Area Director

Job Title: Area Director
Department: Residential Life
Classification: Exempt
Grade: 10
FTE/Working Schedule: 1.0

Position Overview:

Carleton College provides housing for approximately 1850 students in eleven residence halls, twenty-six houses, and nine townhouses. The Area Director is a live-in staff member who works with staff and students to develop a safe, comfortable, living and learning environment and assists individuals with their personal development while supporting the mission and values of the College. As a member of the Residential Life Staff within the Division of Student Life, the Area Director will serve in many capacities including the roles of a community builder, educator, adviser, supervisor, and administrator. In these roles the Area Director helps ensure inclusivity and equity in residential experiences for students.

As a valued member of the Residential Life team, Area Directors provide input and feedback to help lead the development and vision of the Residential Life program. Area Directors individually take leadership with internal processes such as Student Staff Training and Development, Assessment projects, Diversity and Equity Working Groups, Resident Assistant Recruitment and Selection, and more. While serving in the Area Director role, staff can expect to have a cumulative professional experience with additional leadership opportunities over their time on the team. In addition to work with the Residential Life Office, Area Directors will have the opportunity to work closely with other divisional offices in collateral and project assignments to expand their functional knowledge and skill set.

Essential Job Functions/Responsibilities: 

• Community Development
• Be visible in the residential area and viewed by residents as available and approachable.
• Assess student needs and interests on a continual basis.
• Follow-up on student needs as determined by CARE team discussions or other interactions.
• Assist students in developing personal responsibility for their actions and respect for the rights of others.
• Establish an atmosphere conducive to academic success.
• Develop, encourage, and participate in activities and programs in the residential areas.
• Assist students with individual problems through advising, counseling, and referral.
• Provide oversight and investment in interest housing communities.
• Administration
• Attend and actively participate in weekly departmental meetings, monthly divisional meetings, and quarterly College meetings.
• Participate in the Residential Life 24/7 rotating on-call system including managing crisis situations and troubleshooting scenarios outside of College business hours.
• Complete weekly reports, term reports and end of the year reports.
• Communicate with Custodial Services, Facilities, Campus Services, and Security Services regarding building issues.
• Manage 2-3 traditional residence hall buildings and multiple houses including opening and closing for 3 academic terms and summer.
• Assist the department with the coordination of fire drills, fire safety inspections, and safety related issues.
• Provide assistance to the central office regarding accurate building occupancy, room changes, key distribution and collection, and other administrative processes.
• Develop, manage, and provide oversight of area programmatic budget of $4800-$6000 utilizing College purchasing guidelines and reconciliation process.
• Assist in the hiring processes of Area Directors and other professional staff in Residential Life, and occasionally serving on divisional search committees.
• Collaborate with other Residential Life staff on assessment initiatives.
• Perform other duties as assigned within the scope of Residential Life and Student Life.
• Campus Liaison
• Work collaboratively with College offices and processes to initiate collaborative programming, services, and support for students.
• Be familiar with campus resources for student referrals.
• Establish a working relationship with other student support staff to prevent and resolve student concerns.
• Work within the Division of Student Life on committees, task force groups, and special projects.
• Conduct and Community Standards
• Serve as a resource regarding department and College expectations and policies.
• File and review reports through the reporting system Advocate as appropriate.
• Act as a conduct hearing officer upholding College Community Standards.
• Meet with students to discuss situations that are not in accordance with our community standards and assign sanctions in line with College guidelines and individualized student scenarios.