Assistant Resident Director
Position Summary
Assistant Resident Directors (ARDs) are 10-month, 20-hour-a-week graduate students who live on campus and collaborate with a full-time Resident Director to manage a residential area of approximately 350-700 students. Assistant Resident Directors report to Resident Directors and assist in the supervision of undergraduate or graduate Resident Assistants (RAs/GRAs). Assistant Resident Directors work as part of the Office of Residential Experience and collaborate with the Residential Services team to foster a residential community that fulfills the mission, vision, and goals of the Division of Student Affairs. ARDs promote student agency and accountability while empowering residents to make healthy, informed decisions. ARDs also facilitate opportunities that support students’ academic success, personal development, and well-being. This position includes working with students, staff, and faculty in a rigorous academic environment. Frequent evening and weekend availability are essential and expected.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities
- Assists in the development of community in a select area of campus consisting of multiple halls, housing from 600-1000 students
- Assists in the coordination of the overall administrative management of a residential area including but not limited to: implementation of the Residential Experience Framework, supporting residential colleges, managing occupancy and facilities, assisting with access control, supporting conduct and community standards processes, managing facilities opening/closing, and ensuring good stewardship of finances
- Directly supervise 4-6 Resident Assistant (RA) student leaders. Co-supervise and co-facilitate the recruitment, training, and development of up to 18 RAs with a full-time Resident Director
- Develop meaningful relationships with students by providing opportunities for growth and development
- Serve in the 24/7 on-duty rotation, responding to significant student issues and crises as necessary
- Serve as a student conduct administrator and adjudicate violations of residential and University policies and procedures
- Serve on at least one departmental committee
- Utilize technology including but not limited to: Maxient, eRezLife, WhenToWork, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft 365, RMS Mercury, and KeyTrak®
- Other duties as assigned
- Duties and assignments are subject to change at the discretion of the RCS Leadership Team; the amount of time devoted to each area may vary from time to time
Compensation
The ARD will receive a $1,000 monthly stipend (10 months) plus housing accommodations and a meal plan to use when the campus dining halls are open. Please note, candidates selected for this position will not receive any additional benefits beyond the stipend, apartment, and meal plan stated above. The ARD can purchase a staff parking pass through Parking Services, but this expense is not covered by Residential Services. We are not able to offer a tuition waiver, health insurance, or other benefits.
Minimum Qualifications
A successful candidate will have the following:
- Experience living in a residential educational setting (e.g. undergraduate, boarding school, etc.)
- Enrollment in a graduate program at Northwestern University or another institution for the entire 2025-2026 academic year
- Interpersonal communication, organizational, and administrative skills/experience
- A commitment to student development
Preferred Qualifications
While not mandatory, an ideal candidate will also have the following preferred qualifications and competencies. Candidates who may not meet any or all of the following are still encouraged to apply and will be given full consideration.
- Enrolled in the Master of Science in Higher Education Administration and Policy program at Northwestern or comparable program at another local institution
- Experience as a Resident Assistant (RA) or similar position as an undergraduate student
- Strong problem-solving and prioritization skills
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, complex organization
- Ability to engage in critical thinking and intentional decision making
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to work both independently and in a team environment
- Experience working with customer service and/or community development
- Experience working with high-achieving students in a fast-paced environment
- Experience with the implementation and assessment of student learning outcomes
- Knowledge or experience processing spreadsheets, email, and database software programs
- Mediation and conflict resolution skills
Application Process
Interested candidates should email a cover letter detailing their interest in and related qualifications for the ARD position along with a current resumé and contact information for two professional references to:
Travis D. Schilla, Assistant Director, Residential Community and Support
travis.schilla@northwestern.edu
Applications submitted by March 1, 2025 will receive priority review. Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis until all positions are filled.