Resident Director

University of Kentucky; Lexington (KY); On-site; USD 42,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Kentucky Office of Residence Life seeks Resident Directors to lead live-on communities that foster inclusive, safe, and engaging environments supporting student learning and growth. As a full-time RD, you will supervise undergraduate staff, develop programming, manage daily hall operations, and collaborate with campus partners to advance student success outcomes.

Deadline to apply is 09/09/2026 and the role emphasizes professional standards, care-centered responses to student

Qualifications

• Experience in higher education or working in a residential setting.
• Evidence of administrative skills.
• Good interpersonal skills and judgment.
• Independence and professionalism.

Responsibilities

• Recruit, hire, train, supervise, and evaluate undergraduate student staff, including Resident Advisors and other assigned student employees.
• Provide ongoing coaching, feedback, and performance management to student staff to support their development and accountability.
• Lead regular staff meetings, individual check-ins, and professional development initiatives.
• Foster a positive residential environment that supports students’ academic success, personal growth, and sense of belonging.
• Respond to and manage student concerns, crises, and incidents using a care-focused, developmentally appropriate, and policy-aligned approach.
• Serve as a visible presence in the residence hall and an accessible resource for students.
• Oversee and support residential educational and academic programming initiatives, including Living-Learning Program collaboration when applicable.
• Partner with campus offices to deliver intentional learning opportunities that align with institutional student success goals.
• Implement and enforce university and residence hall policies in a fair, consistent, and educational manner.
• Conduct in-hall conduct meetings and document outcomes in accordance with departmental and University procedures.
• Train and support student staff in safety, security, and emergency response protocols.
• Manage daily residence hall operations, including monitoring security systems, submitting and tracking maintenance requests, coordinating room assignments, approving payroll, and completing required departmental documentation.
• Ensure accurate record-keeping, timely reporting, and compliance with University, HR, and Residence Life policies.
• Participate in duty rotations and after-hours on-call responsibilities as assigned.
• Work collaboratively with campus partners, including Housing, Student Success units, and other University departments.
• Contribute to department-wide initiatives, committees, training programs, and assessment efforts.
• Model professionalism, accountability, and ethical decision-making in all aspects of the role.

Skills

Higher education experience

Administrative skills

Interpersonal skills

Independence & professionalism

Education

Master’s degree in higher education or related field

Job description

Required License/Registration/Certification

None

Physical Requirements

None.

Shift

Days, evenings, weekends, on call.

The Resident Director lives on-site in the residence hall.

Job Summary

The University of Kentucky Office of Residence Life is seeking dedicated, student‑centered professionals to serve as Resident Directors (RDs). Resident Directors play a vital role in creating inclusive, safe, and engaging residential communities that support student learning, development, and success.

Position Overview

The primary goal of the Office of Residence Life is to provide a comprehensive living‑learning experience that supports the academic mission of the University of Kentucky. Resident Directors are full‑time, live‑on professional staff members who hold primary responsibility for advancing this mission within an individual residence hall or residential community.

Resident Directors provide leadership through staff supervision, student support, community development, and operational management while collaborating closely with campus partners across the Office for Student Success and the University.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership and Supervision

Recruit, hire, train, supervise, and evaluate undergraduate student staff, including Resident Advisors and other assigned student employees.

Provide ongoing coaching, feedback, and performance management to student staff to support their development and accountability.

Lead regular staff meetings, individual check‑ins, and professional development initiatives.

Student Support and Community Development

Foster a positive residential environment that supports students’ academic success, personal growth, and sense of belonging.

Respond to and manage student concerns, crises, and incidents using a care‑focused, developmentally appropriate, and policy‑aligned approach.

Serve as a visible presence in the residence hall and an accessible resource for students.

Residential Education and Programming

Oversee and support residential educational and academic programming initiatives, including Living‑Learning Program collaboration when applicable.

Partner with campus offices to deliver intentional learning opportunities that align with institutional student success goals.

Conduct, Policy, and Safety

Implement and enforce university and residence hall policies in a fair, consistent, and educational manner.

Conduct in‑hall conduct meetings and document outcomes in accordance with departmental and University procedures.

Train and support student staff in safety, security, and emergency response protocols.

Operations and Administration

Manage daily residence hall operations, including monitoring security systems, submitting and tracking maintenance requests, coordinating room assignments, approving payroll, and completing required departmental documentation.

Ensure accurate record‑keeping, timely reporting, and compliance with University, HR, and Residence Life policies.

Participate in duty rotations and after‑hours on‑call responsibilities as assigned.

Collaboration and Professional Engagement

Work collaboratively with campus partners, including Housing, Student Success units, and other University departments.

Contribute to department‑wide initiatives, committees, training programs, and assessment efforts.

Model professionalism, accountability, and ethical decision‑making in all aspects of the role.

Student Success will, from the time of early college outreach to graduation and beyond, support students in living a life of meaning and purpose. From a student‑centered framework, our practice will be grounded in peer‑reviewed literature, national best practices, and data-informed decision making. Collaborating with the campus and community, Student Success will work through a holistic lens to support a community of learners in achieving success.

Skills / Knowledge / Abilities

Experience in higher education or working in a residential setting.

Evidence of administrative skills.

Good interpersonal skills and judgment.

Independence and professionalism.

Does this position have supervisory responsibilities?

Yes

Preferred Education/Experience

Master’s degree in College Student Personnel, Higher Education Administration, or a related field is preferred.

At least one year’s experience living and working in an on‑campus residence hall setting is preferred.

Deadline to Apply

09/09/2026

Our University Community

We value the well‑being of each of our employees and are dedicated to creating a healthy place for everyone to work, learn and live. In the interest of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our students, employees, patients and visitors, the University of Kentucky is a Tobacco & Drug Free campus.

The University follows both the federal and state Constitutions as well as all applicable federal and state laws on nondiscrimination. The University provides equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information or social or economic status.

Any candidate offered a position may be required to pass pre‑employment screenings as mandated by University of Kentucky Human Resources. These screenings may include a national background check and/or drug screen.

Posting Specific Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

Required Documents

• Resume
• Cover Letter

Optional Documents