Director of Residential Student Success

Purpose of the Organization:

Housing & Residence Life (HRL) is a self-supporting auxiliary organization within the University Life unit of George Mason University. HRL serves a highly diverse population of approximately 6,200 students, the majority of which are undergraduates living in traditional, suite and apartment-style residence halls in three campuses within the vibrant Northern Virginia area. HRL employs over 170 full-time and graduate staff members and over 350 undergraduate student staff member. HRL is committed to provide a safe, well-maintained student-centered environment that is innovative and inclusive of a global community. It is dedicated to creating a home that enriches the experiences of our students, staff and faculty.

Responsibilities:

The Director of Residential Student Success at George Mason University will serve in providing the vision and administration for all functions within the areas of Residential Student Success, Care and Outreach, Education and Engagement, and Residential Communities. Through the supervision of three associate directors, the Director will establish and maintain opportunities for the campus’s 6,000 residents to live, learn and be successful at Mason. The Office of Housing and Residence Life is a dynamic department that strives to exhibit best practices in an innovative and collaborative university environment. The Director of Residential Student Success must be adaptable, creative, enthusiastic, vision-oriented, and student-centered.

Reporting to the Assistant Dean/Chief Housing Officer (CHO), the Director of Residential Student Success is responsible for the development and delivery of a comprehensive package of services to residence hall students that promotes a high quality of life and well-being. Integral to this position is administration and leadership for the execution of a comprehensive residential curriculum, training and selection of student staff, Living Learning Communities (LLCs), themed housing that supports the academic mission of the university, development of a comprehensive and responsive care and outreach process, student success and accountability through the execution of the community standards process and critical incident crisis response, working with special populations, supervision and customer service, and community development within the residence halls. Also, this position must work closely with the Director of Housing Facilities and Operations as a member of the CHO’s leadership management team and with other Associate Directors designated to support the overall operations of the department. The Director of Residential Student Success will serve in the absence of the CHO.

Duties:

This position’s responsibilities fall within the following categories: management and supervision, leadership and program development, university commitments, and departmental duties.

Management & Supervision:

• Oversee all staffing functions for the areas of supervision including associate directors, assistant directors, administrative assistants, and hall staff supervision and evaluation. Overall this is roughly 30 professional staff and over 200 student staff.
• Directly supervise the Associate Director of Residential Communities, Associate Director of Residential Student Success, and Associate Director of Residential Student Engagement
• Oversee the management and monitoring of the Residential Student Success personnel and expense budgets.
• Provide leadership and direction as it relates to training and development for professional and paraprofessional staff in conjunction with other areas of the department.
• Coordinate and collaborate with leadership and management areas to consider assessment strategies to ensure efficiency and effectiveness of various initiatives within the areas of oversight.
• Develop and coordinate hiring, training, and evaluation processes for staff in conjunction with HR and Professional Staff and Student Staff Training and Development personnel.
• Facilitate supervision meetings with direct reports to address issues, concerns, and development of staff.
• Work with the HRL Senior Leadership team to ensure communication flow to staff within areas as well as residential students as appropriate.
• Serve in a critical incident crisis response team with the three Associate Directors reporting to position.
• Attend departmental and university-wide meetings as the representative for Residential Student Success.
• Responsible for ensuring timely, effective, and professional responses/resolutions to a wide range of concerns, complaints, and appeals as needed.
• Provide leadership and direction in collaboration with the Associate Director for Staff Development as it relates to training and development for professional and paraprofessional staff.
• Develop assessment strategies in collaboration with the HRL Assessment Coordinator to ensure efficiency and effectiveness of the residential student experience.
• Oversee and provide leadership for the development of effective and dynamic recruitment, selection and training initiatives for student staff.
• Oversee staff training and selection functions for HRL student staff teams, centered on strategic goals for the division and HRL.
• Serve in critical incident crisis response role; ensuring emergency on call procedures and schedules are maintained for all crisis response areas within HRL. Serve on University crisis response committees as well.
• Facilitate supervision meetings with direct reports to address issues, concerns, and development of staff.
• Facilitate staff meetings as warranted. 
• Work with the HRL Leadership team to ensure communication flow to the Residential Communities and Services team.
• Attend departmental and university-wide meetings as a representative of Housing and Residence Life as needed by the CHO.

