Resident Director - Fort Valley State University

FORT VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY (FVSU), a state and land-grant institution of the University System of Georgia, invites applications for the position of Resident Director.

Fort Valley State University, the only 1890 land-grant university in Georgia, is a comprehensive institution that provides an education to over 2,800 students including graduate students. The university is located in the town of Fort Valley in Peach County, the original site of the state's peach industry. Its 1,365-acre (5.52 km2) campus is Georgia's second-largest public university in area.

Fort Valley State University is an affirmative action, equal opportunity institution and does not discriminate against applicants, students, or employees on the basis of race, gender, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, or marital or veteran status.

JOB SUMMARY:

The Resident Director is a live-in professional who is responsible for the operation of a residence hall, housing up to 221 residents. The Resident Director is charged with shaping the environment and experiences of residential students by providing services and programs focused on the best practices in student housing as well as student development theory. The position reports to the Director of Housing & Residential Life. The position will supervise student resident assistants and some graduate staff.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

Listed below are both specific job duties of the position as well as the minimum professional standards of all Housing & Residential Life employees. These responsibilities encompass student and community development initiatives, both proactive and reactive, that directly influence the success of our residential students. They also detail administrative responsibilities that are foundational to this success. Finally, they delineate behaviors that connote professionalism and a commitment to the values of Fort Valley State University, the Division of Student Affairs & Enrollment Management, and the Office of Housing & Residential Life.

Community Development

Cultivate a positive and engaging living environment that fosters a sense of belonging and enables students to build positive relationships with one another

• Maintain a high level of visibility and availability, including attending community events, regularly touring the community, and interacting with residents
• Know the residents and provide personal, social, academic, and occupational support and referral
• Utilize institutional data to assess and respond to students' needs
• Collaborate with faculty and staff stakeholders to implement programmatic opportunities, some of which may relate to living/learning community themes

Supervision

• Supervise up to 8 resident assistants and possibly 1 graduate assistant
• Host weekly staff meetings to communicate upcoming events, discuss community concerns, and facilitate professional development experiences related to the overall student development goals of the Division of Student Affairs and Office of Housing & Residential Life
• Conduct regularly scheduled one-on-one meetings with staff members
• Ensure staff members are appropriately confronting and documenting student behavioral issues and concerns
• Provide regular formal and informal feedback regarding job performance
• Oversee the implementation of programs and strategies that enable student achievement, success, and engagement goals

Student Conduct and Crisis Management

• Review all incident reports and police reports (if available) for incidents that take place in the residence hall and/or involve residents living within the hall
• Respond to residents in need, referring to other professionals, when appropriate
• Adjudicate student conduct cases, track sanction completion, refer cases or ongoing situations of concern
• Provide leadership during times of crisis in and adjacent to the residence hall facility and/or community if on-call
• Assume shared responsibility for on-call duty year-round
• Assist in emergencies as needed
• Implement all university, division, and departmental rules, policies, and procedures
• Provide programs and other proactive educational interventions to enhance good decision-making by residents

Professional Development and Administration

• Perform administrative duties associated with summer projects and assignments
• Maintain up-to-date student emergency contact cards
• Report, track, and follow up on maintenance issues with appropriate housekeeping and facilities employees
• Serve on departmental committees and initiatives
• Administer student check-in, check-out, and room changes; assist with room condition reports and damage billing processes
• Participate in departmental and division-wide professional development activities
• Participate in the recruitment, selection, and training of staff members, both student and professional, for the department
• Conduct environmental assessments of the entire residence hall and communicate any major issues to departmental leadership

OVERARCHING STAFF EXPECTATIONS:

• Serve as a role model for all hall staff and residents in personal and professional behaviors

• Practice ethical stewardship of university resources
• Demonstrate a commitment to diversity
• Create and maintain positive professional relationships within the department and across the university
• Assume an alternative summer assignment such as orientation, conference housing, staff training, environmental assessment, and/or operations.
• Attend enrollment sessions to recruit prospective students into University Housing.
• Performs other duties as assigned

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree.
• At least two years of experience planning events/programs, preferably in educational settings.
• Experience using Microsoft Office Suite or Google Suite platforms (e.g., email, word processing, spreadsheets, PowerPoint, calendar)
• The incumbent must be able to supervise staff
• The incumbent must have the ability and willingness to assume shared responsibility for residence hall system-wide on-call duty and respond to crises and emergencies
• The incumbent must have strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills

PREFERRED QUALIFICCATIONS:

• Master's degree in a related field.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• The incumbent will be required to live in the residence hall for 12 months per year.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Regularly required to sit and/or stand, use hands and fingers, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls, reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear; lift and/or move up to 20 pounds.

• Occasionally lift 20 pounds overhead and 40 pounds from waist to shoulder
• Specific vision abilities required include close, distant color visions, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus
• Noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate

DIRECT REPORTS:

Resident Assistants (8)

USG Core Values Statement

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning, as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.