Resident Director of Special Projects

Resident Director of Special Projects– Campus Housing

UIC is among the nation’s preeminent urban public research universities, a Carnegie RU/VH research institution, and the largest university in Chicago. UIC serves over 34,000 students, comprising one of the most diverse student bodies in the nation and is designated as a Minority Serving Institution (MSI), an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPSI) and a Hispanic Serving Institution (HIS).  Through its 16 colleges, UIC produces nationally and internationally recognized multidisciplinary academic programs in concert with civic, corporate and community partners worldwide, including a full complement of health sciences colleges.  By emphasizing cutting-edge and transformational research along with a commitment to the success of all students, UIC embodies the dynamic, vibrant and engaged urban university.

Campus Housing Campus Housing supports the academic mission of the University of Illinois Chicago by creating on-campus residential communities that actively enhance a student’s sense of belonging, increase a student’s self-awareness, and develop a student’s skillset to transform their local and global communities through positive change. Campus Housing values collaboration, commitment to excellence, growth mindset, inclusivity, innovation, relationship building, and a student-centered approach. With the university and department at the forefront of change, employees must demonstrate the ability to make timely, well-informed decisions, use professional judgment in complex situations, and demonstrate critical, creative, and reflective thinking skills. The Resident Director of Special Projects must be able to effectively handle complex situations, work calmly and accurately to de-escalate situations, and resolve escalated issues through constructive and creative approaches.  

Position Description:

This position oversees the administration of a designated residence hall(s) in a non-traditional workday, emphasizing residential curriculum, student engagement and community development. This position guides residents to engage in residential communities and participate in initiatives that support academic achievement, including working with Faculty-in-Residence, collaborating with academic departments, managing resident interventions and referrals, and identifying, encouraging, and advising student leaders.

This position coordinates the administrative functions of a residence hall, such as student oversight, student employment, management of programming budget, guest housing, facility management & maintenance, and manages all aspects of Campus Housing programmatic efforts, the community development model and serves as the conduct officer for both Campus Housing and the Dean of Students in student conduct hearings.  This live-in position requires the ability to execute independent judgment in providing direction and assistance while acting as a first responder to student crises and providing duty coverage for evenings, weekends, and holidays. This position may supervise and develop undergraduate staff, Sr. undergraduate staff, and/or an Assistant Resident Director.  This position is intended to fill in should an RD vacancy occur during the academic year. In the interim time, this position will assist in additional assignments given by the Director of Residence Life and complete additional tasks within the department to support the residential curriculum and assessment needs.

Key Responsibilities/Duties:

 Supervision

• Establish expectations, goals, and vision for the academic year and lead hall staff toward the successful realization of them.
• Provide onboarding, training, and development to RA staff and other staff they may oversee.
• Provide ongoing feedback and evaluation to RAs and other student staff as needed.
• Plan, assign, and review work of Resident Assistants to ensure group objectives are met.
• Hold staff accountable to job expectations, job description, department and University policies and procedures.
• Facilitate weekly staff meeting.

Crisis / Emergency Response

• Participate in 24 hour on-call rotation schedule with other RD Staff that includes evenings, weekends, and some holidays.
• Respond on-site to medical, mental health, facilities, and weather emergencies during on-call duty.
• Act as the first responder in minor and major emergency situations within own hall and other halls when on-call.
• Provide ongoing emergency response training and drills for hall staff.
• This is a live-in position.

Administrative

• Manage a co-residential housing facility of occupancy ranging from 250-600 students.
• Work with Campus Administrative Team in maintaining occupancy management through Star Rez System.
• Work with the area Housing Officer to maintain desk functions within the hall/area.
• Create and monitor various staff budgets that include hall programming, staff and student organization budgets.
• Create and distribute reports as needed and requested.
• Work with residential curriculum and assessment efforts.
• Track and oversee staff programming efforts.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with campus partners.

Facilities

• Participate in regularly scheduled building tours and inspections to monitor hall upkeep and facilities.
• Oversee and monitor all hall openings and closings.
• Ensure hall security by holding staff accountable to departmental and campus policies and procedures.
• Troubleshoot day-to-day work orders and unanticipated building maintenance and/or repair.
• Communicate and follow up with housekeeping and maintenance as needed.
• Troubleshoot after-hour facility and maintenance issues when on-call.

Community / Academic Initiatives

• Work with student staff and hall leaders to create a celebrative, positive and healthy hall atmosphere and community
• Advising student leadership groups within campus housing
• Work with staff to incorporate the Residential Curriculum into community and academic initiatives.
• Oversee the Living Learning Communities, Affinity Spaces and Faculty-In-Residence (FIR) that reside in hall.

Student Advocacy and Outreach

• Assess needs and concerns of students and provide appropriate direction.
• Provide support and necessary resources to students in need of mental health, physical health and immediate crisis response.
• Provide support and appropriate resources to parents of students who may reach out.
• Contact parents or outside agencies to inform or gather information when necessary.
• Provide quality customer service to housing residents, guests, and visitors.
• Hold students accountable and responsible for their actions through the University and Campus Housing conduct process.
• Honor student’s right to be heard and to be granted proper due process.
• Champion diversity and inclusion efforts and their vital importance to our work.
• Participate in Special Assignments / Collateral that could include work in Selection, Training, Curriculum Development, Leadership/Advising, Diversity, & Inclusion
• Assist in Campus Housing marketing efforts to maintain healthy residence hall occupancy and recruit students to UIC.
• Support ongoing assessment efforts.
• Perform other duties as assigned.