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Director of Residence Life

Jackson College, Jackson, Michigan, United States, 49203

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POSITION SUMMARY The Director of Residence Life provides vision-driven and operationally disciplined leadership for campus housing as a living, learning community that prepares students for life beyond college. The Director is responsible for creating and sustaining a residential environment where care and accountability coexist, community standards are clear and consistently applied, safety is visible and reliable, and students are supported as they learn how to live responsibly with others.

This role is not centered on hotel-style service delivery or reactive problem management. Instead, the Director serves as the chief steward of housing culture and operations, ensuring that Residence Life functions as an extension of the educational mission and a primary environment where the Maroon & Gold Standards are lived daily.

The Director is expected to be a visible, engaged presence within the housing community and to lead a team that is proactive, relational, and responsive, ensuring students feel safe, noticed, supported, and held to clear expectations.

This position requires living in a residence hall in a one-bedroom apartment provided by the College.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS CORE PURPOSE OF THE ROLE The Director of Residence Life is responsible for:

Translating the Housing & Community Vision into daily operational practice

Establishing housing as a learning community, not a lodging operation

Building a culture of shared responsibility, safety, and care

Ensuring students are supported while being held accountable fairly and consistently

Leading Residence Life staff to be present, proactive, and aligned

Delivering reliable operations, risk management, and measurable performance

ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Culture, Community, and Learning Environment

Lead the development and sustainment of a housing culture grounded in Human-First principles, academics, safety, and preparation for independent living.

Ensure community standards are clearly communicated early, reinforced often, and applied consistently with fairness and good judgment.

Establish housing as a learning environment where students practice communication, shared living, accountability, repair after harm, and stewardship of space.

Set clear expectations that students are community members, not customers, and reinforce the shared impact of individual choices.

Leadership, Supervision, and Staff Development

Hire, train, supervise, and evaluate professional and paraprofessional housing staff.

Build a Residence Life team that is proactive rather than reactive, relational rather than transactional, and confident and consistent in setting expectations.

Ensure strong supervision structures, regular check‑ins, and accountability for staff presence, follow‑through, and student engagement.

Establish non‑negotiable training standards, including scenario‑based drills, crisis response competencies, conduct process training, and duty preparedness.

Organize and facilitate ongoing professional development that reinforces community‑building, student development, crisis response, and Human‑First practice.

Student Support, Engagement, and Early Intervention

Lead Residence Life efforts to build authentic relationships with students, particularly those who may not otherwise feel seen or connected.

Ensure staff are trained and expected to notice early signs of struggle, disengagement, or conflict and to intervene before issues ascend.

Work collaboratively with Student Services and campus partners to identify and support at‑risk students while maintaining appropriate boundaries and referrals.

Respond to student and parent concerns in ways that are firm, fair, consistent, transparent, and aligned with institutional values and state and federal regulations.

Safety, On‑Call Response, Compliance, and Risk Management

Maintain a visible, proactive Residence Life presence supported by a reliable, well‑defined on‑call system that responds promptly, escalates appropriately, and operates in close partnership with the Campus Safety and Security Department.

Serve as a primary operational partner with Campus Safety & Security leadership to ensure shared understanding of roles, responsibilities, and response expectations related to residential incidents, emergencies, and student welfare concerns.

Ensure Residence Life staff understand policy and procedures outlining when an issue is managed internally, when Campus Safety & Security must be engaged, when matters require the Judicial Officer and when immediate escalation to senior leadership or external authorities is required.

Participate in the Residence Life on‑call rotation and ensure after‑hours response reflects calm authority, consistency, sound judgment, and adherence to established protocols, particularly during high‑stakes or emotionally charged situations.

Establish, document, and enforce clear protocols and staff compliance related to:

Campus Safety coordination and emergency response, including response expectations, communication handoffs, incident command clarity, and post‑incident debriefing.

Title IX reporting pathways, ensuring Residence Life staff understand mandatory reporting obligations, documentation requirements, and timely referral to appropriate institutional officials.

Clery Act–relevant incident identification and documentation, ensuring accurate, timely, and consistent reporting to support institutional compliance and campus transparency.

FERPA‑compliant communication standards, ensuring student information is shared appropriately, securely, and only with authorized individuals while balancing safety and care.

Ensure Residence Life staff receive ongoing training and scenario‑based preparation in crisis response, safety coordination, emergency decision‑making, and documentation standards in collaboration with Campus Safety.

