Job Summary

Under the direct supervision of the Dean of Students, the Assistant Director position is a key member of the Housing and Student Life team inside of the Division of Enrollment Management and Student Experience. As a residential college, the Assistant Director will support the residential experience as a live-on professional, implementing our programming model with residential students. This Assistant Director will provide strategic oversight to multiple areas of responsibility, while serving as an advocate, consultant, and motivational force for housing at LaGrange College. The Assistant Director works collaboratively with students, advisors, faculty, and campus departments to build strong networks for student success.

Overview: This is an ideal position for professionals seeking to expand and diversify their skills; energetic and motivated candidates are encouraged to apply for this unique opportunity. The Assistant Director role is a 12-month, live-in position responsible for the residential experience and overall housing operations. The position includes a competitive salary, excellent benefit package, and includes a two-bedroom campus apartment and meal plan as part of the compensation package. Pets and Partners are permitted within this living arrangement.

The Assistant Director position will partner with the Enrollment Management and Student Experience division and other faculty/staff to create a comprehensive and cohesive residential programming model that provides targeted opportunities for student involvement in extracurricular activities inside and outside of residence halls. Programming will complement in-class learning, foster interpersonal development, and encourage greater commitment to the College. This position will supervise resident assistants and possibly graduate assistants. The Office of Housing and Student Life oversees the following areas of the co-curricular learning program: (a) residential education (b) housing operations (c) student conduct (d) New Student Orientation and Welcome Week programming, (f) student organizations, (g) fraternity and sorority life, (h) commuter student programming, (i) Student Government Association, (j) Panther Activities Committee, and (k) belonging programming, etc.

(Job Duties (but not limited to):

• Support the Dean of Students and other Housing and Student Life team members in providing primary oversight and leadership for the Office Housing and Student Life in a manner that supports the mission of the Division of Enrollment Management and Student Experience and the College.
• Oversee the residential student experience in community-style, apartment-style, fraternity and sorority housing, and themed housing.
• Manage the unit’s collaborative administrative functions by processing and filing these forms: (room selection, health/immunization, meal plan, residency exemption, housing lottery, etc.), managing the central housing office’s email account, and creating/maintaining/filing student conduct files in preparation for the student conduct process.
• Oversee the administrative functions of Housing, including, but not limited to, room assignments, room changes, move in/out procedures, damage assessments, health/safety inspections, fire drills, incident reporting, assessment activities, policy review, budgetary oversight, publicity/advertising, and building tours.
• Approve housing accommodation requests including but not limited to emotional support animals (ESAs), meal plan accommodations, and specific housing accommodations.
• Oversee and lead the unit’s work with billing systems (Jenzabar) as the residential billing process starts with this position via inputting and accurately maintaining the housing assignments and meal plan assignments in Jenzabar (student information systems).
• Collaborate frequently with the Business Office and the Admission Office to ensure efficient and effective assignments of student housing and meal plan for students and the billing process.
• Provide reports on housing assignments, meal plan assignments, administrative forms completion, etc.
• Provide direct supervision and management to residential staff within assigned campus area; including, but not limited to, facilitating weekly staff meetings, conducting regular one-on-one meetings with Senior RAs and RAs, and maintaining accurate staff files.
• Coordinate and implement the selection and training for all residential student staff and ensuring that the functions of residential staff are understood, aligned, and integrated with the mission of the Division of Enrollment Management and Student Experience and the College.
• Oversee the implementation of a comprehensive programming model that complements in-class learning, fosters interpersonal development, and encourages greater commitment to the College; monitors, tracks, and supports the individual programming responsibilities of residential staff.
• Coordinate communication with external units regarding building services, custodial services, fire/life safety requirements, as well as maintenance requests, and oversee the monitoring, reporting, and follow up functions for these initiatives within the residential community.
• Assist the Housing and Student Life team in overseeing the on-call duty rotation for residential staff within the assigned campus area and participate in the professional on-call duty schedule that includes evening and weekend coverage; respond to crisis and emergency situations as needed; maintain a presence in the halls and make rounds of residential facilities on a regular basis.
• Oversee logistics for student and office led initiatives including curriculum design, facilitation, third party vendors, meeting with advisors, day of details, and other tasks as needed.
• Help oversee the implementation of new initiatives within the Office of Housing and Student Life that may include a summer conferences program, living-learning communities, and provide direct support/oversight for such initiatives when launched.
• Provide leadership and direction for the development of interpersonal relationships with and among students at LaGrange College to ensure an inclusive, safe, secure, healthy living and learning environment through consistent interaction with students and maintaining a visible presence within the campus.
• Work closely with the Dean of Students to manage a student conduct caseload.
• Serve on various College committees and/or task forces as requested; support the Division of Enrollment Management and Student Experience in the implementation of major campus events.
• As with all Division of Enrollment Management and Student Experience employees, Assistant Directors are expected to engage in continual professional development by maintaining a knowledge of current literature, trends, and best practices in student affairs/higher education administration as well as conducting themselves in a professional manner that promotes the mission of the Division of Division of Enrollment Management and Student Experience and the College.

Candidates are asked to speak specifically to their experiences supporting student activities and programming as well as their experience managing and allocating budgeted funds.

Minimum Qualifications

A Bachelor's degree is required, a Master’s degree in higher education, student affairs, public administration, counseling, or related field from an accredited institution is strongly preferred. Previous experience with housing operations, student staff training, selection, residential programming, living learning communities, and direct supervision of student staff are key for the success of the Assistant Director of Housing. Previous experience working as a live-in student or professional residence life staff member at a four-year institution of higher education strongly preferred.

This position requires significant evening and weekend work. 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Commitment to the mission of church affiliated liberal arts institutions like LaGrange College.
• Demonstrated ability and willingness to work evening and weekend hours.
• Evidenced experience overseeing housing operations and residential programming.
• Demonstrated ability to understand and articulate the critical importance of inclusive practices and respect for diversity and social justice in the collegiate setting.
• Proven record of being able to utilize effective time management, organization, prioritization, and attention to detail while performing multiple duties, often under stress.
• Excellent leadership, organizational, interpersonal, written, as well as oral communication skills.
• Experience supervising residential student staff.
• Evidenced excellent problem solving, conflict resolution, judgment, and crisis management skills
• Ability to foster relationships across campus and build collaborative programs with faculty.
• Demonstrated proficiency with current technology and social networking platforms to advertise programs that reach the student body.
• Demonstrated understanding of the connection between student affairs and the educational mission of the College.
• Proven record of innovative and strategic thinking as well as a passion for building and adapting programs to meet the changing needs of today’s students.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule (i.e., nights, weekends)