Location: Bowling Green, KY
Category: Staff
Job Type: Full-time
Posted On: Mon Apr 13 2026
Job Description:
The residence hall system has a capacity of almost 5,200 students and is comprised of 15 halls and 2 apartment buildings, offering a variety of living options: traditional, suite style living, community living, and a twelve-month extended living hall. Housing and Residence Life at WKU believes in the transformational experience that living on campus can have on a student and its integral role in the overall collegiate experience. HRL prioritizes creating a residential environment that is compatible with and supportive of the student's personal, social, and academic development. The goal of our professional staff members is to help students work towards success by developing connections with their peers, University resources, and the WKU campus community.
The Residence Hall Director (RHD) is an innovative, full-time, live-on, professional staff member in a dynamic department committed to creating and sustaining supportive learning environments and helping students to reach their curricular and co-curricular goals. This integral member of the Housing and Residence Life team is responsible for the administrative and managerial functions of one or more residence halls and reports directly to an Area Coordinator.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities
The following duties are customary for this position but are not to be construed as all-inclusive. Duties may be added, deleted and assigned based on management discretion and institutional needs.
Responsible for all general administrative and managerial functions of a residence hall(s) housing approximately 200-400 residents
Responsible for the recruitment, selection, training, and supervision of 15-30 student staff members
Implement student success strategies and initiatives for student success
- Oversee management of a 24-hour information and customer service desk(s) and its staff
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Facilitate programming and implement community development plan
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Advise, counsel, and seek to develop residents in alignment with the department's mission, vision, and goals to create and sustain a supportive living environment
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Serves in on-call rotation for half of campus, serving up to 2,500 students at a time
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Adjudicates educational disciplinary conferences for policy violations within the residence hall
Creating a Supportive Learning Environment
- Establish rapport and develop mentoring relationships with residents to reduce barriers to success, including mental health concerns, degree or career pathway issues/decisions, and financial aid issues, making referrals when necessary
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Implement academic initiatives that promote student success and increase retention as part of departmental and university strategic plan
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Collaborate with academic and University partners to create and sustain residential communities that foster student learning, development, and academic success
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Plan and present residence hall and campus-wide educational and social programs
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Play an integral role in executing the first-year student transition program
Administrative and Managerial Functions
- Execute administrative functions and manage daily operations of a residence hall(s)
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Plan and facilitate on-going training and development for student staff
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Report, record, and follow-up on facility, maintenance, and security issues within the hall
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Serve and actively contribute to the success of various departmental committees, task forces, and recruitment efforts
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Utilize various software solutions to manage hall occupancy, student staff scheduling, mail and package handling, conduct intervention reporting, etc.
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Execute crisis response protocols to maintain continuity of resident safety, security and comfort
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Respond to crises and other facilities, safety, and security issues in hall area via a rotating on-call schedule
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Collaborate with housekeeping and facilities staff members to maintain a living environment conducive to learning
Essential Skills Needed
- Must be able to create connections with residential students to guide them to success
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Must possess the ability to maintain effective, cooperative working relationships with supervisors and co-workers in keeping with the values and mission of both the Department and the University
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Must possess above average oral, written, and computer communication skills and practice ethical decision making
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Must demonstrate willingness to role model acceptance and advocacy of diverse student populations by promoting a living and working environment committed to valuing diversity and social justice
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Must be willing to serve as a role model for residential students, student staff members, and co-workers in work ethic, attitude, and approach to work
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Must demonstrate an understanding of supervision of student staff members
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Must be willing to work evenings and high-volume weekends, and assume additional responsibilities within the department as needed
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Must reside in a designated professional staff apartment within the assigned residence hall for the duration of employment with Housing and Residence Life.
This is a live-in position. Although the majority of the position will function as described, some aspects are subject to change due to evolving departmental needs
Job Requirements:
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Bachelor's degree.
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At least one (1) year previous experience as a Hall Director, Resident Assistant, Community Advisor, or other housing/residence life related leadership role is required.
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This is a live-in position; the Residence Hall Director is required to reside in a designated professional staff apartment within the assigned residence hall for the duration of their employment with Housing and Residence Life at WKU.
Additional Information:
Compensation and Benefits
- Full-time, 10-month exempt position.
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Partially furnished, pet friendly apartment with internet service and utilities, (fair market value of approximately $15,000 a year). Apartment use is restricted to the employee, employee's partner (as defined by guidelines), and employee's dependent children.
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Furnished office space.
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Reserved parking space near assigned hall with purchase of required parking permit.
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Professional development and extensive training opportunities within the Department, the Division of Enrollment and Student Experience, and the University at-large.
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Annual Salary of $37,140.
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Excellent benefits package including medical insurance, dental insurance, life insurance, retirement plan, partial tuition waiver and University Bookstore discount.
Kentucky state law requires all public institutions of postsecondary education to conduct pre-employment criminal background checks to determine suitability for employment.
Western Kentucky University (WKU) is committed to a policy and practice of providing equal employment and educational opportunities to all individuals. In accordance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Revised 1992, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, no form of discrimination or harassment will be tolerated at WKU on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, marital status, age, uniformed services, veteran status, genetic information, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, or physical or mental disability in admission to career and technical education programs and/or activities, or employment practices.
Persons with disabilities, who need reasonable accommodations to participate in the application and/or selection process, should notify the office of Institutional Equity. To request an accommodation, report a complaint, or ask questions regarding WKU's Discrimination and Harassment Policy (#0.2040), please contact Ms. Ena Demir, Executive Director/Title IX Coordinator via email at [email protected] or by phone at (270) 745-6867. Ms. Demir is also responsible for coordinating the University's response to complaints related to sex and gender harassment. Additional information regarding Title IX is accessible via WKU's https://www.wku.edu/titleix/ website.
Information concerning educational programs offered by WKU are provided at: http://www.wku.edu/atwku/academics.php
For information related to job postings, please email [email protected].