Lead the implementation of a consistent, well‑documented student conduct process with defined timelines, investigation standards, communication expectations, and escalation thresholds, ensuring fairness, learning, and institutional risk mitigation.

Review trends in incidents, conduct cases, and safety concerns in collaboration with Campus Safety, Judicial Officer, Student Resource Advocate and senior leadership to identify emerging risks, improve response effectiveness, and reduce recurrence.

Housing Operations, Facilities, and Security

Oversee housing operations including room assignments, transfers, consolidations, inspections, occupancy management, and reporting.

Ensure facilities are clean, secure, and maintained with urgency through strong coordination with Facilities and Custodial teams.

Serve as liaison to Facilities, reporting, tracking, and following up on building issues and advocating for improvements that enhance the living environment.

Ensure consistent room condition inspections, access control standards, guest management protocols, and safety walkthroughs.

Ensure fair and consistently applied room damage assessments and deposit reduction processes reinforcing stewardship and accountability.

Operational Accountability, Reporting, and Performance Management

Establish and maintain a simple, regular reporting cadence (dashboard and brief narrative updates) to provide leadership with clear visibility into housing operations.

Track and report key performance indicators, including but not limited to:

Occupancy and capacity utilization

Residential student retention and satisfactory academic progress

Student conduct trends and resolution timelines

On‑call responsiveness and escalation effectiveness

Facilities work‑order cycle time

Damage and repair costs

Student satisfaction indicators

Staffing coverage and duty compliance

Use data to identify issues early, drive continuous improvement, and reduce operational surprises.

Performance in this role will be evaluated in part based on operational outcomes, reliability, and effective risk management.

Auxiliary, Financial, and Strategic Responsibilities

Develop and manage Residence Life budgets in alignment with institutional guidelines.

Provide forecasting and rate‑setting input in collaboration with Finance and senior leadership.

Oversee break and summer housing operations, including staffing, occupancy, and revenue considerations.

Lead and maintain Residence Life’s strategic agenda in alignment with the College’s mission, values, and Maroon & Gold Standards.

Build strong campus partnerships to ensure Residence Life functions as a lever for student momentum, persistence, and completion…not a silo.

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE IN THIS ROLE

Students persist, are retained, and accomplish their academic goals

Students experience housing as a safe, structured, caring learning community that prepares them for independent living. Safety, coverage, and response are visible, predictable, and trusted.

Expectations are clear, enforcement is consistent and fair, and accountability is accepted without shame.

Issues are identified early, escalations decrease, and shared spaces are respected.

Leadership has confidence in housing operations and is never surprised by emerging risks or trends.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred

Progressive experience in residence life or student housing; community college experience preferred.

Demonstrated commitment to student development, community‑building, and equity‑informed practice

Demonstrated strong supervisory, communication, and crisis‑response skills

Ability to lead with clarity, consistency, care, and operational discipline

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Direct supervision of the Assistant Director of Residence Life, including goal setting, regular check‑ins, performance feedback, professional development, and accountability for operational expectations

Direct supervision of Residence Life Hall Managers, with responsibility for ensuring consistent building‑level leadership, staff presence, policy application, and student engagement

Indirect supervision of Resident Assistants through the Hall Managers, including oversight of training standards, duty expectations, performance consistency, and leadership development

Oversight of Desk Assistants and other student housing staff as applicable, ensuring clear role expectations, standardized training, and appropriate supervision structures

CONTACTS AND PURPOSE OF CONTACTS The Director of Residence Life maintains regular contact with internal campus partners to ensure housing functions as a safe, consistent, and student‑centered living–learning environment.

Campus Safety and Security

Purpose: Coordinate emergency response, welfare checks, incident escalation, safety planning, and after‑hours support within residence halls to ensure timely, predictable, and compliant response to safety concerns.

Student Services and Student Support resources (Navigators, CSS, SRA, Oasis, Health Clinic)

Purpose: Support early identification of student needs, coordinated intervention, referrals, and follow‑up care for students experiencing academic, behavioral, or personal challenges.

Academic Affairs and Academic Leadership

Purpose: Reinforce academic eligibility requirements, support students on probation, coordinate academic interventions, and align housing expectations with student success and persistence goals.

Admissions and Recruitment

Purpose: Ensure the residential experience aligns with commitments made to prospective students and families and supports recruitment, yield, and retention efforts.

Marketing

Purpose: Maintain consistency across housing‑related messaging, policies, webpages, publications, and public‑facing materials so that lived experience aligns with institutional messaging.

