Resident Director - Full-Time

Join our vibrant community of dedicated faculty and staff who work to create a transformative educational experience rooted in faith, reason, and justice.

Eastern University is a nationally-recognized Christian university enrolling approximately 7,000 students in a wide array of undergraduate, graduate, professional, and seminary programs. The university’s main campus is located in St. Davids, PA, with many programs also offered online. Eastern’s core values of Faith, Reason, and Justice are woven into all of its educational offerings. Through dynamic programs, a vibrant campus community, and meaningful service learning opportunities, Eastern University is committed to providing students with transformative, accessible, and affordable education.

Position Description

The Resident Director (RD) cultivates a Christ-centered community on St. David's campus. Reporting to the Director of Residence Life, the RD mentors RAs fosters residents’ growth, creates educational programs, and collaborates with campus partners to ensure student success and spiritual development in a welcoming and inclusive environment. Executes activities and events and arranges referrals to supportive programming and services for students in an assigned special student population(s).

Position Responsibilities

Housing and Residence Life

• Support and inform the implementation of a residence life program that enhances student learning and fosters intellectual, social, spiritual, and emotional growth and development.
• Cultivate a positive and engaging living environment that fosters a sense of belonging and positive relationships.
• Maintain high visibility and availability through community events and resident interaction.
• Provide residents with personal, social, academic, and spiritual support and referrals to University services and resources.
• Oversee mission-driven events and activities, engaging students in community formation.
• Serve as the emergency contact to assist students with residence hall emergencies or after-hour situations.
• Serve on the regular day and overnight hours, and follow the weekly on-call work schedule.
• Perform or arrange periodic and emergency wellness checks on students.
• Assess facility requests on behalf of residents, review and submit residence hall work orders.
• Open and close residence halls during end-of-semester breaks.
• Supervise and train up to 20 Resident Assistants and Assistant Resident Directors:
• Host weekly staff meetings to communicate events, discuss concerns and facilitate professional development.
• Conduct regular one-on-one meetings with staff.
• Provide formal and informal feedback on job performance.
• Ensure staff address and document behavioral issues.
• Develop and deliver annual staff training programs and professional development opportunities in support of the Residence Life Training Cycle.
• Support recruitment, selection, motivation, and recognition of Resident Assistants.
• Collaborate to maintain a supportive atmosphere aligned with the Student Handbook and Eastern University’s mission.

Assigned Student Population Engagement

• Responsible for an assigned special student population(s) (i.e. first-year students, returning second through fourth-year students, first-generation students, commuters, or transfer) across all residential buildings.
• Collaborate with the Student Engagement team and other Student Development offices and personnel to organize, plan, advertise, and implement at least one targeted Fall and Spring semester programming activity to engage their assigned student population.
• Meet regularly with students in their special student population to identify areas of need and offer referrals to Student Development and other University offices and resources.
• Distribute resource materials focused on engaging their assigned students.
• Manage general publicity postings and bulletin boards related to targeted student programs.
• Serve as an ad hoc Student Development C.A.R.E. team member or its subcommittees to coordinate supportive services and resources for individual students.
• Meet regularly to coordinate with the Director of Student Engagement and the Student Engagement Team.
• Implement, manage, and supervise the execution of a weeknight Student Engagement Event once per month in the Fall and Spring Semesters.
• Other duties as assigned.

Crisis Management

• Provide leadership during crises in and near the residential campus community.
• Assist in emergencies as needed.
• Implement Eastern University and Office for Student Development policies and procedures.
• Ensure coordinated responses to students of concern and their behavior.

Student Conduct

• Review and submit incident and personal concern reports involving residents.
• Respond to residents in need, referring to professionals when appropriate.
• Adjudicate student conduct cases, track sanctions, and refer to ongoing concerns.
• Assist students in understanding their rights and responsibilities as community members.

III. Status

1. Staff, full-time, salaried, 40 hours per week, 12 months per year.
2. Permanent, live-in Eastern University Residence Hall
3. Exempt, Essential Personnel

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Higher Education, Social Justice, Sociology, Psychology, or related field required; Master’s degree preferred.
• Experience with college students, commitment to Christian values, diversity, equity, and belonging, and working with diverse student populations.
• Experience working in a student conduct office, student affairs, or related experience in a college/university setting with students.
• Experience in student conduct administrative databases or software programs, such as Maxient.
• Manage and maintain sensitive and confidential information, ensuring it is handled securely and complies with the organization's policies and procedures.
• Proven effective written and verbal communication skills and computer literacy.
• Experience in events management with collegiate activities preferred.
• A current valid driver's license and good driving record are required.
• Must secure and maintain an Eastern University van driver's certification.
• Willingness to work irregular and flexible hours with physical demands.
• Embody the values of caring, compassion, justice, integrity, competence, and affirmation.
• Treat each campus community member with fairness, dignity, and respect, seeking unity and harmony.
• Ability to lift and/or move up to 20 pounds occasionally.

About Eastern University

Eastern University is a Christian university of the arts and sciences that integrates faith, reason and justice for students in its undergraduate, graduate, seminary, urban, professional and international programs. Applicants should have a Christian commitment compatible with its mission and be willing to support the mission and vision of the university . The university complies with federal and state guidelines of nondiscrimination in employment; members of protected classes encouraged to apply.

Background Checks

Standard University employees are required to complete the background clearance process. Employment is contingent upon the successful results of an employment background screening. The employment background screening may include but is not limited to your consumer credit history (for positions that work with the university finances or alumni funds only), verification of education and professional credentials, criminal history, driving history, residency, immigration status, performance, references, and other qualities pertinent to your qualifications for the following position.

Youth Clearances are required for positions with direct contact with children and essential personnel positions. Employees working with or around minor age children are required to complete the youth clearance process which includes the following four child protection clearances:

1) Affidavit;

2) FBI Criminal Record Check;

3) Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Child Abuse History Clearance and;

4) Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check.

In accordance with state laws, Act 73 of 2007, Act 153 of 2014, Act 168 (relating to the Child Protective Services Law), school employees of Eastern University who will have "direct contact with children" must complete the background check process prior to employment. Results must be submitted within ten days of receipt.

Description Disclaimer

This description is intended to describe the general level and nature of work performed by the person/people assigned to this position. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities of the person/people so assigned.

Statement of Non-Discrimination

Eastern University is committed to the principles of equal opportunity as defined under federal and state law, and does not discriminate unlawfully on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, color, creed, disability, national/ethnic origin, age, disabled veteran/Vietnam-era, Genetic Information and Nondiscrimination Act (GINA), or veteran status in its admission policy, program, or activities, educational policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletic and other University-administered programs, or employment practices and programs.