Human Resources

Job Description Summary

As a member of the Residence Education and Housing Services team, the Assistant Director of Residence Education will partner with the Director in creating an inclusive and intentional residential education experience for students. This position is a champion for student and staff development and is responsible for the supervision, recruitment, and training of student and professional staff. The person in this position supports initiatives related to the continued development and retention of students living in the residence halls at Michigan Technological University. For the 2024-2025 academic year, the person in this role will focus on preparing for the opening of a new 516 bed residence hall in Fall 2025.

This is a 12-month position. A furnished apartment is provided on site, however staff can explore off campus housing and be successful in the position.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities (other duties may be assigned)

•  Provide leadership and oversight to a residential community of approximately 1,900 students, including the direct supervision, training, recruitment, hiring, and evaluation of up to five full time professional staff and indirect supervision of all live in undergraduate and professional residence education staff.
• Promote living-learning experiences that foster an inclusive community focused on the learning, growth, and development of students.
• In collaboration with the Director, provide leadership and oversight in all aspects of the Residence Education program.
• Recruit, hire, train, supervise, evaluate, and provide leadership to full time Residence Education Coordinators.
• Oversee and support activities that help students develop resilience and build an inclusive community, based on the residential learning model.
• Coordinate resident assistant training, recruitment, and selection initiatives.
• Advise and support residential student organizations in leadership development and initiatives.
• Develop, propose, and manage approved programming budgets based on data and event requirements.
• Maintain visibility and availability with staff and students through daily social interaction and attendance at hall functions.
• Complete assigned projects which support departmental initiatives.
• Collaborate with appropriate stakeholders to ensure that services delivered to students are audience-specific, timely, culturally-relevant, needs-based, aligned with leadership’s priorities and student learning outcomes, and can be evaluated.
• Review student concerns, warnings, and incident reports working in collaboration with other University departments as appropriate related to student success.
• Spearhead the successful implementation of all support operations for a new 516 bed residence hall opening Fall 2025 and assist in establishing its identity within the community.
• Serve in the departmental senior staff on-call rotation, providing leadership and guidance to professional staff on call seeking support and collaborating with other departments.
• Assist with the coordination of openings, closings, and break transitions of the residence halls.
• Work irregular hours due to the nature of the position. This position requires night and weekend work at times.
• Provide leadership to departmental recognition and social activities.
• Perform other mission-critical and position-specific duties as requested based on operational needs (e.g., all-hands-on-deck events such as orientation, welcome week, homecoming, commencement, and other university traditions)
• Apply safety-related knowledge, skills, and practices to everyday work.

Core mission-critical duties for Auxiliary Services/Student Affairs staff
• Actively engage in creating an inclusive, welcoming, and professional work environment for staff, students, and visitors.
• Leverage relevant social media platforms and other marketing and outreach strategies to promote and increase attendance at events.
• Maintain a positive and professional attitude while carrying out responsibilities.
• Identify and propose appropriate professional development opportunities to enhance knowledge and skills.
• Collaborate with supervisor and leadership to enhance the visibility of achievements by, for example, exploring and submitting proposals to conferences to showcase effective programs that may be replicated within the profession.
• Participate and actively engage in University continuous improvement initiatives and strategies and apply knowledge to everyday work.
• Ensure that office databases and other record-keeping systems are updated, accurate, and audit-ready.
• Submit monthly, annual, and ad hoc productivity reports.
• Support and assist department and divisional leaders in efforts to enhance brand, operations, services, visibility, and impact internally and externally, especially within the profession.

Required Education, Certifications, Licensures (minimum requirements)

● Master’s degree in student personnel, curricular instruction, or a related field. Candidates whose degree will be conferred by July 1 are eligible to apply.

Required Experience (minimum requirements)

● Three years of progressive experience as a full time professional in residence life, residence education, or related field. (accumulated at start as of July 1, 2024)
● Professional experience coordinating student staff training opportunities.
● Two years of supervisory experience.

