Residence Hall Director

Student and Campus Life (SCL) inspires transformation in all Cornell students on their journey of individual, academic, and personal evolution. Our division is comprised of leading student affairs experts who support our campus on pressing student life matters including public service, health, wellness, social justice, residential living, food services, sports, recreation, career services, and student activities and organizations including sorority and fraternity life. We provide support and services to roughly 25,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students on multiple campuses in the U.S. and abroad.

Department Statement

The Office of Housing and Residential Life is committed to providing a residential experience of the highest quality for each of our residents. This includes providing a safe, comfortable, diverse, and purposeful living and learning environment aligned with university values and learning goals. Through partnerships with university faculty and staff, we foster students' personal growth, critical thinking, intellectual engagement, and social responsibility that is designed to educate, challenge, and develop our students.

Pillars of our Residential Experience
* Belonging at Cornell
* Social Responsibility
* Academic Empowerment
* Culture of Care
* Navigating Transitions

First-year/Upper-level

Our first-year and upper-level student housing focuses on transitioning students as they begin or continue through their Cornell and college journey. Communities have a variety of configurations and sizes, but all are coed (all gender) with the exception of one building which is open to female and non-binary-identified students only. Regardless of size, all residence halls are supportive communities for residents to learn, develop, and come together in a variety of ways.

You can find details on all of our residential communities by visiting: https://scl.cornell.edu/residential-life/housing/campus-housing
You can find information specifically for first-year communities by visiting: https://scl.cornell.edu/residential-life/housing/campus-housing/first-year-undergraduates-campus-housing

You can find information specifically for upper-level communities by visiting: https://scl.cornell.edu/residential-life/housing/campus-housing/upperlevel-undergraduate-campus-housing

Program Houses

Program Houses are themed- living communities which focus on a variety of interests and identities. These close-knit communities have a high level of involvement with regular events, programming, and outreach opportunities, often in collaboration with their specific themed-living community organized student leaders and affiliated alumni.

More information regarding our program houses can be found at this link: https://scl.cornell.edu/residential-life/housing/campus-housing/upper-level-undergraduates/program-houses

The Residence Hall Director (RHD) is a 12-month, live-in position that provides leadership, community and program development, administrative management, student conduct management, and support for a particular community ranging from 60-600 undergraduate students. Depending on the type and size of the residence hall, the RHD will supervise, train, and utilize approximately 5-20 resident advisors (RA), or other student leaders. The RHD will work collaboratively with their teams and with a cohort of Faculty and Community Fellows, Faculty-in-Residence in some first-year communities, and/or appropriate campus partners. The RHD is expected to support student involvement, development, and social responsibility by providing a safe, inclusive, and engaging living environment.

Success Factors

A successful Residence Hall Director (RHD) must demonstrate supervision, administrative, and communication skills to support individual and student success through community engagement and intentional interactions. The RHD should have a commitment to working with diverse populations of students and can successfully collaborate with academic departments, University offices, and alumni groups as appropriate. The RHD must remain flexible, supportive, and engaged through exercising decision making that aligns with departmental values, policies, and procedures to ensure a safe, welcoming, and enriching environment for our students.

While position responsibilities vary, every member of our community is expected to foster a culture of belonging and a psychologically healthy work environment by communicating across differences; being cooperative, collaborative, open, and welcoming; showing respect, compassion, and empathy; engaging and supporting others regardless of background or perspective; speaking up when others are being excluded or treated inappropriately; and supporting work/life integration of oneself and others.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree
• At least 2 years of relevant work experience in residential administration, community development, student affairs program planning or implementation at the graduate, or professional level. Undergraduate level experience will be considered to a lesser degree than professional or graduate experience
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills including verbal and written communication
• Demonstrated experience in being a team player, ability to manage priorities, and working in an evolving environment
• Required to live in the residence halls 12 months per year
• Experience in and/or demonstrated commitment to supporting diversity, equity, access, inclusion, and wellbeing.
• Ability to serve as an advocate for individuals of all ethnicities, genders, ages, and backgrounds.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in student personnel/higher education or closely related field
• Commitment to working with students in residence.
• Experience in using a variety of basic and advanced business/technical programs/applications to perform responsibilities involving data management and analysis

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Non-Union Positions

Noted pay ranges reflect the potential pay opportunity for each job profile. The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined considering the following criteria:

• Prior relevant work or industry experience

• Education level to the extent education is relevant to the position

• Unique applicable skills

• Academic Discipline

Union Positions

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EEO Statement:

Diversity and Inclusion are a part of Cornell University's heritage. We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, and we do not tolerate discrimination based on any protected characteristic, including race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex/gender, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual's genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law.

Cornell University embraces diversity and seeks candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff to all identities and backgrounds. We encourage individuals from underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply.