Program Manager of The Forest, Residence Life and Housing

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Job Description Summary

The Program Manager of The Forest is a key member of the Residence Life and Housing team responsible for fostering a positive and inclusive living environment within the residential communities. The Program Manager works closely with other professionals in the department in the administration and management of a comprehensive residence life and housing program serving over 4000 students. The Forest program is foundational to the residential experience with a broad-reaching arm through the residential experience of all Wake Forest students. The Program Manager provides key support for residential academic initiatives that foster a vibrant and supportive learning and living environment for all residential students. In collaboration with residential life staff Faculty Fellows and campus partners the Program Manager helps advance The Forests goals for all residential student development and engagement.

Job Description

Essential Functions:

• Serves as the primary support in the day-to-day management of The Forest initiative.

• Collaboratively works to create an inclusive and supportive community within The Forest by developing and implementing house-based initiatives and programming.

• Together with Faculty Fellows Lower Division Advisors and other academic leadership supports faculty in promoting academic and intellectual engagement in The Forest.

• Actively oversees tracks and reconciles The Forest budget including but not limited to programming and meals and maintaining documentation.

• Assists house teams with budget and resource allocation for The Forest and other academic programmatic initiatives.

• Provides training and purchasing card support to Faculty Fellows Lower Division Advisors and graduate student staff.

• Regularly collaborates with house leadership Residence Life and Housing staff faculty and staff affiliates residential fellows and students residing within The Forest.

• Recruits trains and supervises a team of Graduate Assistants who support house team initiatives within The Forest. Provides ongoing support professional development and mentorship to the staff members. Facilitates regular staff meetings team-building activities and training sessions to ensure cohesive and effective teamwork.

• Collaborates with the Residence Life and Housing Operations Manager and Campus Life Marketing and Communications to support marketing efforts that promote The Forests identity programs and initiatives across residential communities.

• Maintains strong communication channels with residents staff and faculty stakeholders. Communicate effectively through various channels such as email newsletters and social media platforms.

• Fulfills central office duty on a rotating basis as assigned during the academic year and weekly duty during the summer months.

Other Functions:

• In conjunction with the Director of Residence Life the Program Director of The Forest will:

  • Collaborate with campus partners to deliver cross-functional programs and initiatives that align with the broader goals of the institution.

  • Play a leading role in The Forest assessment projects.

• Together with the Assistant Director for Residence Life and Academic Engagement Initiatives develop and implement a community engagement model in support of The Forests goals.

• Reconcile monthly meal plan usage for faculty and staff ensuring accurate tracking and reporting of allocations and expenditures.

• Residence Life and Housing provides optional housing to staff who serve in a Residence Life and Housing on-call response capacity. Eligible staff who elect the option to live in apartments and/or houses provided by Residence Life & Housing agree to additional responsibilities that increase connection with the student residential experience responsiveness to campus-related emergencies and other campus programs and services. Additional responsibilities associated with that function include:

  • Respond on-site as directed for crisis response including but not limited to weather-related student and facility emergencies.

  • Provide program support as directed.

  • Perform regular on-campus facility walk-throughs reporting issues to Facilities and Campus Services for follow-up.

  • Support weekend and evening departmental processes (e.g. move-in closing) as directed.

Required Education Knowledge Skills Abilities:

• Bachelors degree in a related field.

• Experience working in a residential life or student affairs setting.

• Strong interpersonal communication and conflict resolution skills.

• Knowledge of student development theory and best practices in community development.

• Ability to create and implement engaging programming initiatives.

• Understanding of diversity equity and inclusion principles within a community context.

• Excellent organizational and time-management skills.

• Flexibility to work evenings weekends as needed.

• Ability to interpret policy and procedures established within Residence Life and Housing.

• Ability to communicate with a variety of constituents both verbally and in writing.

• Ability to organize workflow and coordinate projects within the office and with other departments.

• Ability to problem solve critically think and analyze complex issues while effectively planning and organizing work.

• Ability to articulate the role that residence halls play in supporting retention at the University.

Preferred Education Knowledge Skills Abilities:

• Masters Degree with a concentration in College Student Personnel Higher Education Administration Facilities Management or related field.

• A minimum of 1-3 years of full-time experience working in Housing and Residential Programs (Residence Life) Student Activities or other positions working closely with students in a university setting.

• Demonstrated ability in program development management and assessment knowledge and skills.

• Demonstrated understanding and knowledge of concepts of college student development.

• Demonstrated ability to supervise and mentor staff members.

• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail and accuracy.

• Experience in planning and implementing meaningful learning experiences with faculty and students.

• Ability to work well under pressure with multiple and changing deadlines.

Accountabilities:

• Paraprofessional staff.

Physical Requirements:

• Light walking.

• Occasional lifting or carrying equipment up to 50lbs.

• Bending stooping reaching and climbing.

Environmental Conditions:

• No adverse environmental conditions expected.

Additional Job Description

Disclaimer:

This position profile identifies the key responsibilities and expectations for performance. It cannot encompass all specific job tasks that an employee may be required to perform. Employees are required to follow any other job-related instructions and perform job-related duties as may be reasonably assigned by the employees supervisor.

In order to provide a safe and productive learning and living community Wake Forest University conducts background investigations and drug screens for all final candidates being considered for employment.

The University is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all qualified candidates to apply without regard to race color religion national origin sex age sexual orientation gender identity and expression genetic information disability and military or veteran status. If you are an individual with a disability and need an accommodation to participate in the application or interview process please contact .

Time Type Requirement

Full time

Note to Applicant:

This position profile identifies the key responsibilities and expectations for performance. It cannot encompass all specific job tasks that an employee may be required to perform. Employees are required to follow any other job-related instructions and perform job-related duties as may be reasonably assigned by his/her supervisor.

In order to provide a safe and productive learning and living community Wake Forest University conducts background investigations and drug screens for all final staff candidates being considered for employment.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The University is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all qualified candidates to apply without regard to race color religion national origin sex age sexual orientation gender identity and expression genetic information disability and military or veteran status.

Accommodations for Applicants

If you are an individual with a disability and need an accommodation to participate in the application or interview process please contact or .