Associate Director of Residence Life - (RES00000069)

Salary Range: 

Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications

About SMU

SMU’s more than 12,000 diverse, high-achieving students come from all 50 states and over 80 countries to take advantage of the University’s small classes, meaningful research opportunities, leadership development, community service, international study and innovative programs.

SMU serves approximately 7,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students through eight degree-granting schools: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Cox School of Business, Lyle School of Engineering, Meadows School of the Arts, Simmons School of Education and Human Development, Dedman School of Law, Perkins School of Theology and Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies.

SMU is data driven, and its powerful supercomputing ecosystem – paired with entrepreneurial drive – creates an unrivaled environment for the University to deliver research excellence.

Now in its second century of achievement, SMU is recognized for the ways it supports students, faculty and alumni as they become ethical, enterprising leaders in their professions and communities. SMU’s relationship with Dallas – the dynamic center of one of the nation’s fastest-growing regions – offers unique learning, research, social and career opportunities that provide a launch pad for global impact.

SMU is nonsectarian in its teaching and committed to academic freedom and open inquiry.

About the Position:

This role is an on-campus, in-person position.

Working for Residence Life & Student Housing (RLSH), this position provides leadership in developing and sustaining positive, academically focused upper division residential communities and in successfully accomplishing administrative functions required in managing a university residence community within a Residential Commons (i.e. Residential Colleges) setting. The Associate Director leads their team in creating and providing a foundational student experience that promotes belonging, learning, and connection. 
Directly supervise 1 full-time Residential Community Director, and 5-7 graduate students (Fraternity House Directors (FHD).) Indirectly supervise 1 graduate assistant (GA) and 7-15 Resident Assistants. Position is live-off and reports to the Director of Residence Life. Position serves in an on-call rotation. 

Essential Functions:

• Provide leadership developing an upper division student experience that enhances students' connection to their home base Residential Commons. Assist in developing, implementing and evaluating community development requirements and initiatives. 

• Lead RLSH owned fraternity housing operations including policies and procedure development and staff training and supervision. Serve as a primary contact person for fraternity advisors regarding RLSH and other related university matters.

• Work with the Director of Operations for facility management in fraternity houses. Work with Senior Associate Director of Occupancy to establish and follow up on occupancy expectations. Develop and maintain a collaborative relationship with fraternity leadership to address issues of damage and behavior and represent RLSH as a liaison with Fraternity & Sorority Life. 

• Directly supervise 1 full-time Residential Community Director and 6-8 graduate students (FHDs). Indirectly supervise 1-2 GAs and 10-15 RAs. Evaluate and appraise job performances of staff. Assist in developing, implementing and evaluating staff training programs. Train and appraise job performance of assigned staff. Participate in RLSH staff recruitment and selection efforts.

• Lead and develop residence life initiatives, committees and projects, including coordination of hiring and training Residence Life graduate staff (GA and FHDs). Develop professional development experiences for graduate assistants within RLSH. Direct development and implementation of upper-division community experience. Participate in RLSH and University marketing, planning and assessment efforts.

• Actively support effective collaborative teamwork across RLSH responsibilities. Build collaborative relationships with faculty in residence and campus partners important to the strategic plan. Support Community Councils and the Housing Unification Board. Advise student groups as assigned. 

• Participate in RLSH, division, and University marketing, planning and assessment efforts. Participate in opening and closing buildings providing leadership for UDH and fraternity processes. Lead and/or serve on RLSH, Student Affairs and/or University committees. Interface with parents and students as needed to resolve disputes. Support RLSH administrative requirements for student records and facilities operations. Manage assigned budgets including monitoring of budgets for assigned communities. 

• Respond to emergency situations and participate in on-call rotation. Serve on the Care Team.
• Perform related duties as assigned or required to meet RLSH, student affairs or University goals and objectives. 
• Occasional evening/weekend hours will be required.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

A Master's degree is required. 

A minimum of five years of experience is required. Three years previous FT residence life experience or directly related experience is required. Experience working with upper division housing or fraternity life is preferred. Experience working in a Residential College setting or experience working with academic and faculty partners a plus.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Candidate must demonstrate strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate broadly across the University and develop and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of constituencies. Must also demonstrate strong written communication skills.

Candidate must possess strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify and analyze problems, as well as devise solutions. Must also have strong organizational, planning and time management skills.  

Candidate knowledge of crisis and conflict management and group dynamics is essential. 

Physical and Environmental Demands: 

• Sit for long periods of time

Deadline to Apply:

Submissions received by September 29, 2023 may receive priority consideration. 

This position is open until filled. 

EEO Statement:

SMU will not discriminate in any program or activity on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression. The Executive Director for Access and Equity/Title IX Coordinator is designated to handle inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies and may be reached at the Perkins Administration Building, Room 204, 6425 Boaz Lane, Dallas, TX 75205, 214-768-3601, accessequity@smu.edu.

Benefits:

SMU offers staff a broad, competitive array of health and related benefits. In addition to traditional benefits such as health, dental, and vision plans, SMU offers a wide range of wellness programs to help attract, support, and retain our employees whose work continues to make SMU an outstanding education and research institution.

SMU is committed to providing an array of retirement programs that benefit and protect you and your family throughout your working years at SMU and, if you meet SMU's retirement eligibility criteria, during your retirement years after you leave SMU.

The value of learning at SMU isn't just about preparing our students for the future. Employees have access to a wide variety of professional and personal development opportunities, including tuition benefits.