"Residence Director"

Job Details

Residence DirectorSeptember 18, 2025

The Department of Residence Life at Lake Forest College invites candidates to apply for the position of Residence Director. A highly selective liberal arts college located on Chicago’s North Shore, Lake Forest College enrolls more than 1,800 students from more than 40 states and from more than 100 countries.

Residence Directors are 12-month, full-time, live-in professional staff members who are responsible for the overall development and management of a residential community. Under the supervision of the Director of Residence Life, Residence Directors create a positive and engaging living environment in residence halls that foster a sense of belonging and promotes safety and inclusivity. Successful candidates are student-centered, compassionate, and adaptable.

Responsibilities

• Select, supervise, and train undergraduate Resident Assistants.
• Create a positive and engaging living environment in 2-3 residence halls that fosters a sense of belonging and promotes safety and inclusivity.
• Maintain a visible, active, and engaged presence on campus.
• Regularly participate in Residence Life initiatives to build community, including but not limited to programming, campus events, etc.
• Connect individually with students and student groups.
• Develop meaningful relationships with students and provide support and referrals to campus resources based on individual need.
• Support retention initiatives through supporting students referred to the Early Alert Student Support Team.
• Serve as a college Hearing Officer and adjudicate incidents of student misconduct through administrative conferences and student conduct board, executing and educational sanctioning model.
• Assist students through conflict resolution (ex. roommate mediations).
• Participate in an on-call duty rotation for 1,200+ residential students.
• Coordinate all aspects of administrative management for 2-3 residence halls including but not limited to occupancy, facilities, opening and closing procedures, keys, and budget management.
• Provide support and leadership for departmental functions, including but not limited to student staff recruitment and training, student conduct, and operational processes.

The Residence Director position is an essential staff position. Residence Directors are Campus Security Authorities and Title IX responsible employees (mandatory reporters).

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• The ability to work a changing and flexible schedule, including evening and weekend commitments.
• Conflict resolution and mediation experience
• An exhibited commitment to student development and higher education
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to manage crisis situations and student conduct issues
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Availability for on-call responsibilities and flexible hours

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree
• Experience in residential life, counseling, or teaching

Salary and Benefits

Salary: Starting salary of $45,000 per year.

Benefits: Employee Benefits | Lake Forest College

Additional benefits include:

• Furnished apartment including utilities and internet.
• Partial meal plan during the academic year
• Moving expenses

This is a live-in position with a furnished apartment. Residence Directors are welcome to have a partner, spouse, or other family member live with them. Lake Forest College’s pet policy for live-in staff allows for small pets.

Application Process

Please submit a cover letter, resume, and a list of three professional references via email to the Residence Director Search Committee at reslife@lakeforest.edu.

If you are interested in learning more about employment at Lake Forest College, please visit Working at Lake Forest | Lake Forest College

Organization

A highly selective liberal arts college located on Chicago’s North Shore, Lake Forest College enrolls more than 1,700 students from more than 40 states and from more than 100 countries. Lake Forest is one of the most diverse small colleges in the Midwest with more than 40% combined are domestic students of color and international students. The majority of our STEM pool is female and includes a significant number of first generation and traditionally underrepresented students. At Lake Forest College, the quality of a faculty member’s teaching is the most important criterion for evaluation. The College also expects peer-reviewed publications and active participation in the College community. Lake Forest College embraces diversity and encourages applications from women, members of historically underrepresented groups, veterans, and individuals with disabilities. Lake Forest College offers equal employment opportunities to all persons without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, parental status, marital status, age, disability, citizenship status, veteran status, genetic information, or any other classification protected in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local EEO laws.