PAY GRADE: 31E

CONTEXT OF THE JOB:

Under limited direction of the Director of Residential Communities, the Associate Director strives to develop cohesive, safe, and positive residence hall communities; manages response to students of concern and student conduct in the residence halls; leads initiatives to improve community standards and community health;  improves operational and administrative functions of daily residence hall management to enhance the student experience. Serve as primary liaison with Student Advocacy and Support (SAS) and Community Standards and Conflict Resolution (CSCR). Serve on the Student Behavioral Consultation Team (SBCT) and Title IX Assessment and Status Committee (TASC). Act decisively and diplomatically to advance and protect departmental and University relations in resolving situations that are unique, controversial, or not fully resolved by subordinates.

This position directly supervises  two Assistant Directors with indirect supervision of 16 residence hall coordinators and ~190 student staff. Serves as a member of the department’s senior leadership team initiating strategic planning and organizational leadership to facilitate the development of the overall operation including engagement of students in educational opportunities that exist to build community; supports student success; and contributes to the achievement of UD’s academic mission and strategic planning goals.

Position duties are fulfilled within a 24-hour, 7 day per week operation and require periodic evening and weekend time commitments.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

Administrative Leadership

• Provide direct supervision and direction to Assistant Directors and indirect supervision to Residence Hall Coordinators and more than 190 undergraduate student staff members. 
• Serve as a member of the department’s senior leadership team to formulate departmental policy and practices. Engages in the development of department-wide goals and assists with the development of the long-range strategic plan.  
• Develop and present trend analysis reports, emerging national issues in areas of student concerns and best practices, annual and on-going staff development and training in all areas of functional responsibility.
• Serve in an advanced capacity as a Student Conduct Hearing Officer for the University conduct system and render educational and corrective sanctions for violations of University policies.
• Develop and administer assigned budgets. 
• Assist in the recruitment and selection of all levels of department staff. Serve on search committees for positions in collaborating departments.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Residential Behavior Case Management and Crisis Response

• Review and process all incident reports (over 2500 annually) and all police Student Conduct Referrals related to residence hall students.
• Direct staff response to incidents ranging in complexity from simple policy violations to major psychological episodes, chronic emotional/interpersonal challenges, roommate conflicts, and assaults. Make decisions about appropriate course of action, response and possible adjudication of incidents.  Take corrective action related to procedural and escalation errors on the part of student and live in exempt staff. 
• Coordinate department response to significant crisis situations through a triage approach. Facilitate Residence Life & Housing staff response to campus-wide weekday and evening serious crisis situations including those that are life-threatening by assuming campus-wide emergency 24-hour “on-call” responsibilities on a rotating basis.
• Train Residence Life & Housing Staff and oversee performance related toduty responsibilities. Collaborate with Office for Student Conduct and Confict Resolution to provide direction and support to staff responding to student issues both informally and through the University judicial system. Respond to student and parent concerns and consult, negotiate with, and engage in problems with Facilities, Judicial Affairs, the Counseling center, and Student Health Services to address student needs that are beyond the Residence Life & Housing infrastructure.
• Lead response to incidents of sexual assault attending to victims needs and ensuring adherence to State of Delaware laws. Coordinate behavior responses with Dean of Students and/or Office of Student Conduct where appropriate. Lead department responses to high-level crisis situations such as student death, major health and safety issues or contagious illness concerns.
• Review and sort all residential inbound incidents that meet Cleary Act or Title IX reporting parameters. Instruct residence hall staff on respective University protocol and federal reporting responsibilities. Prepare official departmental reports for each Title IX and Cleary Act reportable incidents.
• Serve as case manager for all cases involving sexual misconduct, guide and track professional level follow up, and determine status of cases and additional support and reporting necessarily to meet student needs as well as Federal and Delaware State law. Consult frequently with the Director and Investigators in the Office of Equity and Inclusion and serve as primary attendee for the Sexual Misconduct case review team to determine outstanding action necessary for cases of sexual misconduct on campus.
• Develop a student behavior follow up protocol and documentation to be carried out by the Assistant Directors and hold professional staff accountable to protocol. Work directly with the office of the Dean of Students to provide updates and comprehensive support to frequently documented residence hall students. Alert the Executive Director for Residence Life and Housing and the Director for Residential Communities  in the event of repeated concerns to be added to the Student Behavior Consultation Team agenda.
• Serve in the Divisional Senior Staff on-call rotation (monthly).

Student Education and Advocacy

• Develop and implement initiatives and strategies to develop strong, positive and safe communities in the residence halls. Coordinate with Assistant Director of Equity and Inclusion response to acts of bias and hate in the residence halls.  Offer guidance to staff in response to community challenges. Work closely with the University of Delaware Police Department to address any concerns of bias and investigate violations to community standards that create a hostile climate for students in the residence halls.
• Coordinate sexual assault prevention and education efforts for residence hall students. Serve as a departmental representative on the University’s Title IX Assessment and Status Committee (TASC).

Qualifications

• Master’s degree and three years of professional experience working with college students, or equivalent combination of education and experience. 
• Strong knowledge of residence life and student personnel administration; student development and conduct issues and practice including a commitment to and knowledge of diversity issues. 
• Experience in student support programs and services, crisis intervention techniques, conflict resolution, and emergency planning. 
• Effective interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community and rapidly changing technical environment.
• Ability to analyze problems and strategically develop and communicate creative solutions to complex issues.
• Commitment to fostering a workplace of culture of belonging, where diversity is celebrated and equity is a core value. 
• Ability to develop, plan, and implement short and long-range goals.  
• Skills in organization, coordination and oversight of multiple priorities.