribute reports as needed and requested.
• Track and oversee staff programming efforts.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with campus partners.

Facilities

• Participate in regularly scheduled building tours and inspections to monitor hall upkeep and facilities.
• Oversee and monitor all hall openings and closings.
• Ensure hall security by holding staff accountable to departmental and campus policies and procedures.
• Troubleshoot day-to-day work orders and unanticipated building maintenance and/or repair.
• Communicate and follow up with housekeeping and maintenance as needed.
• Troubleshoot after-hour facility and maintenance issues when on-call.

Community / Academic Initiatives

• Work with student staff and hall leaders to create a celebrative, positive, and healthy hall atmosphere and community
• Advising student leadership groups within campus housing
• Work with staff to incorporate the Residential Curriculum into community and academic initiatives.
• Oversee the Living Learning Communities, Affinity Spaces, and Faculty-In-Residence (FIR) that reside in hall.

Student Advocacy and Outreach

• Assess the needs and concerns of students and provide appropriate direction.
• Provide support and necessary resources to students in need of mental health, physical health, and immediate crisis response.
• Provide support and appropriate resources to parents of students who may reach out.
• Contact parents or outside agencies to inform or gather information when necessary.
• Provide quality customer service to housing residents, guests, and visitors.
• Hold students accountable and responsible for their actions through the University and Campus Housing conduct process.
• Honor student’s right to be heard and to be granted proper due process.
• Champion diversity and inclusion efforts and their vital importance to the work we do.
• Perform other related duties and participate in special projects as assigned.

• Participate in Special Assignments / Collateral that could include work in Selection, Training, Curriculum Development, Leadership/Advising, Diversity & Inclusion
• Assist in Campus Housing marketing efforts to maintain healthy residence hall occupancy and recruit students to UIC.
• Support ongoing assessment efforts.       

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree required.
• Master’s degree in Higher Education or in a related field preferred.
• A minimum of 2 years of student affairs experience. Strong interpersonal, management, organizational, and communication skills.

Benefits:

UIC provides a generous benefits package, including 24 days of earned vacation leave, up to 13 days of non-cumulative sick leave and 12 days of cumulative sick leave and University holidays including 2 floating holidays. Health, dental and vision insurance is provided for staff and their eligible dependents, as well as life insurance, flexible spending accounts, and a choice of retirement plans.  More information is available at: https://www.hr.uillinois.edu/benefits/

Required Application Materials:

Submit your application via the University online application system, through the following link:

https://uic.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/1/home/requisition/8906?c=uic.  

For full consideration, submit an online application that includes an uploaded cover letter and resume as well as the names and contact information of three references by April 26, 2024.

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.

The university provides accommodations to applicants and employees. Request an Accommodation

Requirements

• Start Date: No Start Date
• Education: Master's Degree Preferred
• Work Experience: 0 - 2 years
• Part/Full Time: Full-Time

Contact / Additional Information

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree required.
• Master’s degree in Higher Education or in a related field preferred.
• A minimum of 2 years of student affairs experience. Strong interpersonal, management, organizational and communication skills.

Required Application Materials:

Submit your application via the University online application system, through the following link:

https://uic.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/1/home/requisition/8906?c=uic.  

For full consideration, submit an online application that includes an uploaded cover letter and resume as well as the names and contact information of three references by April 26, 2024.