House Director - University of Pennsylvania

University Overview


The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America’s Best Large Employers in 2023.




Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.




The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.








Posted Job Title

House Director





Job Profile Title

Director B, Student Services, Student Engagement





Job Description Summary

The House Director is a senior full-time administrative position within a College House and is responsible for the daily programmatic operations of a House. The House Director provides academic support and enrichment opportunities to meet the developmental needs of the house residents and carries out the mission of CHAS. The House Director works directly with the undergraduate residents of the House and the RA team. The House Director, along with the House Faculty Director & House Fellows, forms the senior leadership of each College House and collaborates to provide academic, intellectual, social, and community engagement opportunities for all residents in the house. The House Director coordinates communications and events for the house; is responsible for managing the house finances with direction from CHAS; and implements numerous procedures and policies from across the university.


The House Director is a member of the College Houses & Academic Services (CHAS) staff and serves on several committees/workgroups to further CHAS’s mission and goals. The House Director supports CHAS goals for building and maintaining living environments that are supportive, engaging and assist student success, in balance with their College House’s identities, physical layouts, and student populations (i.e. first year, upper-class, four-year). The House Director works in collaboration across CHAS with other House Directors, CHAS overall, and campus partners. The House Director supervises a full-time administrative assistant. In coordination with CHAS, the House Director also trains, evaluates, and supervises the House RA team.


The House Director serves as a pre-major advisor in the College of Arts & Sciences to students assigned by that office; collaborates with each of the 4 undergraduate schools in support of their educational objectives and priorities; and provides academic support and personal counseling to College House residents.


The House Director is an essential staff member and must live on campus in assigned housing to respond to crisis, attend programs, and be a strong presence in the house. The House Director is expected to work when normal campus operations are suspended (e.g. inclement weather) or if there is an emergency impacting on-campus residents, as well as expectation to work outside of business hours for house programs and peak periods (i.e. move in). As needed, House Director will assist in overseeing another college house. This is a live-in position, with a meal plan, parking space, and a two-bedroom apartment provided.





Job Description


Job Responsibilities



+ The House Director is responsible for development, implementation, and evaluation of a diverse and cohesive array of programs designed to create community within their house, to provide academic support and enrichment opportunities, to meet the developmental needs of the residents, and to carry out the mission of CHAS. The House Director collaborates with and provides support to the resident House Faculty Director and House Fellows to provide academic, intellectual, social, and community engagement opportunities for all residents in the house.


+ The House Director is responsible for collaboration across CHAS with the other House Directors and with campus partners.


+ The House Director supervises a full-time administrative assistant, RA Team, and paid student workers. This includes selection, training, and evaluation. The training includes both house specific areas and CHAS procedures and policies. House Directors are expected to provide clear written expectations and direction to this set of staff and to develop and implement operational procedures for management of the house office. House Directors are expected to meet with their RA teams on a regular basis.


+ The House Director provides residents with counsel and guidance on general matters of personal well-being, provide referrals and alert campus partners of critical student situations. Works closely with campus partners to resolve crises as needed. Serves as House Director on call on a rotating basis.


+ The House Director serves as a pre-major advisor in the College of Arts & Sciences to students assigned by that office; collaborates with each of the 4 undergraduate schools in support of their educational objectives and priorities; provides academic support and personal counseling to College House residents. This position provides in-residence academic programming to House residents from the College, Wharton, Nursing, and Engineering programs; provides referrals considering each school’s respective educational objectives and policies.


+ The House Director enforces Penn’s Code of Student Conduct and other policies and administers such policies along with general CHAS policies. The House Director will develop and implement House-specific community standards along with internal adjudication processes for behavioral resolution in accordance with University and CHAS standards.


+ The House Director coordinates communications and events for the house; is responsible for managing the house finances with direction from CHAS; and implements numerous procedures and policies from across the university. The House Director plans an annual budget in consultation with the House Faculty Director and manages the House finances in accordance with University policy/best practices. The House Director works in accordance with general guidelines and specific requests of CHAS, attends regular budget meetings; reconciles purchases in a timely fashion; oversees student/administrative staff use of procurement processes; works with residential senior staff to determine their financial needs vis-à-vis programming.


+ The House Director works with Residential Services (RHS) for house facilities and room change processes. The House Director sets guidelines for RA team on management of roommate conflicts and intervenes in such conflicts when necessary. The House Director supports RHS efforts for move-in, break, and move-out processes. The House Director works with RHS to review maintenance and housekeeping concerns in the House.





Qualifications





+ A Master's Degree is required, or 3 to 5 years of experience or equivalent combination of education. 3 to 5 years of professional full-time work experience required. The required experience should include work with undergraduates and faculty in a residential setting, financial management, teaching or advising, supervision and community building. Must have demonstrated experience of successful partnership and collaboration in a complex organizational network, being able to balance independent responsibilities with carrying out directives when necessary. Must be adaptable and service oriented. Experience working with residential academic programs or living learning communities and experience with learning outcome development, implementation and assessment is required. Evening and weekend hours are required.








Application Requirement

+ A Cover Letter and Resume/CV are required to be considered for this position. Please upload your cover letter, where it asks you to upload your resume/CV ; multiple documents are allowed.









Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania





Department / School

College Houses and Academic Services





Pay Range

$61,046.00 - $70,000.00 Annual Rate

Salary offers are made based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, as well as internal and market factors and grade profile.










Affirmative Action Statement Penn adheres to a policy that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.




Special Requirements Background check required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.




University Benefits

+ Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts : Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family’s health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.

+ Tuition : Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits . You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.

+ Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn’s Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.

+ Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family—whatever your personal needs may be.

+ Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you’re newly hired, you won’t have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.

+ Wellness and Work-life Resources : Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That’s why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.

+ Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.

+ University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University’s libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There’s always something going on at Penn, whether it’s a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you’re right in the middle of the excitement—and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.

+ Discounts and Special Services : From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.

+ Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.

+ Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.

+ Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.




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To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay



The University of Pennsylvania's special character is reflected in the diversity of the Penn community. We seek talented faculty and staff who will constitute a vibrant community that draws on the strength that comes with a substantive institutional commitment to diversity along dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, veteran status, interests, perspectives, and socioeconomic status. Grounded in equal opportunity, nondiscrimination, and affirmative action, Penn's robust commitment to diversity is fundamental to the University's mission of advancing knowledge, educating leaders for all sectors of society, and public service. The University of Pennsylvania prohibits unlawful discrimination based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.