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Position Detail - Associate Director of Residential Life & Orientation

Associate Director of Residential Life & Orientation

Apply now Job no: 493636
Work type: Staff Full-time
Location: South Hadley, MA
Categories: Student Life/ Involvement

Position Type: Staff Full-time

Hours per week: 37.5   

Weeks per year: 52

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:30 am-5:00 pm, with some nights and weekends 

Salary Range: $54,200-$55,200

Department Summary & Job Purpose:

Mount Holyoke College is a highly selective, non-denominational, residential, research liberal arts gender diverse women’s college with 2,200 undergraduate students in South Hadley, Massachusetts.

As part of the Division of Student Life, the Office of Residential Life and the Office of Student Involvement partners with Mount Holyoke College students in creating and engaging in inclusive, compassionate, and authentic communities by challenging & supporting students as they navigate living and participating in a residential college experience.

Job Purpose
The Associate Director of Residential Life and Orientation will work to create a strong sense of community within the 18 residence halls on campus and through oversight of our New Student Orientation program. The Associate Director will be responsible for the selection, training, supervision, and evaluation of three Area Coordinators. The Associate Director will oversee all community development efforts in the residence halls, work closely with our living-learning community and help establish a residential curriculum. The Associate Director will indirectly supervise 76 paraprofessional Residential Fellows and Resident Advisors and will work with staff to ensure the selection, training, and development of these student staff. The Associate Director will also directly supervise the Orientation Captains and indirectly supervise the Orientation Leaders as they work to produce a comprehensive welcoming experience for students on campus in the Fall and Spring.


The Associate Director of Residential Life and Orientation will support the efforts of large scale office sponsored events, office communication, and marketing efforts and participate in campus-wide committees as needed. The Associate Director serves in the Tier I On-Call rotation and may move to Tier 2.

The Associate Director is a 12-month live-on position. A partially furnished apartment with utilities included will be provided. Responsibilities do include some evening, holiday, and weekend commitments.

 

Core Job Duties and Responsibilities: 

  • Train, supervise, support, and evaluate three full-time Area Coordinators through one-on-ones and team meetings.
  • Advise and support Area Coordinators in the mentoring and supervision oversight of the Resident Advisors and Residential Fellow staff in their respective area.
  • Oversee community development efforts on campus and specifically in the residence halls.
  • Develop a residential curriculum that encompasses our Be Well philosophy and draws on the goals of the Division of Student Life.
  • Work closely to ensure the success of existing Living Learning Communities and oversee the Create Your Own LLC process.
  • Ensure professional staff are assigned to serve as the primary developer, coordinator, planner, and implementer of training and development and/or staff selection processes.
  • Participate in the Professional Staff on Call rotation and provide crisis intervention in emergency situations, including contact with Public Safety and Services, Health and Counseling Services, and direction to paraprofessional staff.
  • Work with a team to support the development of the New Student Orientation and Welcome Back programs, including schedule creation, service order submissions, and working directly with other offices to assist in content development.
  • Oversee the recruitment, selection, and training of the new student orientation team.
  • Directly supervise 3 Orientation Captains and assist in the supervision of 20 orientation leaders.
  • Provide support for student involvement and leadership initiatives, including working with the Student Involvement Consultants, as well as programming that happens in the Student Involvement Studio.
  • Co-lead efforts in regard to student leader training for the Division of Student Life student staff.
  • Support Office of Residential Life and Student Involvement initiatives and annual events.
  • Attend staff meetings, and serve on campus committees, as needed and assigned.
  • Other duties as assigned. 

Qualifications: 

  • Master’s Degree and a minimum of 3 to 5 years of residence hall or student leadership and direct supervision experience required.
  • The ideal candidate must have a strong commitment to students and their growth.
  • They should demonstrate intercultural, diversity, and inclusion competencies and a commitment to working with diverse populations.
  • A minimum of 6 months to 1 year of supervisory experience required.
  • Working knowledge of principles, practices, and theories of student learning and development; understanding the cultural, social, and educational needs of students in residential communities is important.
  • They need a positive attitude and excitement towards their work and be able to share that with others.
  • They must have the ability to take initiative, work independently and be a strong team member.
  • In addition, the ideal candidate must have strong communication skills and be able to exercise sound judgment.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience with professional staff supervision and Living Learning Communities. Previous work with student orientation programs.

License/Certifications:

  • None

Compliance Requirements: 

  • Mount Holyoke College is committed to providing a safe and secure environment, supported by qualified employees that will allow all of its students, faculty, staff, and those associated with them to successfully carry out the mission of the college. As a condition of employment, the College will conduct appropriate background checks for all new hires. Mount Holyoke has designated the Office of Human Resources as the office responsible for ensuring that background checks (CORI, SORI, Credit History, & Driver Credential) are completed and utilized in the hiring process and Five College Office of Compliance and Risk Management as the office responsible for facilitating background checks as articulated in this policy.

Physical Demands: 

  • Light lifting (25 lbs or less) related to event set-up

Working Conditions: 

  • Some nights and weekends required.  

Background Checks:

Mount Holyoke College is committed to providing a safe and secure environment, supported by qualified employees that will allow all of its students, faculty, staff and those associated with them to successfully carry out the mission of the college. As a condition of employment, the College will conduct appropriate background checks for all new hires. Mount Holyoke has designated the Office of Human Resources as the office responsible for ensuring that background checks (CORI, SORI, Credit History, & Driver Credential) are completed and utilized in the hiring process and Five College Office of Compliance and Risk Management as the office responsible for facilitating background checks as articulated in this policy.

Special Instructions for Applicants: 

Apply online; application materials must include:

  1. A cover letter summarizing interests and qualifications
  2. A complete resume or curriculum vitae
  3. Contact information for 3 professional references

Mount Holyoke College is a women’s college that is gender diverse. The College is committed to providing equal access and opportunity in employment and education to all employees and students. In compliance with state and federal law, Mount Holyoke College does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, genetic information, sex, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, physical or mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, ancestry, veteran or military status, or any other legally protected status under federal, state or local law. The College does not discriminate on the basis of gender in the recruitment and admission of students to its graduate program.

Mount Holyoke College is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 

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