Director of Residence Life at Alvernia University in Reading, PA

Job description

Job Summary: The Director of Residence Life provides visionary leadership and strategic direction for the Office of Residence Life (ORL), with responsibility for creating a vibrant, safe, inclusive, and engaging residential environment that supports student success, belonging, personal development, and community. The Director provides leadership for housing operations, residential education and programming, and staff development, while ensuring effective departmental operations and collaboration across the University. The Director advances the University’s mission and strategic priorities by developing a residential experience that contributes meaningfully to student learning, engagement, retention, and overall success. Essential Functions: Mission, Culture & Leadership Model Alvernia’s Franciscan values through compassionate service, ethical leadership, and commitment to fostering a welcoming and respectful community for all. Provide leadership and strategic direction for the Office of Residence Life (ORL), ensuring departmental programs, services, and operations support the University's mission and student success goals. Establish clear expectations, goals, and performance standards for professional staff and provide ongoing coaching, feedback, and professional development. Directly supervise and evaluate the Assistant Director of Residence Life and Area Coordinators; provide leadership and oversight for the broader Residence Life team including the Graduate Assistant and Resident Assistants Coordinate onboarding, training, and continuing professional development for ORL professional staff. Develop and oversee the Residence Assistant (RA) performance evaluation process and support Area Coordinators in its effective implementation. Foster a collaborative, student-centered team culture that promotes accountability, professional growth, and effective communication. Housing Operations Provide leadership and oversight for the University's residential housing operations, including housing selection, housing lotteries, new student assignments, occupancy management, and summer housing. Oversee residence hall marketing and communication strategies related to the housing process. Coordinate processes for incoming and returning student housing assignments and ensure they are implemented effectively and equitably. Oversee semester break and other special housing processes. Oversee the management of custodial, maintenance, access, key management, and other facilities-related residential operations in collaboration with Facilities and Campus Operations. Attend Facilities and Campus Operations (FACO) meetings and collaborate with appropriate campus partners to address residential facility needs and priorities. Facilitate and coordinate live-on housing processes for professional Residence Life staff. Ensure effective use of housing portal and other departmental technology platforms to support housing and Residence Life operations. Departmental Administration, Budget and Assessment Develop, propose, and manage the Office of Residence Life budget in alignment with institutional priorities and established budget goals. Monitor departmental expenditures and operational practices to ensure responsible stewardship of University resources. Oversee departmental processes and systems to promote efficient, effective, and student-centered operations. Coordinate departmental data collection, assessment, reporting, and continuous improvement efforts. Use enrollment, occupancy, student engagement, and other relevant data to inform departmental planning and decision-making. Student Support, Community Standards and Crisis Response Respond appropriately to student concerns, residential incidents, emergencies, and other situations affecting the health, safety, and well-being of residential students. Promote a residential environment that supports student safety, well-being, academic success, and community development. Serve as a Community Standar