Director of Residential Life Position Available

Kenyon College

Gambier, Ohio

Job no: 492791
Work type: Exempt Staff
Location: Gambier, OH
Categories:

Kenyon College is conducting a national search for a gifted and collaborative colleague to join us as our new Director of Residential Life. Kenyon recently received a transformational gift of $100 million to build three new residence halls and the new Director of Residential Life will have the opportunity to shape this project with students and campus partners immediately. We take great pride in being a fully residential liberal arts college and the next Director of Residential Life will be a willing partner who engages with the Kenyon community to champion investments in our residential structures/programs. Through this work, our new Director of Residential Life will ensure our commitment to provide our students with a residential environment which promotes rich collaborations and lifelong connections. We are proud to be the home of the Kenyon Review literary magazine, the Brown Family Environmental Center (a 500-acre nature preserve), the Kenyon Access Initiative, and the most team and individual national championships of any NCAA Division III Institution. The new Director of Residential Life will have the ability to deepen our commitment to the entire campus being our classroom and weave educational and community connections across Kenyon.

The Director of Residential Life is a key member of the Division of Student Affairs and supports the mission of the College by overseeing the College’s residential communities, housing operations, and facility and occupancy management. Professional colleagues and student leaders work together to cultivate safe and inclusive living communities and this is a twelve (12) month position that includes some evening and weekend responsibilities.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Serving as a member of the Student Affairs Leadership Team, the position is responsible for providing direction, setting priorities, and establishing goals to advance the College’s mission and values for 6 professional staff members, 2 graduate assistants, and over 50 student leaders.
• Oversee the operation and management of a 1900-student, fully-residential housing program comprising 12 residence halls, 10 specialty houses, and 8 apartment areas.
• Provide direction for student housing operations and management of the College and partner with campus colleagues to ensure these functions are safe, accurate for finance purposes, and appealing to students.
• Responsible for providing leadership, goal establishment, and program implementation that cultivates safe and inclusive living communities in our residential facilities.
• Oversee the development and implementation of comprehensive office-wide trainings and professional development plans.
• Proactively partner with faculty and other campus colleagues to weave citizenship and rich social engagement into the residential and campus experiences.
• Collaborate with colleagues inside and outside of Student Affairs to ensure that student retention continues to be stellar at Kenyon
• Assess, design, and implement policies and procedures based upon best practices that allow for the continuous improvement of campus and office systems.
• Actively seek student feedback from across campus to grow areas of strength and address areas of opportunity.
• Ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion are part of the residential experience and professional development opportunities in this area are provided for the team in Residential Life.
• Provide fiscal oversight for an annual office and student employment budget of over $600,000.
• Establish and maintain positive working relationships with faculty, administrators, and staff who support students and their success.
• Serve as part of the Level 3 On-Call rotation for the campus, providing support and direction to Level 2 rotation members managing campus emergency and crisis situations.
• Collaborate with academic and student affairs partners as a member of the student support team to monitor and develop strategies to support students who are struggling with academic, social, and/or emotional issues.
• Collaborate with campus partners to execute campus-wide processes and events including New Student Orientation, Fall Opening, Spring Closing, and Commencement.
• Collaborate with the Offices of Civil Rights and Student Accessibility and Support Services (SASS) to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as well as Kenyon’s Title IX and Intimate Partner Violence, and Civil Rights policies.
• Conduct other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Oversee the hiring, training, supervision, and evaluation 6 professional staff members, 2 graduate assistants and 50+ undergraduate student team, members.

Other Responsibilities:

• Lead and assist with designated office, divisional, and/or College committees, initiatives, and processes.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with student affairs colleagues, faculty, and other campus partners.
• Ensure excellent customer service for students, families, alumni, and campus guests.
• Continuously identify and address the developmental needs of students through educational interactions and crisis response protocol.
• Develop meaningful connections with students, staff, and faculty by being available and visible on campus.
• Assist with special projects and other duties as needed.

WORKING CONDITIONS

The Director must be within 60 miles of campus while on-call. Work is generally performed in an office environment, but working with students at a residential college requires being able to navigate between residential facilities, including up and down stairs, moving through long hallways, being in buildings without air conditioning, and being outside in various weather conditions. Must also be able to lift boxes of items up to 30 pounds, move tables, chairs, and other furniture. Requires a valid driver’s license and ability to meet campus requirements to drive campus vehicles, to transport students and/or other items. Must be able to work evenings and weekends, including times when the College is closed; this includes the ability to travel and work during inclement weather or other exceptional conditions.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs, Counseling, or a related field.
• At least five years of full-time post-Masterʻs Residential Life and Housing Operations experience, including supervision of professional staff members.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office and Google products; willingness to learn and use Residence, BANNER, and other campus programs to complete office tasks and maintain student records.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality including, but not limited to, student interactions/conduct, conversations with professional staff and administrative documentation.
• Committed to and familiar with the values and needs of a small, private, liberal arts college.
• Sensitivity and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Strong interest in working with and mentoring college students.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to perform a variety of tasks, often on short notice.
• Ability and willingness to perform all job responsibilities listed above.

Applicants should submit a cover letter, résumé, and list of three professional references by 10 December 2021 for full consideration via the Kenyon Human Resources hiring site: https://careers.kenyon.edu/en-us/job/492791/director-of-residential-life. Confidential questions regarding this position may be directed to Dr. Celestino Limas, Vice President for Student Affairs, at limas1@kenyon.edu

Kenyon College is a nationally prominent, private liberal arts college where academic excellence goes hand in hand with a strong sense of community and close relationships among students and professors.

Compensation and Benefits

Salaries at Kenyon are competitive and commensurate with experience. In addition to an attractive salary, Kenyon offers benefits for employees and their family members. Children of employees are eligible for 100% tuition waivers at Kenyon, and through the Great Lakes Colleges Association, children of employees are eligible for 85% tuition waivers at fifteen other of the nation’s finest liberal arts colleges.

We also offer health and dental insurance, TIAA retirement, and many other benefits, including provisions for a spouse, families, and domestic partners. Details about benefits as well as conditions of employment are described more fully in our Staff Handbook.

Kenyon is a unique place to live and work. To discover why it should be your next home, click here.

Kenyon College is an equal opportunity employer and applications from members of all underrepresented groups are encouraged. It is the College’s policy to evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, physical and/or mental disability, age, religion, medical condition, veteran status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by institutional policy or state, local, or federal law. Kenyon College has a strong commitment to supporting diversity, equity and inclusion.