Director, Residence Life

Job Summary

Rhode Island School of Design seeks a talented Director of Residence Life to join its Student Affairs Division. RISD’s Residence Life program provides a safe and supportive environment empowering students to create inclusive communities that foster their artistic and personal development. Our programs and services offer opportunities for student engagement, leadership, health, cultural competence, and responsibility. RISD’s students are diverse, coming from a wide range of geographic, socioeconomic, and cultural backgrounds, representing all forms of diversity. The College strives to cultivate a culturally competent campus environment that advances principles of social equity and inclusion, environmental and climate justice, and equal access to resources and opportunities.

The Director of Residence Life provides visionary leadership and direction for a comprehensive living and learning experience. The person in this position administers and manages the student housing program for the College ensuring the principles of equal access to resources and opportunities. This position directs departmental operations; oversees the department budget; sets department goals; coordinates assessment efforts; and establishes student learning outcomes and implementation strategies for the department. The incumbent identifies, develops, and stewards collaborative relationships with stakeholders within and external to RISD demonstrating respect and inclusivity, and develops and directs program planning for the department consistent with the College's strategic plan, along with the goals and objectives of the Division of Student Affairs. The Director of Residence Life is responsible for building, developing, and leading a team of Residence Life staff capable of efficiently and effectively delivering the exceptional services, operations, and learning outcomes outlined.

Essential Functions

• Oversees and directs the College's housing and residence life operations in the division of Student Affairs, including academic year and summer programs.
• Provides fiscal management for departmental budget including setting room rates and anticipating budget carryover.
• Leads and directs professional and support staff, ensuring staffing levels, resources and skills are available to effectively and efficiently deliver operations and programming, and compliance with all relevant policies, procedures, standards and laws.
• Works directly with Facilities colleagues to develop annual and long range plan for maintenance and update of current housing; develop an annual calendar of maintenance/update needs; including the purchase and delivery of furniture, appliances, etc.
• Evaluates and assesses housing occupancy, retention, and projection trends.
• Oversees the residential facilities to maintain a safe, secure, and healthy living environment; actively engaging and collaborating with Facilities, Public Safety and Risk Management colleagues, as appropriate. Implements policies and procedures to minimize hall damages caused by artistic work and making. Identifies cost savings through resource conservation.
• Oversees the development and implementation of the RISD Residential Experience comprising First Year, Sophomore, and Upper-class community-focused events, programs, and learning objectives.
• Develops and implements Residence Life / Education strategies that align with, promote and enhance RISD's goals around social justice, inclusion and diversity.
• Establishes long-range residence life planning mechanisms, tools and models to help understand, anticipate and predict residence life needs and costs; represents the department and establishes a collaborative relationship with other College departments.
• Review and negotiate financial and service agreements/contracts with outside vendors (furniture, software providers, storage providers, etc.) engaging RISD Procurement team as resources, as appropriate.

Knowledge/Skills/Experience

• Master's degree in higher education, College Student Personnel Administration, business or another related field.
• Minimum of seven years administrative experience in student affairs, including within residence life/housing operations and/or academic credentials.
• Demonstrated experience in college student development (theory and practice); knowledge of residence life and housing operations; and the ability to offer a clear vision that navigates and coordinates the importance of both residential education and housing operations.
• Ability to use and leverage technology and platforms for information and administrative management in support of problem-solving and decision-making.
• Knowledgeable with proven experience working with a diverse group of individuals and a demonstrated ability to provide leadership in enhancing an atmosphere promoting diversity and inclusion. Strong working knowledge of issues of social equity and inclusion, and a track record of incorporating justice and equity into personnel work, staff training, and departmental policies and procedures, including student-centered leadership abilities and ability to lead and influence a diverse group of colleagues and students.
• Demonstrated ability to train/mentor full-time staff and student leaders to deliver innovative residence hall programs that address Social Equity and Inclusion. Must be a dynamic, creative, innovative, and collaborative leader who can sustain current services, develop new initiatives, manage a complex organization, and understand the comprehensive interconnections among members of the RISD community.
• A professional who possesses strong verbal and written communication skills and who communicates in a timely manner, with appropriate frequency, and with the appropriate discretion.
• Demonstrated experience developing and managing resources and budgets to deliver on operations/services.

Preferred Qualification:

• Experience in developing comprehensive and learning outcome residential experiences.
• Experience in the planning and implementation of capital improvements and maintenance planning. Understanding of basic construction terminology and project management strategies. Development of multi-year housing plans to address facility needs.
• Demonstrated understanding of management theories and practices related to auxiliary agencies; national and statewide laws or regulations and policies affecting housing operations.
• Demonstrated ability in developing strong partnerships with academic affairs in support of co-curricular programs and activities.

Union

No

Work Schedule

35 hours/week; 12 months/year

Employment Status

Full-Time; Exempt

Grade

09/AD

Documents Needed to Apply

Resume (required)

Cover Letter (required)

Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please upload all required documents.

The successful candidate will be required to meet our pre-employment background screening requirements.

RISD recognizes diversity and inclusivity as fundamental to its learning community and integral to an art and design education. We welcome candidates whose experience has prepared them to contribute to our commitment to diversity and excellence. RISD is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetics, or any other protected characteristic as established by law.

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