Director of Residential  Life - University of New Haven

Who we are:

The University of New Haven, founded on the Yale campus in 1920, is a private, coeducational university that has been recognized by The Princeton Review and U.S. News & World Report for academic excellence. Located between New York City and Boston in the shoreline city of West Haven, the University is a diverse and vibrant community of nearly 10,000 students from across the globe. Within its five colleges, students immerse themselves in a transformative, career-focused education across the liberal arts and sciences, fine arts, business, engineering, public safety and public service. More than 100 academic programs are offered, all grounded in a long-standing commitment to collaborative, interdisciplinary, project-based learning.

In keeping with the community values of the University of New Haven and the mission and new direction of the Division of Student Affairs, the Director of Residential Life is responsible for providing students with different opportunities to help them make connections with others and support their personal growth and development. In addition, the Director creates and executes a living and learning curriculum that reflects more significant student-staff/faculty interaction and delivers an experience that promotes personal growth and academic success. Reporting to the Assistant Dean of Students, the Director of Residential Life serves as the campus life officer at the University of New Haven, provides leadership and strategic planning, and ensures that the department meets both the University and student needs in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

You will:

• Establish and maintain a strategic direction aligned with retention persistence and best practices that supports the Division of Student Affairs and the University of New Haven's strategic priorities.

• Advance a collaborative and unrelenting commitment to the student experience through the recognized living-learning programs. The Director ensures that living-learning programs effectively bridge academic and student life and are grounded in our collective responsibility to student well-being and research.

• Work to develop the highest standards of good citizenship and respect for others by resolving conflicts, upholding expectations for good conduct, and helping students to understand the value of living in a diverse community. This includes working closely with the Myatt Center for Diversity and Inclusion, the Enrollment Office, Center for Student Success to support non-academic educational and social programming.

• Be regularly asked to assist the Assistant Dean of Students Office with special projects, assignments, and committee work.

Indicators of the position’s success include measurable increases in the number of students engaged across all student demographics, evidence of a residential education curriculum impact on students’ well-being and personal success, and evidence of deep engagement with staff and faculty. Additionally, there is a high expectation that this position will demonstrate a high level of student engagement in the Residential halls, including presence at evening and weekend events to support student engagement and effective professional development of staff members. Finally, the Director must demonstrate longitudinal success and strong partnerships with offices across campus leading various student engagement programs and service

Living & Learning Initiatives

• Works closely with the Assistant Dean of Students office and faculty to develop a living-learning curriculum for LLCs.
• Recruits engage and establish solid collaborative relationships with all LLC partners, including University faculty and staff members.
• Designs, implements, and oversees the comprehensive assessment of the LLC program.
• Assists in the redesign of the housing application, reapplication, selection, and assignment to improve the process to facilitate the implementation of LLCs.
• Collaborates and directs the recruitment of new students for LLCs with the Enrollment Office and all University colleges.
• Serves as the spokesperson and public relations contact for all LLC inquiries
• Assists with the recruitment, selection, training, supervision, evaluation, and development of staff members working with LLCs.
• Leads initiatives to develop and assess the effectiveness of living-learning communities and other student success/retention programs.

Student Support and Success

• Assists with campus student discipline issues using restorative justice practices with the Assistant Dean of Student Office
• Refers students who have difficulty with academic, personal, or financial issues to appropriate interventions.
• Serves as a member of the CARE TEAM to promote and develop a culture of student retention within the residential life.
• Supports the Division of Student Affairs positive customer service culture
• Plays a leadership role in UNH student success strategies
• Works closely with members of the university community, including the Center for Student Success, academic faculties, the Maytt Center for Diversity and Inclusion, and the Enrollment Office, to assist in the assessment of student needs related to student success.
• Works closely with the Enrollment Team to accommodate prospective student programs (day and overnight) during the year.

Leadership and Organizational Development

• Develop and implement strategies to build a strong, effective, and dynamic living and learning residential community based upon best practices.
• Provide leadership and strategic direction for the department focusing on the institution’s mission, vision, and purpose for student support and success.
• Encourage, inspire, and build mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among employees and campus partners.
• Establish long-range objectives and specify the strategies and actions to achieve them.
• Build and work with diverse teams effectively.
• Develop organizational plans that reflect knowledge of, respect for, and development of shifts to engage with other cultures or backgrounds.
• Remains competent and current through self-directed professional reading, developing professional contacts with colleagues, attending professional development courses, and attending training and/or development courses required by the Division of Student Affairs
• Serve as an investigator on the UNH Title 1X Team & a lead conduct officer for high-level cases within the Assistant Dean of Students office
• Regularly review the campus calendar to know what is happening across Campus
• Coordinate with Assistant Dean of Students office to plan education and awareness programs for those living on Campus and bolster community engagement.

Strategic Planning and Assessment

• Create a comprehensive residential curriculum that focuses on educational, recreational, social, and cultural development, which appeals to a diverse audience.
• Effectively manage a robust Residential Education Program fostering an environment for all types of living and learning initiatives
• Provide leadership and strategic direction for the department focusing on the institution’s mission, vision, and purpose.
• Directs and oversees the department's strategic and long-range goal planning function.
• Drives strategic initiatives and supports the development of long-term growth plans and retention goals for on-campus occupancy.
• Collaborates with other department leaders to develop long-range, strategic goals for the Division of Student Life.
• Develop written plans that contain goals, objectives, relevant data, measures of success, and methods for evaluating the performance of programs and initiatives within the residential community
• Work closely with the Senior Associate Dean of Students on campus-wide assessment initiatives related to student experience outside the classroom.
• Work closely with other institutional offices outside the Division of Student Affairs to support the student experience.

