Assistant Director of Residential Life

Company Description:

As a premier institution in agriculture and technology, SUNY Cobleskill calls all learners to grow, to sustain, and to renew the world and its citizens. The College acts as a reflection of, and a catalyst for, advancement in our fields. With an emphasis on applied learning and experiential education, SUNY Cobleskill prepares students for successful careers, advanced studies, and engaged citizenship.  

Founded in 1911, SUNY Cobleskill enrolls approximately 2000 students in 55 diverse majors. The campus sets the standard for applied education that extends theory into practice. SUNY Cobleskill is a community characterized by empathy, inclusivity, respect, personal growth, integrity, and a collaborative spirit fostering well-being and sustainable practices. We recognize and celebrate student, faculty and staff achievements. We take pride in our campus and encourage collaboration with our surrounding communities.

Our modern, 902-acre campus features outstanding educational facilities, including an equestrian center, 200-cow dairy facility, cold and warm water fish hatcheries, specialized classrooms and scientific laboratories, two state-of-the-art culinary arts teaching kitchens, child development and childcare centers, and an art gallery and graphic design center. 

Drawing on a rich academic tradition that spans more than 100 years, our purpose remains constant; to educate future entrepreneurs, scientists, thought leaders, artists, educators, and practitioners to contribute to the sustainability of a healthy and prosperous societal existence in concert with a robust environment. 

Job Description:

The Office of Residential Life at SUNY Cobleskill seeks qualified candidates for an immediate vacancy in the position of Assistant Director of Residential Life (SL-3).

This is a full-time professional appointment. SUNY Cobleskill Assistant Directors are required to live on campus and report to the associate director or director of Residential Life. We seek candidates who are committed to challenging their own personal and professional development; who embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion; and who are driven to positively affect students in support of our mission. Our diverse population of students are encouraged and inspired to see themselves as part of a world in need of responsible growth, sustainable coexistence with nature, and carefully managed renewal through applied learning experiences. 

The Assistant Director of Residential Life provides leadership for multiple residence halls, supervision and training of professional and student staff, and administrative support for the overall department, including summer operations. This position is intentionally live-on and has on-call duties that require after-hours/weekend/holiday coverage and response throughout the calendar year.

SUNY Cobleskill's current professional staffing model for Residential Life consists of a director, an associate director, two assistant directors and multiple residence directors. One assistant director is expected to have a dedicated focus on housing operations and logistics for the department (including housing assignments, room inventories and damage billing processes) while the other assistant director is expected to have a dedicated focus on paraprofessional (undergraduate student) staff recruitment, training, and development. As members of Residential Life leadership, both ADs share interests and responsibilities for all facets and functional areas of a vibrant and modern residential program including residential education; housing administration and operations; emergency response and preparedness; marketing; staff recruitment, selection and training; assessment; summer conference coordination in addition to support for summer orientation sessions; and other general operations. In addition to providing higher-level leadership and administration throughout the year, the assistant director will also oversee a primary student residence - a sophomore-experience residence hall - and will assume all college-year duties regularly assigned to a residence director in that capacity.

Residential Life endeavors to create and enhance structured learning experiences for residential students which maximize their development and belongingness. Primary objectives of the Residential Life Leadership Team include resiliency building, the promotion of holistic student success, as well as the progressive and meaningful assessment and integration of our division's curricular approach model within the residential community. Candidates for this position should be able to demonstrate a strong understanding of research and best practices in student and human development.

Responsibilities:

Staff Supervision and Development. Assist with the recruitment, training, and supervision of all residence directors as well as more than 150 student staff. The Assistant Director will provide direct supervision for 3 Residence Directors and 6 or more Resident Assistants, as well as other student staff in their primary residence.

Emergency Response and Crisis Management. Serve in the Residential Life Professional Staff duty rotation and will be available on/near campus while on duty and as needed and in the event of a Campus emergency. On-call responsibilities include occasional weekends as well as some holiday coverage. ADs also share more frequent summer on-call coverage due to the seasonal staffing decrease. Following department and divisional protocols and procedures, the AD will counsel students, staff, and parents in crisis situations and emergencies while working closely with SUNY Cobleskill counselors, police and other campus personnel.

Administrative Duties and Responsibilities.  Assist with daily operations of the Department of Residence Life and the housing operations of 11 residential buildings, helping to ensure clean, safe and secure accommodations for students. In conjunction with the Director and other administrators, creates and updates appropriate policies and procedures. Represents Residential Life on divisional and college committees.

