The Assistant Director (AD) is responsible for creating a supportive residential living environment that promotes the values and practice of Catholic, Benedictine living and education. As an engaged member of the community, the AD serves as a supervisor, mentor, role-model, mediator, first-responder, Saints Care manager, and student conduct officer. The AD is responsible for the day-to-day operations of all of the residence halls, supervising 5-10 Resident Assistants, 5-15 work study students, 8-20 Living Learning Community Mentors, and co-advising the National Residence Hall Honorary. The AD also advises RA programming teams associated with other offices or initiatives and may oversee living-learning or special interest communities/ Living Learning Communities, requiring frequent and intentional collaboration with faculty, Student Affairs colleagues, and other stakeholders. This position is also responsible for the day-to-day operation of the summer conference housing program and supervision of 3-10 Conference Assistants/ Summer Resident Assistants. In addition, the AD serves as a University conduct officer, a liaison to other campus constituents, and a member of the Saints Care Team, and other university taskforces and committees. The Assistant Director must live in a residence hall apartment, serve in an on-call rotation, and be available to work evening, University holidays, and weekend hours.
Saint Martin’s University is more than just a place of learning—it’s a welcoming community where students, faculty, and staff come together with purpose and heart. Founded in 1895 by the Benedictine monks of Saint Martin’s Abbey, we are grounded in the timeless Benedictine values of community, hospitality, and balance. These values, combined with a Saint Martin’s liberal arts education, shape our approach to education and daily life, encouraging students to think deeply, act with compassion, and serve with purpose.
As part of the Catholic Intellectual Tradition, we honor the integration of faith and reason, the dignity of every person, and a shared responsibility for the common good. Our mission is to form graduates who are not only intellectually curious and ethically grounded, but also deeply committed to building a more just and equitable world. At Saint Martin’s, we care about the whole person.
Our supportive campus culture is built to help students thrive—academically, personally, and professionally. We pay special attention to the needs of those who have been historically underserved, and we work intentionally to create an inclusive, respectful, and compassionate environment for all.
We warmly invite mission-driven individuals to join our community—not just to work here, but to be part of something meaningful. Together, we educate students who go on to make a positive difference in their lives, their communities, and the world.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS & RESPONSIBILITIES
Essential Functions & Responsibilities - Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include any of the following representative duties, knowledge, and skills. This list is ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY, and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and duties performed by incumbents of this position. Employees are required to be in attendance and prepared to begin work at their assigned work location on the specified days and hours. Factors such as regular attendance at the job are not routinely listed in job descriptions, but are an essential function. Essential duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following.
- Facilitate, support, and encourage the development of leadership skills within student staff members through supervision, training, one-on-ones, staff meetings, team building exercises, in-services, and performance evaluations.
- Provide outreach to students at risk or in need, establishing meaningful connections in and out of the office. Provide opportunities for residents to connect with support resources and other members of the campus community in order to encourage a rich knowledge of self and others.
- Provide excellent customer service and cooperatively manage the overall operation of the Office of Housing and Residence Life office by responding to student and parent concerns, reporting and troubleshooting facilities issues, maintaining key and furniture inventories, facilitating mail delivery, and serving as a liaison to other offices such as Facilities, Finance, Food Services, etc.
- Participate in weekly Residence Life and Student Affairs staff meetings, and represent the department on campus-wide committees as needed.
- Administer the university student conduct process by utilizing an educational, developmental, and restorative approach to student conduct situations. Preside over hearings and develop and communicate appropriate educational sanctions. Maintain and safeguard student conduct records. Ensure students’ rights, and emphasize community values and responsibilities.
- Assist with and periodically lead major departmental events and projects such as staff selection, fall and spring staff training, housing reapplication, room assignment, opening, and closing.
- Develop, promote, coordinate, and evaluate programming that integrates a student development model with both social and educational outcomes related to the Benedictine values and the Core Themes of faith, reason, service, and community.
- Review and respond to resident related “flags” as they relate to Saints Mentor with Heart/ Mentor Collective.
- Provide residence hall-wide duty coverage on a rotating on-call basis. Respond to emergencies and policy violations while working flexible hours, including evenings and weekends, and round-the-clock while on-call.
- Role model respect and civility by addressing inappropriate behavior and emphasizing accountability through one-on-one meetings, the student conduct process, floor meetings, and day-to-day interactions. Mediate interpersonal conflicts and respond to student needs and concerns in a constructive, problem-solving fashion.
