Job Details

Resident Director

Position Number: 6424904
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Position Type: Residence Life and Housing

Resident Director

Job Summary

The Residence Director (RD) is a full-time, live-on, twelve-month professional staff position. The start date is negotiable, and all subsequent terms are from July 1st to June 30th. This position is a one-year appointment, renewable based on satisfactory performance evaluations, a demonstrated commitment to professional development, and potential contributions to the Housing and Residential Education (HRE) department. The RD is required to live in on-campus housing as a condition of employment to effectively carry out their responsibilities.

The RD is responsible for overseeing the overall care and well-being of residents in their assigned residential community. This includes fostering individual connections, supporting staff in helping residents engage with each other, the University community, and available resources. The RD achieves this through the planning, implementation, operation, and evaluation of a comprehensive residential curriculum for residence halls or apartment-style housing, which houses approximately 5,000 residential students both on and off campus. The RD may supervise a graduate student assistant and between 5 to 20 Resident Advisors (RAs), while also overseeing building facilities management and operations.

Key leadership responsibilities include managing student care, staff development and training, implementing residential curriculum, advising student groups (e.g., Student Leader Council), responding to emergencies and crises, serving on-call rotation, selecting and developing student leaders, promoting academic initiatives, supporting multicultural and social justice education, leading orientation programs, fostering health and wellness, and collaborating with living-learning communities. Additionally, the RD takes on leadership roles at both the departmental and University levels, including chairing residential education committees, supervising special projects, and handling special assignments as needed.

The Resident Director position is a 12-month, full-time professional staff role within Housing & Residential Education and the Student Affairs Division at the University of Utah. Reporting to an Assistant Director, Resident Directors manage an area to benefit, develop, and support residents.

The University of Utah and the Department of Housing and Residential Education are experiencing an exciting period of rapid growth and change. As our city and campus evolve, so does our department! We value team members who are both excited to be part of a consistently developing department and prepared to navigate the challenges that change may bring.

This role requires living on campus and includes on-call responsibilities within an assigned area and across campus as needed. Professional development funds, a partial meal plan and moving expense coverage will be provided, contingent upon annual budget allocation.

The University of Utah is a tobacco-free campus. Smoking is prohibited on campus property, and smoking cessation support is provided to faculty, staff, and students.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. The position will begin in the summer semester of 2025.

Responsibilities
1. Educational Experience
Guide student leaders in implementing lesson plans and achieving learning outcomes defined by HRE's Curriculum.
Develop community and educational environments that foster engagement, positive relationships, and student success.
Oversee and evaluate staff efforts in intentional student interactions and learning strategies.
Support living-learning communities, student leadership, and academic initiatives.
Foster community by implementing initiatives and programs based on student needs and advising Community Council on related programming efforts.
Contribute to the continuous improvement and assessment of the Curriculum to ensure resident learning.
Participate in departmental committees and task forces to advance training, recruitment, and the overall educational experience.

2. Supervision
Train, supervise, and evaluate 5-20 Resident Advisors (RAs), and mentor Graduate Assistants to prepare them for careers in Student Affairs or Housing.
Conduct regular individual and group meetings with staff, providing clear expectations and performance feedback.
Plan staff development initiatives that foster critical thinking, ethical reflection, and alignment with departmental goals.
Provide clear expectations for all Resident Advisors and hold them accountable.
Provide both on-going informal and formal performance feedback.

3. Community Development
Foster relationships with residents, staff, and campus partners to create intentional, transformative residential experiences that promote a strong sense of belonging and community.
Encourage staff to build healthy, visible, and supportive connections with students.
Collaborate with faculty and campus partners to enhance engagement and align with the residential curriculum.
Promote a community culture that emphasizes responsibility, respect, and personal boundaries.

4. Student Conduct and Crisis Intervention
Serve as a conduct hearing officer, case manager, and on-call professional staff member.
Manage student policy violations, maintain due process, and apply learning-centered sanctions.
Collaborate with campus partners, including but not limited to: University Police, the Dean of Students, and the Counseling Center, for crisis response and referrals.
Educate staff to enforce policies and support safety standards in the residential community.

5. Administration and Building Management
Oversee daily operations, including move-in/move-out, room changes, health and safety checks, and facilities management.
Serve as a liaison with Facilities, Custodial Services, University Police and Administrative Services to address resident needs and building concerns.
Manage area budgets, approve expenditures, and complete administrative tasks accurately and on time.
Participate in large-scale processes, including training, evaluations, and opening/move-in events.
Perform additional responsibilities as assigned by a member of the Residential Education Management Tea.

Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in a related area plus two years experience in residence life management, programming, student activities or equivalency (one year of education can be substituted for two years of related work experience) required. Demonstrated experience working with students from all backgrounds and supporting their individual needs. Previous experience in supervision, administration, organization, and planning. Proven experience leading student staff teams. Demonstrated experience with student conduct, crisis intervention, and emergency response.

Preferences
Master's degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs, or a related field Direct experience working in Residential Education and/or Housing.
Direct experience responding to student crises and/or facility emergencies.
Direct experience serving on-call.
Experience analyzing and resolving conflicts, building teams, and managing group dynamics.
Knowledge of current and emerging principles within Student Affairs and Housing & Residential Education.
Ability to multi-task and remain organized in a high-energy, fast-paced department.
Knowledge of sound fiscal and ethical budgetary practices.
Previous experience advising student organizations/board.

Special Instructions

Requisition Number: PRN42702B
Full Time or Part Time? Full Time
Work Schedule Summary: M - F 8am-5pm with some weekend and evening commitments. This position serves in the on-call rotation for incident response in the residential community.
Department: 02477 - Residential Education
Location: Campus
Pay Rate Range: 53,167
Close Date: 10/30/2025
Open Until Filled:

To apply, visit https://utah.peopleadmin.com/postings/186352