Facilities, Custodial, and Maintenance

Purpose: Coordinate building maintenance, cleanliness, access control, inspections, and safety walkthroughs to support physical well‑being and stewardship of residential spaces.

Finance and Business Service

Purpose: Support budgeting, room damage assessments, deposits, billing questions, and financial accountability related to housing operations.

Human Resources

Purpose: Support hiring, onboarding, training, supervision, performance management, and professional development of residence life staff.

Title IX and Compliance Officers

Purpose: Ensure appropriate reporting, documentation, training, and adherence to federal and state requirements related to sexual misconduct, discrimination, and campus safety reporting.

Judicial Officer

Purpose: Ensure fair, consistent, and educational conduct processes aligned with policy, due process, and student development principles.

Athletics and Student Development

Purpose: Coordinate support and expectations for residential student‑athletes and align housing policies with co‑curricular engagement and wellness.

External Contacts

Parents and Families (as appropriate and FERPA‑compliant)

Purpose: Communicate and coordinate support in situations involving student safety, health, or welfare while respecting student privacy and autonomy.

Higher Education Housing and Student Affairs Associations

Purpose: Benchmark best practices, support professional development, and maintain alignment with evolving standards in residence life and housing.

Community‑Based Organizations and Nonprofits

Purpose: Provide referral resources related to mental health, victim advocacy, basic needs, cultural support, and student well‑being.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND WORK HOURS The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The Director of Residence Life works in a dynamic residential campus environment that includes offices, residence halls, and shared community spaces. The role involves regular interaction with students, staff, and campus partners and requires visibility within the residential community, including evenings and occasional weekends, consistent with the responsibilities of a 24/7 living–learning environment.

The noise intensity level associated with this position is typically moderate. The role may occasionally involve responding to urgent or time‑sensitive situations that require calm judgment and clear communication.

Work hours may vary based on operational needs, including participation in an on‑call rotation, campus events, and emergency response, with flexibility provided to support work‑life balance while ensuring appropriate coverage and leadership presence.

“This description is intended to indicate the kinds of tasks and levels of work difficulty that will be required and shall not be construed as declaring the specific duties and responsibilities. It is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct, and control the work of employees under his or her supervision. The use of a particular expression or illustration describing duties shall not be held to exclude other duties not mentioned that are of similar kind or level of difficulty.”

Supplemental Information Jackson College only accepts on‑line applications though this system. For assistance with this, please call 517‑796‑8468.

Please use your legal first and last names on your application. If you are hired you will have the opportunity to identify and utilize your preferred name.

The Jackson College Nepotism policy prohibits hiring of a relative or someone with a familial relationship to work in the same instructional department, office or administrative unit of the College including spouse, child, stepchild, parent, stepparent or sibling of the employee or spouse, aunt, uncle, niece/nephew, grandparent, grandchild, and members of the same household including domestic partner.

It is important that your application show all the relevant education and experience you possess (even if you are repeating it from your resume or cover letter). For instance, do not say, "See Resume or C/V." Your resume, cover letter that includes your salary requirements and an unofficial transcript for the degree required must be attached to your application. Applications will be rejected if incomplete. When you apply for the position, you will get to the document upload area where you will be given an opportunity to attach your documents such as your resume/vita, transcripts, etc. Instructions will also be found there.

The College reserves the right to request proof of degree or certification at a later date, if these documents are required as part of the qualifications for the position.

Final candidates will be subject to a criminal background as part of the employment process.

If selected you will be required to complete the US Citizenship and Immigration Services, Employment Eligibility Verification form I‑9 and provide documentation verifying identity and eligibility to work in the United States. Jackson College is NOT able to support Visa applications for employment at the college. Applicants must already be eligible to work in the United States to be considered.

Applicants with disabilities may request accommodation to complete the application and interview process. Please notify Human Resources at least three (3) working days prior to the date of need.

A copy of Jackson College's Annual Security Report and Annual Fire Safety Report is available on the JC Campus Safety & Security website. The security report contains crime statistics for the previous three years for all of our campus locations and the annual fire safety report, which contains statistics for any reported fires in campus housing units and fire safety systems in these buildings. Additionally, the report contains policies, available resources and information concerning personal safety, fire safety and reporting procedures for both crimes and fires.

Applicants have rights under Federal employment laws. Jackson College is an Equal Opportunity Employer that actively supports workforce diversity.

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