Student Learning & Development. The Assistant Director will strive to ensure that all professional and student staff are prepared to assist students in taking responsibility for the safety and well-being of themselves and their peers.  A primary focus of the position is student and professional development through the implementation and assessment of department training, education, and co-curricular initiatives. The assistant director supports division and institutional goals through the coordination of academic, cultural, and social initiatives for resident students.

Fulfillment of Residence Director Duties.  Simultaneously functioning as a Residence Director, the Assistant Director is directly responsible for all facets of on-campus student housing within one or more campus residences, providing oversight for approximately 150-200 or more residential students and supervises a team of undergraduate student staff including resident assistants and night hosts. To this end, the AD will:

• Assume responsibility for the general oversight and administration of their assigned residence hall(s), including but not limited to openings and closings; health & safety inspections; work orders, occupancy reports, damage assessments; student support and engagement; and the training, supervision, and development of student staff.
• Consistently demonstrate visibility in the assigned residence and reasonable availability to residential students by keeping regular office hours and scheduling individual and group meetings as needed.
• Interface with students who are in crisis or distress, making referrals as appropriate and mediating roommate and other interpersonal conflicts as they arise.
• Facilitate conduct reviews with students alleged to be in violation of college policy and determine educational sanctions for students who are deemed responsible for violations.
• Demonstrate competency, empathy, and critical thinking in interventions, with a focus on student development and resiliency.

The Assistant Director's work must demonstrate and will be evaluated by evidence of their direct and intentional support of and engagement with students.

Requirements:

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor degree.
• 1-4 years of progressive, related experience in higher education, including supervision of paraprofessional staff, preferably within residential life.
• Successful candidates must demonstrate an understanding of a curriculum-based approaches to learning, a capacity to develop and maintain a diverse and inclusive community, experience in training and supervising staff, and an understanding of student development theory and how it applies to current best practices.
• Strong communication and organizational skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively on departmental initiatives and priorities including residential education/student development curriculum.
• Ability and desire to work within a diverse college population.
• Must be able to respond to crisis situations and routinely serve on a duty rotation including scheduled evenings, weekends and holidays.
• Must be able to climb stairs, complete rounds, and physically respond to calls within student residences across campus.

Preferred Qualifications

In addition to the aforementioned minimum qualifications, it is preferred the candidate also have: 

• Bachelor's in Education, Counseling or related field.
• Master's degree in Student Personnel Services, Human Services, or a related field.
• Previous live-in experience.
• Experience with student learning and development.
• Experience with Microsoft 365 applications, Maxient, eRezLife, and Ellucian Banner.

Additional Information:

• This is an SL-3 position with a salary range of $49,200 - $55,151.
• This is a full-time, FSLA exempt, term position.
• This position offers full New York State benefits which are some of the most comprehensive in the country.
• SUNY Cobleskill is committed to providing a safe and productive learning and living community for our students and employees. To achieve that goal, we conduct background investigations for all final candidates being considered for employment. Any offer of employment is contingent on the successful completion of the background check.
• This position may be designated 55 b/c and is subject to verification of applicant eligibility.
• All people with disabilities are encouraged to apply, if your skillset meets the minimum requirements as set forth.

SUNY Cobleskill is committed to fostering a diverse community of outstanding faculty, staff, and students, and ensuring equal educational and employment opportunity and access to services, programs and activities without regard to an individual's race, color, national origin, religion, creed, age, disability, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, familial status, pregnancy, predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, domestic violence victim status, criminal conviction, or any other legally protected status.  Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodation during the hiring process should contact the Human Resources Office at (518) 255-5514.

Pursuant to Executive Order 161, no State entity, as defined by the Executive Order, is permitted to ask, or mandate, in any form, that an applicant for employment provide his or her current compensation, or any prior compensation history, until such time as the applicant is extended a conditional offer of employment with compensation.  If such information has been requested from you before such time, please contact the Office of Employee Relations at (518) 474-6988 or via email at info@oer.ny.gov.   

SUNY Cobleskill's Interim Title IX Coordinator is Nicole Field, who can be contacted via phone at 518-255-5514, email at fieldnm@cobleskill.edu, or mailing address of SUNY Cobleskill,  Knapp Hall Room 123, Cobleskill, NY 12043.

Application Instructions:

The application review process will begin immediately and will continue until a suitable candidate is found. Priority is given to applications submitted by August 23, 2024.

A complete application consists of the following:

1. Letter of application, addressing qualifications, position responsibilities, and college values  
2. Current CV or Resume
3. Names, emails and phone numbers of at least three professional references, preferably former supervisors 

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