Assistant Director for Lower Campus - Colgate University : Job Details

When extending an offer, Colgate University considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as market and organizational considerations.

Benefits

Current Benefits

Colgate University is proud to offer in-depth, competitive benefits that support the health and wellbeing of our employees and their family. The majority of benefits are effective on the date of hire.

We pride ourselves on the scope and quality of the benefits offered to our employees. We invite candidates to visit our Benefits page to learn more about our generous benefits package, which includes but is not limited to:

Health and Wellness:

Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, behavioral health benefits, disability and life insurance, 403 B Retirement with employer core and matching contributions.

Paid Time Off:

Vacation time (varies based on position classification), sick time, 13.5 holidays including a Winter Recess between Christmas and New Year's and 3 floating holidays.

Paid Family Leave:

After six months of employment, employees become eligible for up to 12 weeks of paid time off up to 67% of salary to a state maximum for bonding with a newborn, adopted or foster child, caring for a family member with a serious health condition or to help after a family member has been deployed to active military duty abroad.

Continuing Education and Professional Development:

Employees and their spouse/domestic partner may take up to 2 courses per semester at Colgate, tuition free with a $20 per course registration fee.

Funding for work related courses to obtain an undergraduate or graduate degree related to your current position.

After 7 years of service in an eligible position an employee's eligible children may be awarded up to half of Colgate's tuition to attend an accredited college, university or trade school of their choice.

Along with a generous benefits package, additional perks unique to Colgate University include but are not limited to free on campus parking, free gym membership with discounts for family members, reduced Seven Oaks Golf Course memberships, University Bookstore discount, free library access, 3 free tickets for any regular season athletic home event, access to Colgate owned Bewkes Center and Glendening Boathouse, free access to all cultural events.

Department Statement

The assistant director for lower campus is responsible for the program management of thematic housing, coordinating effective residential housing processes for lower campus, stewarding financial resources, and providing clear communications within a liberal arts, undergraduate-focused, residential campus. Colgate University students, faculty, and staff are highly collaborative, and intellectually engaged with a genuine interest in working together to create and sustain a vibrant student residential experience. The successful candidate for this position will demonstrate their ability to excel through their capacity for building and maintaining collegial relationships, operating with a student-centered focus, engaging in creative problem-solving, providing strong attention to detail, and possessing strong skills in the use of housing software. This position is a hands-on educator with a keen interest in operationalizing a residential experience aligned with the developmental interests and needs of junior and senior undergraduates.

The primary responsibilities of this position include the development of thematic communities and oversight of the junior and senior residential experience, assisting with the management of housing processes including annual housing selection, the private off-campus housing lottery, and semester break and recess housing (including late stays and early arrival housing). Additional functional areas include key operations, damage billing, furniture inventory, and room management. Work with Lower Campus apartment communities and fraternity/sorority communities is also part of this position.

This position requires strong communication capacity and skills, as it engages often with students and families. The assistant director will build and maintain collaborative relationships with colleagues across campus, including with Campus Safety, Fire Safety, Facilities, Fraternity and Sorority Advising, Student Involvement, Student Disability Services, Information Technology Services, Summer Programs, and the Office of the Dean of the College. Additionally, this position is responsible for the growth of the thematic communities and will require collaboration with faculty and staff to build a robust junior and senior experience.

The position directly supervises student staff on Lower Campus. The Assistant Director reports to the Associate Director of Lower Campus and Operations. This position will also oversee the lower campus residence halls, thematic houses, and/or fraternity and sorority chapter houses.

This position is a required live-on position. As a visible member of the lower campus community, the incumbent will connect with residential students in the area, develop a first-hand awareness of the benefits and challenges living in the Junior and Senior community, attend occasional evening and weekend events sponsored by the interest communities and residential communities on lower campus, occasionally dine with junior and senior students, and provide on-site crisis response when needed.

Accountabilities

The Assistant Director is a full-time, live-on position, primarily responsible for the effective and efficient execution of strategies and programs that enrich the junior and senior residential experience at Colgate. This position works closely with the Residential Life Leadership Team and campus partners to build an engaging junior and senior experience that will prepare students for life after college.

Specific Responsibilities

* Junior and Senior Experience

* Collaborate with the Associate Director in the development and implementation of the Residential Curriculum for the junior and senior experience.

* Actively engage with students who live on lower campus to establish positive relationships, convey expectations and provide accountability.

