Resident Director, Lion's Den

The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc.; Fort Smith (AR); On-site; USD 33,970 - 41,519; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Furnished apartment

Internet (wired & wireless)

Reserved parking

Lion’s Cash

Job summary

University of Arkansas at Fort Smith seeks a Lions’ Den Resident Director to lead a live‑in team in Housing & Residential Life. The role reports to the Assistant Dean of Students for Housing & Campus and Community Engagement and focuses on student welfare and development within the residential program.

Location: Fort Smith, Arkansas. Responsibilities include floor leadership, policy implementation, on‑call coverage, budget management, and collaboration with facilities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required with significant experience in student housing or related field.
• Experience applying regulations and policy fairly across a diverse student population.
• Strong communication and collaboration with campus partners and Conduct processes.

Responsibilities

• Supervise 14 Resident Assistants with weekly meetings and evaluations.
• Develop and implement Housing & Residential Life procedures and programs.
• Coordinate assignments, contracts, and billing for Lions’ Den residents.
• Act as University Conduct Administrator and conduct officer for assigned area.

Skills

Conflict resolution

Budget management

Communication with diverse constituen

Student development

Understanding of university housing

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

Job description

Lions’ Den Resident Director

Job Summary: The Lions’ Den Resident Director is a full‑time live‑in position that reports directly to the Assistant Dean of Students for Housing & Campus and Community Engagement. As a member of the Student Affairs staff, they are responsible for the general welfare of all students, encouraging them to maximize their intellectual growth and personal development. They are expected to positively influence, contribute to, and improve the quality of life of the residential student through the residential curriculum, implementing college policies and procedures, and by forming relationships with students in their facility.

Location: Fort Smith, Arkansas – University of Arkansas at Fort Smith

Department: Housing and Residential Life

Responsibilities

• Supervise 14 Resident Assistants through weekly staff meetings, scheduled one‑on‑ones, monitoring programming and community development, and semester evaluations.
• Participate in the development, coordination, and implementation of Housing & Residential Life procedures and programs.
• Coordinate the assignments, contract, and billing processes for Lions’ Den residents.
• Serve as a University Conduct Administrator; act as a conduct officer for the assigned residential area and inform the Assistant Dean of any issues.
• Serve in an on‑call capacity with other Housing & Residential Life professional staff, respond to all situations by working with Resident Assistant On Call and communicating with University Police, state and local emergency personnel, and other Student Affairs personnel.
• Supervise front‑desk/office operations including supervising RAs and student workers in the office, receiving mail and packages, communicating with residents and visitors, and answering the phone.
• Coordinate all move‑in and move‑out times and processes; conduct inspections of each room after vacating and before new occupancy, distribute and collect applicable housing forms, and timely communicate to residents.
• Ensure the quality and cleanliness of the residential area, including outdoor property, is maintained.
• Work jointly with the Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Facilities & Environmental Safety to ensure ongoing upkeep of facilities, custodial needs, maintenance efforts, and timely responses to work‑order requests.
• Coordinate lock and key changes with maintenance and track all key use, loss, and theft.
• Conduct quarterly Health & Safety inspections of all rooms with the help of Resident Assistants, document all work‑order needs and damage, and address any conduct violations.
• Implement, interpret, and continually develop HRL policies as stated in the Residential Handbook and Student Code of Conduct.
• Serve as a Campus Security Authority by understanding and following FERPA, Title IX, and the Clery Act as they pertain to on‑campus situations; serve as a mandatory reporter and be trained in Title IX policy.
• Serve as first‑level contact for parents regarding student housing needs and resident concerns.
• Coordinate room changes and consolidation throughout the year.
• Assist residents with approved ADA accommodations based on need.
• Maintain residential area budget.
• Establish Resident Assistant On‑Call schedule by ensuring staff availability for evenings, nights, and weekends.
• Advise the Residence Hall Association.
• Serve as coordinator for all Resident Assistant hiring and training.
• Hire, train, and supervise Lions’ Den desk workers.
• Adhere to the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith Employee Handbook.
• Require consistent on‑time attendance.
• Maintain a positive work atmosphere by acting and communicating in a manner that fosters teamwork and provides leadership to subordinates.
• Identify student rooms to serve as tour rooms for Admissions and ensure those rooms are ready when needed.
• Attend all University trainings, as required.
• Take part in university and/or departmental committees as required by the department of Student Affairs or for professional development.
• Assist in development and implementation of campus emergency and crisis management procedures, programs, and services.
• Maintain confidentiality of all student information.
• Review and create reports on an as‑needed basis.
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Conflict resolution
• Knowledge of university structures and governance
• Budget projections and management
• Communication with diverse constituents
• Teaching and facilitation with individuals and groups
• Application of conduct regulations fairly and consistently
• Ability to identify and draw on resources across campus
• Designing and implementing educational programming
• Knowledge of laws and procedures related to university housing
• Ability to balance and respect individual rights and community rights
• Knowledge of learning processes and commitment to foster student learning
• Adaptability to changes in the work environment and manage competing demands
• Dependability – consistently at work and on time, follows instructions, responds to management direction and seeks feedback to improve performance.
• Knowledge of computer operations to understand the college’s information systems and services.

Qualifications

Required Education and/or Work Experience: Minimum requirements include a bachelor's degree with at least one year of significant experience in a student housing employment position or equivalent experience. The position requires knowledge and skills related to human development, programming, conflict resolution, and the fair application of regulations.

Preferred Education and/or Work Experience: Candidates with a master's degree in college student personnel, educational administration, or a related field, and previous experience supervising resident assistants, working with a residence hall association, and working with a peer student conduct system are preferred. Excellent verbal and written communication skills, ability to work with diverse populations effectively, and excellent customer service skills are all expected.

Salary and Benefits

Salary: $37,745.05 plus additional benefits: furnished apartment to include utilities, wired and wireless internet, reserved parking space, unlimited meal plan, $1,000 in Lion’s Cash.

Benefits: The benefits package includes university contributions to health, dental, life, and disability insurance, tuition waivers for employees and their families, 12 official holidays, immediate leave accrual, and a choice of retirement programs with university contributions ranging from 5 to 10 percent of employee salary.

Additional Requirements

Applicants must submit: Cover Letter/Letter of Application, List of three Professional References (name, email, business title), Resume, Unofficial/Official Transcript(s).

Background Check Requirements: Criminal Background Check, Financial Background Check, and Motor Vehicle Registry (MVR) Check. Position requires employee to complete Arkansas Mandated Reporter training prior to employment.

EEO Statement

The University of Arkansas is an equal opportunity institution. The University does not discriminate in its education programs or activities on the basis of any category or status protected by law, including age, race, color, national origin, disability, religion, protected veteran status, military service, genetic information, sex, sexual preference, or pregnancy. Persons must have proof of legal authority to work in the United States on the first day of employment. All application information is subject to public disclosure under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act.

Benefits Eligible

Yes