Leadership and Program Development:

• Maintain university standards and policy enforcement/implementation within the residence hall communities.
• Provide direction for student conduct processes and oversee student-of-concern management practices.
• Serve as departmental partner in university retention and early intervention leadership team and oversee the early intervention outreach program for the residential student population.
• Facilitate and further develop relationships with appropriate offices impacting the residential student experience across the university.
• Assist in the development and modification of programs/systems in accordance with what best meets the needs of residential students.
• Work with the HRL HR and Professional Staff and Student Staff Training and Development personnel for staff training and development to create opportunities for students and professional staff to develop their competencies and leadership skills.
• Continuously assess best practices and look for ways to implement and maintain these within Housing and Residence Life.
• Utilize the academic mission to assist in framing residential education experience for all residence hall students.
• Engage national, regional and local resources in the professional development of staff through conferences, training, and development opportunities.
• Maintain university standards and policy enforcement/implementation within the residence hall communities and in consideration of occupancy management and summer operations.
• Facilitate and further develop relationships with appropriate offices impacting Residential Student Success areas.
• Assist in the development and modification of programs/systems in accordance with what best meets the needs of residential students.
• Create opportunities for students and professional staff to develop their leadership skills in conjunction with HR and Professional Staff and Student Staff Training and Development personnel.
• Continuously assess best practices and look for ways to implement and maintain these within areas of oversight.

University Commitments:

• Work with various support personnel in supporting students-of-concern in various processes.
• Serve on committees and task forces as requested by CHO 
• Work with campus stakeholders to advocate and support residential students and hall staff as well as in managing occupancy and summer/conference operations.
• Maintain and submit reports for university administration as directed by CHO.
• Work with Care and Outreach staff, Dean of Students Office, and Student Support and Advocacy in supporting the students-of-concern process.
• Serve as the primary liaison with campus partners such as the Dean of Students, Title IX Coordinator regarding the care and success of students living on campus.
• Serve as a member and primary HRL representative on the campus threat assessment team, Title IX response team and emergency operations group.
• Establish a strong working relationship with the George Mason University Police Department as it relates to protocols, relationships and response to critical incidents with residential students.
• Serve as an appeals officer within UL as needed. 
• Serve on committees and task forces as requested by HRL and university constituents, including the monthly Campus Community Policing Advisory Board, Preamble Leadership Team and Patriot Success Leadership Team.
• Integrate and advance university strategic goals and initiatives such as the Mason Impact and Patriot Experience and Student Experience Redesign along with division goals and strategic initiatives.
• Work with campus stakeholders to advocate and support residential education within the halls.
• Assist in the exploration and implementation of various initiatives and projects, including collaborating with academic partners in the creation and development of vibrant living and learning communities.
• Represent HRL at university events such as Summer Orientation, Admissions events, etc.
• Oversee the execution and creation of strategic goals and assessment in accordance with UL and university practices.
• Maintain and submit reports for university administration as directed by CHO.
• Serve on committees and task forces as requested by CHO.

Departmental Duties:

• Serve as an ethical steward to institutional resources. Identify ways to best utilize departmental resources to meet the goals and objectives of HRL and support the goals and vision of UL and Mason.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the CHO 
• Assist in fulfilling duties of vacant positions within the department. 
• Attend regularly scheduled departmental meetings. 
• Act as essential personnel in times of emergency and at critical times. 
• Oversees departmental audit processes and inquires impacting the housing organization. Maintains and monitors contracts with vendors and ensures that State and University purchasing guidelines are strictly adhered to.
• Plans and organizes logistics of the department; establishes timelines and expected needs associated with occupancy management and long-term planning needs outlined by CHO
• Ensure emergency on call procedures and schedules are maintained for all service areas.
• Ensures the proper security of residential buildings and safety of residents to include room and safety inspections, night operations staffing and EHS compliance.
• Participate in the planning and implementation of critical departmental processes that have a significant impact on the student experience and departmental operations (e.g. assignment processes, health and safety procedures, capital project planning, etc.)
• Actively participate in the development and delivery of content for New Student and Family Programs summer orientation programs, including student and parent programs.
• Provide support and guidance to regional campus locations. 
• Assist in fulfilling duties of vacant positions within the department.
  Describe the Duties of this position.

Required Qualifications:

Masters degree in college student personnel, higher education administration or related field. 10 years of progressively responsible leadership and management experience in a student affairs environment. At least five years of experience supervising professional residential life staff. Candidate must be able to demonstrate knowledge and have experience related to leadership in student housing, educational administration, student services, or a comprehensive housing operation with high expectations for customer service as well as successful program development experience and/or experience with a residential curriculum. Thorough knowledge of policies, procedures, and outside regulations pertaining to the position; ability to take initiative and independently plan, organize, coordinate and perform work in various situations where numerous and diverse demands are involved; and ability to anticipate, investigate, and analyze problems and address them proactively. The candidate must have demonstrated experience with all major areas of the position, including selection, supervision, and evaluation of staff as well as managing critical incidents, responding to crisis situations, and providing effective guidance to other professional and support staff. Must possess excellent oral and written communication skills

Preferred Qualifications:

Previous experience in a Director of Housing (or related) position. Experience in a large, dynamic housing/student affairs environment and with using StarRez.

Special Instructions to Applicants: 

For full consideration, applicants must apply for position number FA92Fz at https://jobs.gmu.edu/; complete and submit the online application; and upload a cover letter, resume, and a list of three professional references with contact information.

George Mason University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, committed to promoting inclusion and equity in its community. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or veteran status, or any characteristic protected by law.