"Assistant Director of Residence Life"

The Assistant Director of Residence Life is a key member of the Housing & Residence Life team within the Student Engagement Center at Hobart and William Smith. The Student Engagement Center - home to both Housing & Residence Life and Student Activities & Greek Life - brings together professionals and student leaders to offer programs and experiences that foster connection, learning, and a sense of belonging on campus for all students. The Assistant Director plays a vital role in creating and sustaining an educational, inclusive, and supportive residential community where every student feels valued and respected.

Essential responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to:

• Provide direct supervision, training, and mentorship to 4 Graduate Resident Directors and indirect supervision of Community Assistant and House Manager staffs.
• Lead community development efforts that connect academic learning with residential life, fostering a strong sense of belonging in on-campus housing.
• Oversee the training and ongoing development of Community Assistants and House Managers, ensuring they are equipped with the skills and knowledge to support residents effectively.
• Plan and implement the recruitment and selection processes for Community Assistants and House Managers, from outreach through final candidate selection.
• Plan, implement, and assess residential programming aligned with department learning outcomes and institutional mission.
• Collaborate with the Director of Housing & Residence Life and campus partners on retention, student success, and crisis response initiatives.
• Serve in first-level on-call rotation for after-hour crisis management during academic year.
• Manage and track selected portions of the department budget aligning spending with departmental goals.
• Participate in ongoing departmental and institutional assessment efforts to enhance the residential experience.
• Advise and support the Residence Hall Association in conjunction with HWS Student Government.
• Serve as a primary conduct officer, addressing policy violations through educational and restorative approach.
• Represent Housing & Residence Life at campus-wide events, serving as an ambassador for the department and engaging with students, families, and campus partners.
• Contribute to the planning and execution of major department initiatives including move-in/move-out operations and other Student Engagement signature events.
• Other duties as assigned.

This position will report to the Director of Housing & Residence Life.

Other Information: This is a full-time, 12-month, live-in, benefits-eligible administrative, exempt position. Compensation includes annual salary of $66,300, a furnished two-bedroom apartment, assigned parking space, and the HWS comprehensive benefits package. This position description is not all-inclusive, as other tasks or responsibilities may be assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor's degree required, Master's degree preferred. Experience working in higher education, including an understanding of the residential liberal arts college. Ability to work collaboratively within a highly consultative campus culture. Possess strong communication skills and be willing to take initiative. Strong customer service orientation; positive, helpful, resourceful.

Preferred Qualifications: A proven track record of providing support for students; the ability to build trust and work collaboratively with students, faculty, staff, administrators, and community partners. Demonstrated competencies and sensitivity to the concerns and needs of all students, faculty, staff, and administrator populations. Detail oriented in communication, writing, and organizational skills in preparing and delivering presentations, written reports, correspondence, proposals, programs, assessments, and other materials for a variety of audiences. Demonstrated awareness of and sensitivity to unique circumstances of others. Exhibited ability to maintain a positive attitude, foster a collaborative spirit, and bring a sense of humor to the workplace. Highly reliable, flexible and adaptable.

About HWS: A liberal arts and sciences institution, Hobart and William Smith is known for consistent success in preparing students for meaningful lives and fulfilling careers through an outcomes-based focus on their futures. Our nationally ranked faculty are accessible teachers and scholars known for the impact of their research and distinguished by the depth of their mentorship. World challenges are studied in the classroom where critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills are honed. In the field, knowledge turns into discovery. In office hours, plans are carefully crafted to tie interests and talents to an academic path that motivates beyond graduation. Our location in the heart of the Finger Lakes allows faculty, staff and students to live and work collaboratively on the banks of a resource-rich lake. Student-athletes play for 30 varsity teams boasting 24 national titles, including the 2023 and 2024 NCAA DIII Men's Ice Hockey Championships. With three graduate programs, students can build on their undergraduate degree with a Master of Arts in Higher Education Leadership, Master of Arts in Teaching, or a Master of Science in Management. Together, the experiences and mentorship at HWS prepare students to lead lives of consequence.

Application Instructions: For more information and to apply, visit https://apply.interfolio.com/173013. The Colleges are an equal employment opportunity employer and prohibit discrimination and harassment in their programs and activities against employees or applicants based on race (including traits historically associated with race, such as hair texture and protective hairstyles), color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), gender, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, citizenship, genetic information or predisposing genetic characteristics, marital status, familial status, domestic violence victim status, caregiver status, military status, including past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, social class, or any other category or characteristic protected by applicable law.