Residential Community Director

About SMU:

Southern Methodist University’s (SMU) more than 12,000 diverse, high-achieving students come from all 50 states and 90 countries to take advantage of the University’s small classes, hands-on research opportunities, leadership development, community service, international study, and innovative programs. The University offers a strong foundation in the humanities and sciences and undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs through eight schools.

About the Position:

The Residential Community Director (RCD) at SMU provides leadership in developing and sustaining positive, academically-focused, residential communities. A successful RCD also accomplishes administrative functions required in managing a university residential community. The position is live-in, serves in an on-call rotation, and reports to an Associate Director for Residential Life.

Essential Functions:

• Train, supervise, and evaluate the job performance of student staff. Conduct regularly scheduled individual and group staff meetings. Provide development and accountability for student leaders.
• Develop a personal knowledge of individual residents to better provide assistance and related support. Assist with retention efforts. Serve as a case manager through the Caring Community Connections program. Provide conflict mediation and parent interaction to resolve student issues.
• Assess needs of residents. Provide and facilitate programming (including at least one large-scale signature event program yearly) in support of the Residential Commons tradition to promote a positive living and learning environment that fosters a sense of belonging. Advise commons council and student leaders.
• Lead and/or serve on one or more RLSH (and potentially Student Affairs) committees. Meet regularly with supervisor and other RLSH staff.
• Develop a relationship with FIR and support their connection to the leadership team and programmatic efforts.
• Serve as Conduct Officer for student conduct cases occurring in residential areas.
• Perform related duties as assigned or required to meet RLSH and University goals.
• Coordinate building operations. Assist with occupancy management, including but not limited to managing room and hall changes, check-in and check-out activity, etc. Monitor physical condition of assigned areas and report work requests and desired facility improvements per established procedures.
• Manage budget & financial paperwork including purchasing and expense reports.
• Assist in major annual processes, e.g., staff selection, assessments, and serve on the on-call rotation to manage student and facilities emergencies, etc.