* Responsible for the development of theme communities partnerships. Develop connections with appropriate students, student organizations, campus departments and faculty to enhance theme communities.

* Directly select, train, and supervise student staff for lower campus.

* Maintain high visibility in junior / senior housing areas.

* Partner with Facilities to document and address facility needs for the Lower Campus (junior and senior) area.

* Housing Processes

* Utilize housing software to contribute to the management of on-campus housing by processing assignments, status changes, waitlists, and other assignment-related requests.

* Utilize housing software to contribute to the management of Residence Life processes including early arrival and late stay coding, key management, and room condition reporting.

* Community Development & Engagement

* Provide support in the development and furthering of the departmental philosophy, mission, and programs by translating the mission, vision, and strategic goals in ways that impact and transform residential communities

* Manage the facilitation of the residential curriculum, which may include one-on-ones, event planning, community meetings, and other strategies

* Provide accurate advice and guidance that actively supports the growth, maturity, and intellectual development of individual students and groups of students within assigned residential communities

* Facilitate the administration of protocols and processes to address the needs of students of concern and to connect them with appropriate resources and support systems

* Participate in the management of student behavior by responding to incidents, meeting with students, and applying appropriate sanctions as detailed in the University student handbook.

* Resolve student conflict and conduct issues within assigned residential area (or broader when on-call), ensuring proper documentation of conduct issues

* Ensure the development of a safe, welcoming, accessible, and fair environment that actively includes and engages everyone

* Actively address issues and concerns that diminish the capacity for all students to feel like they belong and are able to engage in their respective communities

* Staff Supervision

* Recruit, hire, train, supervise, and evaluate a team of student staff in accordance with department expectations, goals, and established procedures

* Participate in and plan on-going staff development and in-service activities for the purpose of continued training and opportunities for personal development for student staff

* Advise departmental committees for student staff members and students.

* Facilities & Building Management Duties

* Coordinate, maintain, and monitor the administrative and operational functions associated with the management of a residence hall (occupancy management, room condition, maintenance, technology, etc.).

* Exercise judgment in effective day-to-day management of multiple housing facilities

* Manage residence hall opening and closing procedures for all assigned areas

* Facilitate regular health and safety inspections in each residential area

* Ensure that all reported damages and problems with residential facilities are fixed within an appropriate time frame

* Coordinate the damage billing processes for the department, including closing procedures

* Manage the weekly inspection processes conducted by student staff on lower campus, including follow up on concerns

* Crisis Management & Emergency Response

* Serve as a referral source for student staff during counseling and crisis issues

* Provide crisis intervention along with necessary follow-up after an incident, working in coordination with other Residential Life staff, as well as professionals from the Counseling Center, Dean's Office, Campus Safety, and other areas as needed

* Participate in scheduled professional staff on-call duty rotation

* Core Departmental Responsibilities

* Build and maintain collaborative relationships with others in Residential Life, Dean of the College, Facilities, Faculty, and the University community, creating opportunities for them to engage and be involved with students around their areas of expertise

* Disseminate information regarding policies, conduct, administrative matters, and campus events to staff

* Become familiar with central department processes and policies in order to accurately promote and communicate with campus partners, students, and families, cover central office on a rotating basis to ensure these constituents are met with a welcome and informative presence

* Assist in assessment of student learning, student needs, and program effectiveness

* Manage room assignment changes in partnership with the Associate Director

* Meet regularly with supervisor to review department goals, establish individual goals, assess progress and solve problems

* Work with students, parents, co-workers, supervisor, department staff, and University staff from diverse backgrounds on a variety of issues

* Communicate with parents, resolving concerns and addressing questions with care and support

* Facilitate weekly staff meetings and 1:1 meetings with assigned student staff

* Participate in university committees as deemed appropriate by members of the Residential Life Leadership Team, supervisor, or Director

* Model professional behavior appropriate for living in and among students

* Other duties as assigned

This position has been designated as a Campus Security Authority (CSA), in accordance with the federal statutory requirements of the Jeanne Clery Act. CSAs are required to and responsible for reporting allegations of crimes they receive from students and employees to the Campus Safety Department.

Technical Competencies

Name Residential Facilities Description

Demonstrated expertise in building management sufficient to avoid material consequences across multiple facilities.

Name Staff Development Description

Demonstrated knowledge of and ability to consistently apply student development theory in the creation and development of programs as well as in advising responsibilities. Knowledge of best practices and ability to consistently apply these practices in advising responsibilities. Demonstrated ability to consistently identify and recognize legal and ethical principles of the profession. Demonstrated ability to consistently follow departmental protocol regarding legal and ethical issues.

