"Assistant Dean/Director of Residential Housing Operations"

Job Summary

The Assistant Dean of Oberlin College and Conservatory, who reports directly to the Assistant Vice President/Dean of Residence Life and Auxiliary Services, will help develop and support the vision, strategy and leadership in supporting a robust and vibrant residential community. The Assistant Dean is an innovator, shaping environments where residents experience belonging, engagement, and a community that creates qualities of character and leadership consistent with the mission of Oberlin College and the institution's learning outcomes. The Assistant Dean is a change-oriented leader, excited to explore and promote emerging opportunities to deliver high quality experiences that are effective and efficient. As Director of Residential Housing Operations, the Assistant Dean is responsible for contributing to the development of improved housing processes and programs, including staff development, housing systems management, partnership engagement, and overall improvement of the housing experience at Oberlin.

The Assistant Dean helps supervise the Residence Life and Auxiliary Services team as we navigate through divisional changes. Individually and with colleagues, the Assistant Dean is empowered to design, promote, implement and assess programs in the office and seamlessly across the division of student life.

Responsibilities

Typical Duties and Responsibilities:

• Contribute to the development and implementation of a vision for the holistic student experience that reflects the mission, strategic plan and values of the College.
• Clearly articulate a vision for and the value of residential and living-learning experiences. Engage in program development that captures opportunities, aligns with enrollment and retention goals, and creates dynamic living experiences that support and delight students' outcomes and interests.
• Foster belonging and community with a demonstrated commitment to valuing people relationally and individually. Support development of self-efficacy, identity and leadership through individual, policy and institutional influence. Promote community unity and personal well-being.
• Provide direction, oversight, support, and professional development for professional housing and support staff.
• Coordinate all operations for housing management, including operation and implementation of the StarRez housing program. Understand and support a residential life and housing process that meets institutional revenue goals through occupancy predictability and stability.
• Develop, lead and assess the housing advisory team including partnership development strategies with internal/external campus partners.
• Assist in the creation of program learning and development outcomes, and assessment measures to describe effectiveness, inform incremental positive change.
• Identify needs, coordinate efforts and develop policies that promote safety, responsibility, and respectful living conditions to support student engagement and learning. Address issues of student conduct as assigned in partnership with the Dean of Students and designees.
• Contribute to strategic implementation of the room selection process for all residential students. Oversee room change process in consultation with the students involved and the residential life professional staff.
• Serve as a resource/referral person for individual student/guardian concerns about residence life.
• Maintain a positive working relationship with Facility Operations and Campus Safety regarding facilities, safety and student needs.
• Keep accurate records, data and statistics on institutional platforms pertinent to scope of role.
• Participate in the student life on-call after-hours rotation; handle crises and hospitalization of students, including contact with parents, and medical and public safety personnel.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Supervision Required/Given

• Reports directly to the Assistant Vice President/Dean of Residence Life and Auxiliary Services. Receives general direction and guidance while working with independent discretion.
• Provides direct supervision of professional and para-professional staff including student employees in a variety of positions and leadership roles.

Required qualifications

• Master's degree, preferably in higher education administration, college student personnel, or related field
• An understanding of student development theory, cultural identity development theory, and trajectories of growth and development that apply to traditional college age student populations
• 5-10 years of increasingly progressive leadership experience in residential life, housing operations, or equivalent skills gained from additional or related student affairs or administrative positions
• Have a working knowledge of legislation and regulations that affect residential life programs (i.e. Stop Hazing Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, the Fair Housing Act, and Title IX)
• Evidence of successful collaboration and cooperation with diverse individuals and groups including administrators, faculty, staff, students, and parents
• Prior experience with, and a commitment to, the residential liberal arts experience
• Responsiveness, presence, charisma, and ability to articulate a vision for residential engagement to a variety of institutional stakeholders that inspires confidence, investment and partnership
• A collaborative, inclusive and transparent management style
• Must maintain availability to respond to periodic emergencies and student crises outside of traditional work hours
• Extensive experience with StarRez Housing software
• A willingness to work nights and weekends as program and college demands dictate

Compensation

This 12-month position includes:

• Annualized salary ranging from $70-85K determined based on individual congruence with desired characteristics and qualifications, with exceptionally or highly qualified candidates positioned higher in the salary band
• Institutional support for professional development engagement to gather and share best practices, innovative approaches, and develop collegial networks
• Lunch allowance when classes are in session
• Benefits include health insurance, retirement fund, parking, gym access, etc.

Special instructions to applicant

A completed application will consist of a cover letter, resume, list of references, and a diversity statement.

Oberlin College is committed to the creation and nurturing of a diverse community of individuals through inclusive excellence. Diversity involves recognizing the value of differences and the inclusion of all members of the community including those that experience discrimination or underrepresentation. This is a core value of the organization as we strive for a culturally diverse student body, faculty, and staff that reflect the multicultural nature of the nation and our world and bring unique strengths and abilities, which contribute to our institution.