Community Director, Residence Life

Job Summary

The University of Chicago Department of Housing & Residence Life invites applications for one Community Director position. The Community Director will be responsible for fostering inclusive communities within their assigned residence hall for 350-750 residents, directly supervising Resident Assistants, supporting Resident Head and Resident Dean programming, and contributing to the overall mission of Housing & Residence Life.

Responsibilities

• Foster an inclusive and welcoming environment by overseeing academic, community, and departmental initiatives.
• Serve as a role model to student staff, engaging in intentional and educational conversations.
• Organize and support a variety of cultural, intellectual, and recreational activities that contribute to the overall development and engagement of residents.
• Provide regular interaction to challenge and support students in their individual growth and development.
• Support Resident Heads in their role as primary advisors to House Councils within the assigned community.
• Serve as a referral agent to campus resources, providing non-clinical counseling and crisis management interventions with students.
• Advocate for student success, considering all aspects of identity that may impact students’ experiences at the university.
• Serve as a primary Housing & Residence Life responder to crises and emergencies within their assigned residential community.
• Participate in an on-call rotation with other HRL professional staff through the calendar year.
• Ensure emergency preparedness by being knowledgeable about departmental and university protocols and resources.
• Collaborate with UCPD, UChicago HELP, College DOS, and other campus partners during after-hours incidents, ensuring coordinated response and follow-up.
• Ensure appropriate documentation and follow-up are completed following incidents and coordinate ongoing student support as needed.
• Provide direct supervision, support, coaching, and accountability to student staff in the execution of their assigned responsibilities.
• Play an integral role in the recruitment, selection, training, and evaluation of student staff members.
• Support the leadership development of Resident Assistants and other residential student leaders.
• Uphold student expectations for residential community behavior and respect for others.
• Facilitate Community Standards meetings and administer appropriate educational outcomes in accordance with departmental processes.
• Collaborate and liaise with the Assistant Director for Operations to address community and building-related facilities issues, ensuring timely resolution and minimizing resident impacts.
• Report concerns to appropriate facilities and operations staff.
• Support residential opening and closing processes, ensuring students vacate assigned spaces by established deadlines and coordinating across Housing & Residence Life to support the timely completion of move-in, move-out, and room turn processes.
• Conduct and support regular safety drills and inspections within assigned residential communities.
• Partner with the Occupancy Management and Administration team to support housing processes, including room changes and other residential transitions.
• Support summer conference operations in partnership with Housing & Residence Life colleagues, including coordination and on-site support as assigned.
• Utilize StarRez and other departmental systems to support assigned administrative responsibilities and the coordination of housing and residential processes.
• Identify student care and wellness concerns, provide appropriate non-clinical support, and connect students with relevant campus resources.
• Coach Resident Assistants to recognize signs of stress, anxiety, and sleep deprivation, fostering a community of wellness.
• Support community practices that promote well-being, resilience, connection, and help-seeking behaviors.
• Encourage resident assistants to create a community that prioritizes getting to know residents by name and story, fostering a sense of connection and support.
• Collaborate closely with Resident Deans to align residential experiences with intellectual and cultural initiatives.
• Partner with Resident Heads to support Resident Assistants, strengthen individual House communities, and foster a positive overall residential environment.
• Facilitate regular communication and shared planning sessions to enhance the overall residential experience.
• Ensure a unified and supportive approach that aligns with the broader mission of Housing & Residence Life.
• Embrace and support the House Tables tradition, recognizing residential dining as a cornerstone of community life.
• Encourage residents to utilize meal plans, fostering community connections during meals or snacks in their home Dining Commons.
• Collaborate with UChicago Dining and student leaders to enhance the communal dining experience as an authentic extension of community space.
• Participate in departmental meetings, committees, and working groups to advance Housing & Residence Life priorities.
• Attend Care Team meetings and collaborate with campus partners to support student well-being and coordinated care.
• Manage timely documentation, reporting, and follow-up using systems such as Roompact, Maxient, and StarRez.
• Maintain consistent and timely communication with campus partners, Resident Heads, Resident Deans, student staff, and departmental colleagues to support coordinated operations and student success.
• Participate in assigned summer responsibilities, including a summer on-call rotation and other departmental responsibilities as needed.
• Facilitate training presentations and workshops for Resident Assistants, Resident Heads, and/or student leaders as assigned.
• Maintain accurate records and contribute to departmental assessment and reporting efforts.
• Utilize departmental data, assessment findings, and community trends to inform programming, student support, and community development strategies.
• May recommend and guide student discipline processes and procedures.
• Provides on-site expertise and management of serious student life problems and crises, such as student deaths, life-threatening facilities emergencies, and other traumatic events.
• May advise Inter House Council, attend meetings, and serve as a liaison to several University Offices.
• Performs other related work as needed.