Area Director

Area Director

Office of Residential Life

Founded in 1850, Illinois Wesleyan University (IWU) is an independent, residential, Liberal Arts University with roughly 1,600 students. Nestled between three metropolitan areas (Chicago, St. Louis, MO, Indianapolis, IN), the Bloomington-Normal community is home to four institutions of higher education, numerous eateries, fun activities, and civic engagement opportunities.  IWU has a distinctive goal, to help its students BE Breakthrough! As an institution, IWU accomplishes this goal by providing an exceptional educational experience and through striving to build a campus environment that resembles the world that students will enter upon graduation. Through the promotion and affirmation of diversity in all its forms, IWU creates a campus environment where students throughout their education will engage people from different backgrounds and encounter a plurality of experiences that will help them be prepared to navigate and lead in a changing workforce.

The University’s Office of Residential Life (ORL) invites applications for Area Director. ORL is a dynamic department whose broad goal is to provide an exceptional residential experience for students. As essential personnel on a residential campus, Area Directors promote the development of skills for leadership, decision-making, conflict resolution, fiscal management, problem solving, and self-discipline among the students of IWU.  As a live-in staff member, the Area Director develops and enacts procedures that support and enhance student safety during acute and ongoing crises.  The Area Director is responsible for the supervision of hall staff in several residence halls and leads most aspects of the halls they supervise, including programming and activities.  Professional staff members within ORL are expected to practice principles of social justice and inclusion in working in an office that serves students from different racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds, and who have various sexual orientations, gender identities, and ability statuses.

Responsibilities:

• Develop, implement and promote community development for the residence halls in order to provide a comfortable, safe, and inclusive atmosphere for all residents.
• Counsel residents informally, and provide appropriate resources and referrals.
• Participate in on-duty requirements with other professional and para-professional staff members.
• Supervise para-professional student staff.
• Act as a secondary source of first-year, international, and transfer student orientation to the University; contribute to the success of New Student Orientation, the First Year Experience, and Transfer Orientation.
• Serve as primary advisor for Hall Council.
• Enforce IWU and ORL policies and procedures. Track and adjudicate policy violations within the residence halls.
• Understand and observe emergency procedures as appropriate.
• Complete administrative work in a timely manner to facilitate communication and smooth operation of the residence hall.
• Facility management including damage hall reports, billing, and oversight of Asset Essentials.

Qualifications:

• A master's degree is required, usually in such areas as education, the behavioral or social sciences, counseling, or student development.
• Preferred experience includes supervision, facility management, advising, and program development.
• Has the ability to sustain communication with diverse groups, anticipate problems, reconcile conflicts, and maintains a strong philosophical base for residence life.
• Possesses an understanding of and the ability to apply student development and learning outcome theories.
• An understanding of the value of the residential living experience to the overall success of undergraduate students.
• Physical/environmental demands: Ability to walk up/down stairs.

Remuneration:
Base salary for 12 months is $35,568 subject to federal income tax and Illinois state income tax withholdings. Compensation includes: 

• A furnished apartment equipped with free local phone (if needed), high-speed internet, and cable
• A meal plan when classes are in session
• Benefits package including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance
• Free campus parking passes for all vehicles
• Campus Recreational Center access for oneself and a partner
• Staff members accrue 20 vacation days, 2 personal days per year, paid sick leave, and paid holidays 
• Professional development funds to attend local and national conferences
• Pet policy for live-in professional staff

Application Information:

Please download the application at www.iwu.edu/human-resources/Positions.html.  Include cover letter, resume and contact information for three professional references.   The University is committed to an environment of diversity and inclusion.  Please feel free to share any opportunities you have had in collaborating in a diverse, multicultural and inclusive setting.  Review of applications will begin immediately; position is open until filled.  For additional information about the Office of Residential Life please go to:  https://www.iwu.edu/residential-life/

Illinois Wesleyan University
Human Resources, Holmes 209
1312 N. Park Street
Bloomington, IL  61701
Email:  [email protected]
Fax:  309-556-3411

The final candidate will pass a pre-employment background investigation.

Illinois Wesleyan University is committed to recruiting, supporting, and fostering a diverse, inclusive, and civil community of outstanding faculty, staff, and students. We seek candidates who have a demonstrated commitment to supporting and further building our community in these dimensions. Illinois Wesleyan University is an EEO Employer.  Illinois Wesleyan University’s sexual misconduct policy may be accessed at www.iwu.edu/human-resources/SexualMisconductPolicy.html.  Illinois Wesleyan University is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusive excellence; details at www.iwu.edu/diversity