Associate Director, Residential Experience - Vanderbilt University

Position Summary:



The Associate Director is a senior leader on the Residential Experience team within Housing and Residential Experience in the Student Affairs division at Vanderbilt University and is responsible for the continued development of residential life under the Director of Residential Experience. This position assists in guiding the Residential Experience team to fulfill the departmental mission of building safe, engaging, and educational residential communities, thus contributing to the intellectual, cultural, and social growth of Vanderbilt students. Reporting to the Director of Residential Experience, the Associate Director is responsible for the supervision, recruitment, and development of the residential staff teams, including four Assistant Directors, eight Area Coordinators, eight Graduate Area Coordinators, and 185 Resident Advisors. The Associate Director provides leadership and counsel for professional and paraprofessional staff regarding policy implementation, resident staff emergency response, and community building and serves as the primary designate of the Director of Residential Experience. The Associate Director will progress the Residential Experience vision, execution, and impact in student staff learning and development and oversee key functional areas including community development & assessment, care management, selection & training, and Residential Experience operations.



The Associate Director is also responsible for engaging in benchmarking and proactive professional development initiatives; participating in the campus on-call rotation and crisis response; and facilitating training and programmatic efforts across the department. The Associate Director will supervise four Assistant Directors and is responsible for supporting strong collaboration and communication with faculty and staff within Residential Colleges as well as other campus partners. Additional duties may include leading and participating in divisional and departmental committee work to promote student success.







About the Work Unit:



Housing and Residential Experience provides safe, secure, comfortable, accessible, and healthy housing for its residents. Programming for residents builds engaged communities in which students’ social needs for belonging, friendship, recognition, respect, and dignity are met. These communities foster learning, personal development, academic achievement, and successful transitions for both new students and graduates.







About Student Affairs



Student Affairs serves a central role in student learning and development at Vanderbilt, advancing the University’s mission of teaching, research, and service by fostering academic and social networks through which students develop as intentional learners and global citizens. Student Affairs creates opportunities to involve students, faculty and staff in diverse learning communities and provides a critical support structure for enriching the overall student experience. We achieve these ends through strategic alignment, both internally and in concert with other university departments. We care deeply. We educate completely. We lead with excellence. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and mental health are top priorities for the institution and by extension the offices of Student Affairs. Our staff are committed to continued growth in knowledge, awareness, skills, and experience engaging with these priorities in a higher education environment.







Key Functions and Expected Performance:



Leadership & Development





+ Oversee the hiring and onboarding processes for all Residential Experience staff, including Assistant Directors, Area Coordinators, administrative staff, graduate and student staff, and other student workers.



+ Responsible for the creation and maintenance of competency-based professional development of the full-time Assistant Director staff (including the management of committee(s) to assist in those processes).



+ Provide oversight of comprehensive learning and development initiatives to enhance professional and paraprofessional staff competencies, including training curriculum development, in-service planning, workshops, and ongoing professional development.



+ Foster a collaborative and inclusive team environment that promotes communication, accountability, and excellence.



+ Ensure professional and paraprofessional staff display a positive and professional image and that the Residential Experience staff respond appropriately to the many stakeholders served (students, parents/families, administrators, campus partners, etc.).



+ Provide financial oversight for the Residential Experience allocation as needed, including full responsibility for the preparation and management of relevant budgets to ensure proper stewardship of university resources.



+ Assist the Director in strategic planning, policy development, and decision-making processes to advance the values and goals of Housing and Residential Experience.



+ Assist the Director in assessment oversight for Residential Experience, ensuring the implementation of a comprehensive assessment plan.





Community Development





+ Gather research and benchmark with peer institutions to advance an innovative approach to community development which fosters connection, inclusivity, and belonging in residential communities.



+ Indirectly supervise all hall-wide programming efforts, through Community Development Plan oversight.



+ Provide direction to Assistant Directors to develop Area Coordinators in intentionally building engaged communities through RA signature programs, faculty programs, floor community development, and meaningful conversations.



+ Build relationships with campus partners and faculty, and co-design collaborative educational programs to serve each functional area and target student population.





Policy Development





+ Responsible for contributing to the on-going assessment of departmental policies and procedures (such as crisis management and response).