Name Advising Description

Demonstrated ability to consistently apply culturally appropriate advising, helping and coaching techniques while also recognizing the uniqueness of every individual. Demonstrated ability to accurately and consistently maintain confidentiality. Demonstrated ability to consistently follow crises response protocol and consistently make appropriate decisions to initiate crisis intervention responses.

Name Administrative Description

Demonstrated ability to effectively and consistently apply time management, problem solving, and planning skills in the implementation of processes or programs. Demonstrated ability to effectively use technical solutions to assist in the collection/maintenance of key data and records and within university, division and department guidelines. Demonstrated ability to consistently meet functional accountabilities while staying within assigned budget constraints.

Name Project Management Description

Demonstrated expertise in program delivery, consistent with broader organizational guidelines and within the context of a small, private, residential, rural liberal arts college. Implements and troubleshoot on-site logistics. Ability to apply techniques of assessment to measure programmatic effectiveness. Connects intended outcomes, priorities and goals to divisional and institutional outcomes, priorities and goals.

Name Records & Technology Management Description

Demonstrated knowledge of interrelationships between all key residential housing data sets and relevant systems. Demonstrated understanding and knowledge of residential records and protocols. Sufficient knowledge of technical systems and departmental needs to effectively operate systems.

Behavioral Competencies

Name Personal Accountability for Results Description

Takes responsibility for decisions, performance, and outcomes; behaves in a responsible manner with a positive attitude; shows self-awareness and openness to feedback.

Name Effective Communication Description

Demonstrates effective written and oral communication skills; shares information and seeks input from others; adapts communication to diverse audiences; protects private and confidential information.

Name Problem Solving and Decision Making Description

Analyzes and prioritizes situations to identify and solve problems; generates solutions to improve efficiency and quality; involves others in solving problems and making decisions; factors organizational goals into decisions; makes clear, transparent, and timely decisions.

Name Change Management Description

Responds positively to changing university initiatives and readily adapts behavior to maintain effective performance; understands the long-term direction of the university and can relate this to departmental area; adapts to new methodologies; identifies and acts on areas where change is appropriate.

Name Leadership and Teamwork Description

Applies skills and knowledge to provide a climate to achieve departmental and organizational success; balances individual and department goals; helps others perform at their best; builds productive relationships to enhance individual and organizational effectiveness; treats others with respect; resolves conflicts among team members.

Name Creativity and Innovation Description

Generates, explores, encourages, and implements innovative ways of creating strategic value for the university, division, department, and individual level; critically assesses the effectiveness of new initiatives.

Name Diversity and Inclusion Description

Demonstrates respect for people and their differences; understands the benefits of a diverse workforce; earns the trust and respect of others; includes and welcomes others; works to understand the perspective of others; promotes opportunities to experience diversity within our community.

Name Sustainability Description

Understands the impact of decision making and personal behavior in achieving the university's commitment to a sustainable and carbon-neutral campus; supports and advances the university's sustainability initiatives; influences others to use sustainable practices.

Requirements

Professional Experience/ Qualifications

Ideal candidates will have well-developed:

* Written and verbal communication skills and be capable of creating and maintaining productive and collegial working relationships with a diverse group of faculty, staff, students, and visitors.

* Knowledge of student development and/or human development theory and practice.

Ideal candidates will bring:

* Must be available to work occasional evenings and weekends as required.

* Must be self-motivated and able to manage multiple projects, programs and student challenges simultaneously with an appropriate sense of urgency.

* A minimum of two years of relevant work experience is required.

Examples of relevant experience include: leadership, student development, administrative, and community-building. Similar roles could include but are not limited to: student affairs and residential life, supervisory and staff management, crisis management and conflict resolution, and/or student engagement.

Preferred Qualifications

* Preference will be given to candidates who have college or university experience in crisis management, student conduct, and student staff supervision.

* Experience working with faculty within the context of a learning community or similar program is highly desired.

* Experience working with housing software, especially StarRez, and reporting is preferred.

Education

* A Bachelor's degree is required.

* A Master's degree in higher education or related field is preferred.

Certifications Physical Requirements Other Information

This position will require occasional evening and/or weekend hours. This position will require participation in the residential life on-call rotation.

This position requires living on-campus.

Room and partial board are also required and included in the compensation package.