Resident Director Life & Career Studies

Life & Career Studies Resident Director Position Summary

The Life & Career Residence Director (RD) is responsible for advancing the developmental goals of the Student Life Division by providing comprehensive leadership support and supervision within a traditional campus residence hall complex. This position plays an integral role in fostering student growth supporting Life & Career Studies students and enhancing the residential learning environment through collaboration mentorship and program development. The Life & Career Studies program is an inclusive postsecondary college program for students with intellectual or developmental disabilities. This is a live-in benefits-eligible 10-month position. This position will oversee a traditional residence hall of around 200 students and also support Life & Career students some of whom live in this residence hall.

Key Areas of Responsibility

1. Life & Career Studies Responsibilities Student Support and Leadership

• Provide direct leadership and support to Life & Career Studies students residing on campus.
• Serve as the primary contact for Life & Career residence hall students including conducting morning check-ins (78 AM) on designated days.
• Meet individually with students to address personal social and residential concerns helping them successfully transition to campus life.
• Collaborate with the Life & Career Studies Program Coordinator to foster inclusive and engaging residence hall communities. Staff Development and Supervision
• Support and mentor Life & Career Studies Graduate Assistant(s) and undergraduate staff to promote their professional and leadership growth.
• Design and facilitate RA training sessions focused on best practices for supporting Life & Career Studies students.
  

2. Life & Career Classroom and Academic Support Instruction and Facilitation

• Provide 1216 hours per week of classroom or academic support (on-campus or in-residence as approved).
• Facilitate weekly housing-related Community Living Support (CLS) seminars tailored for Life & Career Studies students. Facilitate other group CLS seminars as assigned based on need.
• Teach LIFE 164 (spring) and LIFE 390 courses as assigned. Academic Independent Living & Social/Emotional Support
• Assist in developing Academic Course Plans and facilitate academic support sessions in collaboration with the Academic & Peer Support Coordinator as needed.
• Provide case management and referrals to address academic and social/emotional needs.
• Provide Community Living Support coordination services for assigned private-pay students from initial setup through ongoing implementation and assist with completing required monthly reports. Administrative and Operational Support
• Contribute to program documentation reporting and administrative projects.
• Assist with staff coverage and classroom needs as needed.
• Provide on-call coverage two days a week with one being on-call for both Life & Career Studies and Residence Life. (8am-5pm)
  

3. Residence Life Responsibilities Community Development

• Lead the planning and implementation of co-curricular programming to enhance student engagement and learning outside the classroom.
• Foster an inclusive and supportive living environment through ongoing community-building initiatives. Leadership and Supervision
• Recruit select train and supervise residence hall student leaders (RAs and other staff). Conduct individual and group meetings with staff to provide mentorship guidance and ongoing professional development opportunities.
• Responsible for supervising Resident Assistants (RAs) student leaders and desk staff. Residence Operations
• Manage daily residence hall operations ensuring cleanliness safety and maintenance needs are met.
• Oversee housing assignments maintain accurate records and support the operational efficiency of the residence hall complex.
  

4. Shared and Collaborative Responsibilities On-Call and Crisis Response:

• Participate in the residence life on-call rotation and respond to emergency or crisis situations as needed. (1 daytime shift 8am-5pm per week)

• Collaboration and Communication
  • Attend regular meetings with supervisors Residence Life Student Conduct and Life & Career Studies staff.
  • Maintain open communication with campus partners students and families to support student success and retention. Student Conduct and Support
• Administer student conduct processes with fairness and developmental intent.
• Utilize intervention strategies document incidents and support accountability while promoting student growth. Professional Development
• Engage in ongoing training workshops and professional development opportunities alongside other staff and graduate assistants. Complete required Resident Director training annually starting in July-August.
• Perform additional responsibilities as assigned to support the overall mission and goals of the Student Life Division.
  

Qualifications: Bachelors degree required in Social Work Psychology Student Affairs or Education Required; Masters degree in Social Work or Education strongly preferred. Minimum two years of Residence Life experience (RA experience may count). Approved as a Community Living Support worker or the ability to complete the training within 30 days of hire. Previous experience as a Community Living Support worker is strongly preferred. At least two years of experience or demonstrated passion for supporting individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Strong time management and self-direction skills. Ability to handle stressful situations professionally and with empathy. Demonstrated leadership and role-modeling aligned with a faith-based campus community. Experience organizing events preferred. Experience in classroom instruction support coordination or case management strongly preferred.

Compensation and Benefits Salary: Annual salary of $28000 - $30500 based on experience paid over 12 months. Meal plan at Campus Dining hall provided while school is in session. Housing: On-campus housing in a 2-bedroom 2-bathroom campus apartment provided for each 12-month contract period. Housing is not a taxable benefit but is valued at approximately $1700/month based on local comparisons. Tuition Benefit: Waiver for eight Calvin credits per year and/or partial reimbursement for approved off-campus courses. Insurance and Retirement: Comprehensive medical dental and prescription coverage (employee premium share varies by plan). Life insurance equal to two times annual salary. Retirement plan contributions Long-term disability insurance effective the first of the month following 30 days of employment. Coverage includes workers compensation Social Security and unemployment benefits.

Expected Contract Period: July 27 2026 May 27 2027 with a term of 3-4 years expected. Position continuation will be assessed annually and will depend on funding availability. Additional renewal beyond this contract period will be at the discretion of the Residence Life and Life & Career Director.