The University of Delaware (UD) invites applications, nominations, and expressions of interest for the position of director of residential communities.

The University of Delaware is a land, sea, and space grant institution located in Newark, Delaware, with additional campuses located in Wilmington, Dover, Georgetown, and Lewis. As a technically advanced institution founded in 1793, UD is proud of its strong tradition of distinguished scholarship and over 200,000 alumni worldwide. The university supports a total enrollment of 23,613 students who enjoy over 150 majors and minors, and over 250 graduate and post-baccalaureate programs in ten colleges and schools.

The Position

Reporting to the executive director (ED) of residence life & housing (RLH), the director of residential communities (director) leads a departmental team with responsibility for more than 40 residential facilities. These facilities accommodate approximately 7,200 residential students. As a senior leadership team member, the director is engaged in all facets of the on-campus student experience. The role necessitates collaboration with personnel at all organizational levels to collectively work towards achieving departmental objectives.

With a focus on strategic and day-to-day stewardship, the director provides leadership of a vibrant, intricate, and student-focused residential hall operation. Central to this role is promoting student recruitment, retention, and academic enrichment, specifically as it relates to student learning and development, equity and inclusion, and student engagement. The director navigates sensitive situations, which they must respond to adeptly and diplomatically to further the interests of the department and the university.

The residential communities team is comprised of educators who provide student success strategies for university students in a residential setting. The director supervises the senior associate director for talent development and assessment, the associate director for equity and inclusion and upper-division programs, and the associate director of student leadership, civic engagement, and first-year programs. They also lead two additional assistant directors, 15 residence hall coordinators, five graduate assistants, and approximately 200 student staff members.

Qualifications

A master's degree, seven years of professional experience working with college students, and comprehensive residence life and student personnel administration knowledge are required. Candidates must have skills in organizational and group dynamics, student development, and cultural competency. Additionally, they must be adept at addressing equity and inclusion issues. Specifically, the candidate must demonstrate commitment to fostering a workplace culture of belonging where diversity and equity are core values.

Application and Nomination
Review of applications will begin October 10, 2023 and continue until the position is filled. A resume with an accompanying cover letter may be submitted via the Spelman Johnson website at www.spelmanjohnson.com/open-positions. Nominations for this position may be emailed to Julie A. Leos at [email protected]. Applicants needing reasonable accommodation to participate in the application process should contact Spelman Johnson at 413-529-2895 or email [email protected].

Delaware is a state that does not require public salary disclosure. For more information, please contact Julie A. Leos.

Visit the University of Delaware website at www.udel.edu

AA/EOE Statement

The University of Delaware is committed to assuring equal opportunities to all persons and strives to hire, retain, and promote highly qualified faculty and staff without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, marital status, genetic information, age, disability, veteran or handicapped status, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, or other protected status, except when one or more of the factors is considered a bona fide occupational qualification and/or when an accommodation would cause undue hardship to the university.

Diversity Statement

The University of Delaware's educational mission is to prepare students to live in an increasingly interconnected and diverse world. To do so, we are committed to fostering a robust educational environment that supports critical thinking, free inquiry, and an understanding of diverse views and values. We see diversity as a core value and guiding principle for our educational mission and thus must work to make diversity an integral part of everyday life on campus.