+ Participate in the overall planning and management of the residence hall system and provide input in the development of policies and procedures.



+ Lead task forces focused on group goal planning and objective setting.





Student Leadership





+ Oversee and support the Assistant Directors in cultivating, coordinating, and assisting in the development of student leadership and responsibility through programming and direct involvement with students.



+ Facilitate the growth and development of student staff through training, accountability, and mentorship.



+ Guide students to the proper campus resources to address needs that go beyond the scope of Housing and Residential Experience; this may include academic resources, trauma-informed resources, career services, etc.





Divisional Responsibilities





+ Serve on divisional committees and working groups to enrich the experience and resources available to staff across the division.



+ Participate in division-wide events as needed (Move-In Day, Rites of Spring, Diverse ‘Dores Day, MLK Day, etc.) to support colleagues and campus partners.



+ Maintain an understanding of institutional and departmental financial policies related to areas such as travel, procurement, expense, and time reporting to ensure compliance and proper stewardship of university resources.



+ Collaborate with colleagues across the division to implement divisional goals and strategic priorities which align with Student Affairs values.





Perform other duties as assigned.







Supervisory Relationships:



This position supervises four professional staff and is responsible for providing clear performance expectations, effective and on-going feedback, regular and annual evaluations, and professional development opportunities to ensure staff understand expectations of them and are successful in fulfilling their job functions. This position also indirectly supervises Area Coordinators, Graduate Area Coordinators, and a team of undergraduate student staff members. This position reports administratively and functionally to the Director for Residential Experience.







Education and Certifications:





+ A master’s degree from an accredited institution is strongly preferred, a degree focusing in Higher Educational Administration, Counseling, or Student Personnel Services is preferred.



+ Ability to remain calm, professional, and productive while interacting with individuals displaying intense emotions is necessary.



+ Ability to respond promptly, directly, and effectively to internal and external inquiries and requests for service while managing competing demands is necessary.









Experience and Skills:





+ 5-7 years of experience in residential higher education is necessary.



+ Experience presenting training programs for student and professional staff is necessary.



+ Experience supervising professional staff is necessary.



+ Experience being in an on-duty rotation, responding to crisis situations, and conflict mediation is necessary.



+ Experience creating and implementing community development strategies, programs and initiatives within a higher education setting is preferred.



+ Experience developing assessment tools, analyzing metrics, and writing reports is preferred.



+ Experience working with live-in faculty is preferred.



+ Experience with Maxient software system is preferred.



+ Excellent written and verbal communication skills, an ability to pay great attention to detail for accuracy, and an ability to prioritize tasks to meet deadlines is necessary.



+ Strong collaboration and partnership-building skills, with the ability to work effectively with various campus departments, student organizations and community stakeholders is necessary.



+ Strong organizational skills and the ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously is necessary.



+ Experience working with students from diverse backgrounds attending a highly selective institution with a broad range of campus groups, departments and organizations is preferred.



+ Strong problem-solving skills and interpersonal/human relations skills including ability to develop and cultivate professional relationships is preferred.



+ Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as a member of a team is necessary.









Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion:

At Vanderbilt University, we are intentional about and assume accountability for fostering advancement and respect for equity, diversity, and inclusion for all students, faculty, and staff. Our commitment to diversity makes us who we are. We have created a community that celebrates differences and lets individuality thrive. As part of this commitment, we actively value diversity in our workplace and learning environments as we seek to take advantage of the rich backgrounds and abilities of everyone. The diverse voices of Vanderbilt represent an invaluable resource for the University in its efforts to fulfill its mission and strive to be an example of excellence in higher education.


Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion At Vanderbilt University, we are intentional about and assume accountability for fostering advancement and respect for equity, diversity, and inclusion for all students, faculty, and staff. Our commitment to diversity makes us who we are. We have created a community that celebrates differences and lets individuality thrive. As part of this commitment, we actively value diversity in our workplace and learning environments as we seek to take advantage of the rich backgrounds and abilities of everyone. The diverse voices of Vanderbilt represent an invaluable resource for the University in its efforts to fulfill its mission and strive to be an example of excellence in higher education. Vanderbilt University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. Women, minorities, people with disabilities, and protected veterans are encouraged to apply.