- Maintain accurate room occupancy and billing data by processing room changes, withdrawals, meal plan changes, deposit refund requests, etc.
- Develop and promote in-hall and campus-wide leadership opportunities by co-advising the National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH); marketing jobs and leadership positions; overseeing RA programming; and encouraging involvement through other offices such as Campus Life, Public Safety, Campus Ministry, Service and Diversity Initiatives, and International Programs.
- Act as the department’s Web Assistant, updating, maintaining, and creating Housing and Residence Life web pages and online forms.
- Solicit resident feedback through surveys, focus groups, committees, and other methods. Compile and interpret data for inclusion in annual assessment reports and other office documents.
- Participate in on-campus professional development activities, and attend regional and national conferences, symposiums, seminars, and workshops.
- Fulfill other roles and duties as assigned by the Associate Dean of Student Affairs
- Frequent attendance at University or Division of Student Affairs events/ programs, as well Housing and Residence Life sponsored events, including but not limited to Resident Assistant or NRHH events/ programs, Living Learning Community events, and University wide events that are centered on building community.
- Participate in on-campus professional development activities, and attend regional and national conferences, symposiums, seminars, and workshops.
Serve as a Saints Care manager.
COMPETENCIES
- Act as a model resident of the community who builds relationships through positive activities and intentional interaction, engaging in the surrounding opportunities presented by the University.
- Establish and maintain healthy and ethical boundaries with students and colleagues.
- Use student development, restorative practices, and assessment tools to address the needs and concerns of the community.
- Demonstrate strong cultural humility, personal awareness, and skills needed to perform the tasks of promoting a strong sense of belonging for all students.
- Knowledge of best practices related to supporting diverse student population, including students of color, students of diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, first generation students, students with disabilities, and other historically marginalized identities.
- Be attentive to the safety, security, and cleanliness of the residence halls acting as a liaison between residents, maintenance, custodial, security, and Residence Life staff members.
- Process administrative requests in a timely manner and offer exemplary customer service to students, parents, and outside agencies.
- Work cooperatively and collaboratively on projects with other college constituencies to provide quality service to students.
- Recognize and appreciate differences in individuals and student populations and facilitate equitable community building within the residence halls.
- Demonstrate an ability to work effectively with a diverse group of administrators, faculty, staff, students, parents, and alumni.
- Excellent analytical, managerial, oral, and written communication and interpersonal skills.
- Excellent organizational and administrative skills and experience.
- Excellent conflict resolution, problem solving, and critical thinking skills.
- Possess a working knowledge of computer functions, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, Internet browsers, and Outlook.
- Is supportive of a Catholic, Benedictine philosophy of education and able to articulate and support the University’s mission statement.
- Work effectively on long-term projects while responding to the immediate needs of students, parents, staff, facilities, etc.
- Maintain a balance between friendly customer service and holding students accountable for deadlines, fees, and knowledge of the procedures.
- Utilize good judgement and ethical decision-making to identify and respond to concerns and apprise supervisors and senior leadership of developing issues.
Ensure the confidentiality of student records and information, while recognizing when it is essential and ethical to share information with colleagues on a need-to-know basis.
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REQUIREMENTS AND/OR CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
- Bachelor’s Degree in counseling, psychology, education, human services, or other related discipline.
- Two (2) years residence life experience.
- Master’s Degree in student affairs, higher education administration, or other related discipline and one (1) year of post-undergraduate residence life experience preferred.
- Experience in working with a diverse population.
- Possess a working knowledge of computer functions, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, Internet browsers, and Outlook.
Successfully pass a background check.
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PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT
Work is performed in residence hall and a standard office environment. Physical demands include:
- Responding to students in potentially stressful situations while exhibiting a calm and professional demeanor.
- Moving objects (20-50 pounds) such as bed frames and mattresses moderate distances and potentially up and down stairs.
- The ability to be mobile campus-wide for appropriate business needs.
- Operating a variety of standard office equipment requiring continuous or repetitive arm-hand movements.
- Reading, writing, speaking, hearing, standing, bending, sitting.
- Learning and comprehending.
- Visual concentration on detail.
- Manual dexterity and precision required for keyboarding.
- The ability to sit for long periods at a time at a computer.
- May occasionally be required to respond to distraught people.
- The ability to concentrate on details and process complex information while experiencing frequent interruptions.