Operational Management

• Assists overseeing the efficient administration of all aspects of housing operations, including the specifics for all Residential hall move-ins and move-outs, room/meal plan changes, housing selection for continuing undergraduates, and the assignment processes for newly admitted students.
• Work closely with Associate Director of Operations and Facilities to monitor residential facilities to ensure a safe, secure, and healthy living environment.
• Collaborate with Student Affairs colleagues, Campus Safety, and Campus Living Area Coordinators to maintain an effective and responsive on-call response system in Campus Living to respond to emergencies and emergent issues.
• Operate all emergency response and crisis management.
• Serve on the on-call crisis management response team as a Senior Administrator on Call (SAOC).
• Serve as an integral member of the Division of Student Affairs Leadership Team .
• Be available for all building openings/closing, all training of Residential Life Staff, student activities and events, and critical incidents occurring, including evenings and weekends.
• Assist in the coordination of housing accommodation based on ADA needs with Housing Operations staff members.

Budget Management

• Maintain the departmental budget and make prudent decisions regarding resources.
• Identify opportunities to enhance revenue and develop new revenue streams.
• Collaborate with Facilities Management to develop, prioritize, and implement capital projects, Residential hall furnishings and fixture replacements, and expenditure of cyclical renewal funds in Residential halls and campus apartments.

Competency Statement(s)

• Adaptability - Adapts to changes in the work environment; Manages competing demands; Changes approach or method to best fit the situation; Able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events.
• Business Acumen - Understands basic organizational practices.
• Change Management - Communicates changes effectively.
• Oral Communication - Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; Listens and gets clarification; Responds well to questions; Participates in meetings.
• Written Communication - Writes clearly and informatively
• Cost Consciousness - Works within approved budget; Develops and implements cost-saving measures; Contributes to profits and revenue; Conserves organizational resources.
• Customer Service - Manages difficult or emotional customer situations; Responds promptly to customer needs; Meets commitments.
• Delegation - Delegates work assignments; matches the person's responsibility; Sets expectations and monitors delegated activities.
• Dependability - Follows instructions, responds to management direction; Takes responsibility for own actions; Keeps commitments.
• Initiative - Seeks increased responsibilities; Takes independent action.
• Judgment - Displays willingness to make decisions; Exhibits sound and accurate judgment; Supports and explains reasoning for decisions; Includes appropriate people in the decision-making process; Makes timely decisions.
• Organizational Support - Follows policies and procedures; Completes administrative tasks correctly and on time; Supports organization's goals and values.
• Managing People - Includes staff in planning, decision-making, facilitating, and process improvement; Makes self available to staff; Provides regular performance feedback; Develops subordinates' skills and encourages growth; Improves processes, products, and services.
• Planning/Organizing - Prioritizes and plans work activities; Uses time efficiently; Organizes or schedules other people and their tasks.
• Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; Gathers and analyzes information skillfully; Develops alternative solutions.
• Performed duties as assigned

You need:

• Master’s degree or higher in Higher Education, Student Personnel Services, or an appropriate area of specialization.
• Background in University or College Housing/Residential Programs, retention and student success programs
• Requires 5-7 years of relevant experience
• Knowledge of residential living, student development theory, programming philosophy, and strategic planning assessment.
• Experience with management, supervision, and development of professional staff.
• Experience with emergency response and crisis management.
• Experience with budget planning, forecasting (assignments and occupancy projections), and fiscal management of complex operating budgeting that includes revenue targets and expectations.
• Experience working with a diverse student population and supporting the development of inclusive environments.
• Proven success in developing partnerships.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality in all work performed.
• Ability to work evenings, late nights, and weekends as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prefers a Master's degree or higher in a combination of education and relevant training/experience.
• 5-9 years of relevant experience.
• Experience with new construction and major capital projects.
• Experience with strategic and master planning, especially in the conceptualization and execution of campus living and student success and retention
• Proven success in developing partnerships.
• Proven success in developing student support initiatives in the Residential halls
• Proven success of working with student and families with minimal guidance
• Professionalism - Tactfully approaches others; Reacts well under pressure; Treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; Accepts responsibility for own actions; Follows through on commitments.
• Quantity - Meets productivity standards; Completes work in a timely manner; Strives to increase productivity; Works quickly.
• Quality Management - Looks for ways to improve and promote quality; Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness.
• Strategic Thinking - Develops strategies to achieve organizational goals; Adapts strategy to changing conditions.

What’s In It for You:

• Health & Welfare Programs: Employees and their eligible family members, including spouses and dependent are eligible for Medical, Dental, Vision and Life Programs.
• Wellness & Fitness: On-campus Recreation and Fitness Center for employees and families; Employee Assistant Program
• Commitment to Educational Excellence: Tuition assistance for employees and eligible dependents; Tuition exchange opportunities
• Employee Discounts on products, services and educational opportunities
• Work/Life Benefits: Generous paid time off programs; progressive paid holiday schedule (including holiday break between Christmas and New Year’s); 4 weeks of parental paid leave; flexible work schedules including summer hours where applicable

*The University of New Haven is not a qualifying E-Verify employer and its use of E-Verify is limited to specific government projects. For that reason, candidates with STEP OPT authorization cannot be considered for employment.