Desirable Education and/or Experience

• Previous experience working with residence education, diversity education, academic or learning services, student conduct, or other related experience.
• Previous experience working with a residential curriculum.
• Previous experience coordinating staff training.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and/or Abilities (minimum requirements)

To maximize our effectiveness and success and to serve as campus leaders in developing staff talent, the cross divisional model adopts the following core required knowledge, skills, and/or abilities for all positions:

Skills

• Communication skills: ability to communicate effectively with individuals across racial, ethnic, cultural, and other boundaries and styles through interpersonal, oral, written, and group presentation modalities.
• Self-management skills: ability to manage time effectively, learn and fully contribute to overall departmental tasks and goals, and offer suggestions for enhancing contributions to organization.
• Event and program planning skills: ability to plan and organize events/programs/services from conception to full execution including identifying and addressing important details.
• Relational skills: ability to develop and maintain positive and harmonious professional relationships in a team environment and with individuals from various diverse backgrounds and experiences.
• Conflict resolution skills: ability to address and resolve differences and conflict with colleagues, students, and others.
• Computer skills: proficiency with word processing and spreadsheet software, preferably Microsoft Office or Google Suite.

Abilities

• Ability to adhere to work attendance requirements.
• Ability to model self-care and well-being for colleagues and, most importantly, students.
• Ability to manage emotions, function effectively, and make sound decisions in stressful and crisis situations.
• Ability to handle multiple projects in a timely and professional manner in a fast-paced and results-oriented environment.
• Ability to work independently under limited supervision and in teams.
• Ability to work evening and weekend hours based on operational need.

Other

Possession of a valid driver's license and ability to comply with Michigan Tech vehicle-use requirements.

Desirable Knowledge, Skills, and/or Abilities

• Ability to use Maxient, Roompact, and The Housing Director software systems.
• Preparatory knowledge: coursework- or work-based knowledge of student development theories, learning theories, and other theories related to profession.
• Student knowledge: knowledge of generational college students and the ability to design generation- and audience-specific programs/events/services.
• Accountability: experience with applying formative, summative, qualitative, and/or quantitative methodologies to assessing student learning outcomes and/or evaluating programs and services.
• Ability to plan and execute programs and services based on social justice, cultural responsiveness, anti-racism, and civility.

• Demonstrated success in, or potential future contributions to, working with persons from diverse backgrounds, creating a sense of belonging, and fostering a fair, objective, welcoming place to work for persons with a wide variety of personal characteristics and viewpoints. **

Work Environment and/or Physical Demands

WORK ENVIRONMENT:
● Moving small- to medium-sized boxes of materials in and out office during special events
● Driving personal or university vehicles or golf-cart during special events to transport materials and supplies to events
● The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate
● Fast-paced
● Results-oriented
● Accountability-driven
● Ability to navigate stairs in residential buildings without elevators.
● Day to day work occurs in an office situated in an undergraduate residence hall setting amongst living spaces for students.
● Evening and weekend hours for this position may be required during peak housing periods such as opening (fall, spring, summer), break periods (Thanksgiving, winter, and spring breaks), and closing (fall, spring, and summer). During the month of August, staff should anticipate a high demand workload in preparation for the opening of the academic year. Time off requests for the month of August are typically unable to be approved.
● After hours phone calls and callback support to provide operational assistance may be required.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Personal Protective Equipment: None Required

Required Training and Other Conditions of Employment

Every employee at Michigan Technological University will receive the following 4 required trainings; additional training may be required by the department.

Required University Training:

• Employee Safety Overview

• Anti-Harassment, Discrimination, Retaliation Training

• Annual Data Security Training 

• Annual Title IX Training

Required Departmental Training: 

● Adirondack Housing Management Software
● Question Persuade Refer
● Mental Health First Aid
● All applicable trainings as directed

Background Check:

Offers of employment are contingent upon and not considered finalized until the required background check has been performed and the results received and assessed.

Other Conditions of Employment:

The successful applicant will be responsible for ensuring eligibility for employment in the United States on or before the effective date of the appointment. Visa sponsorship is unavailable at this time. This is not an E-Verified Position.

Michigan Technological University is an Equal Opportunity Educational Institution/Equal Opportunity Employer that provides equal opportunity for all, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities

1.00

FLSA Status

Exempt

Appointment Term

12 months

Shift

Pay Rate/Salary

Negotiable, based on education/experience, no less than $44,000.

Title of Position Supervisor

Director of Residence Education

Posting Type

Dependent on Funding

Special Instructions to Applicants (if applicable)

Additional Information

• Furnished apartment, meal plan and cell phone are included