Resident Director

Covenant College

Resident Director

Be part of a team shaping biblically grounded men and women for extraordinary callings in ordinary places. At Covenant College, our work is rooted in Reformed theology and a commitment to the Bible as the inerrant Word of God.

Our 400-acre campus atop Lookout Mountain, Georgia, offers breathtaking views of the Smoky Mountains and seven states, while keeping you just minutes from the vibrancy of downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee. Here, faith, learning, and service intersect, creating a culture where you can grow, lead, and make a lasting impact.

Bring your gifts to Covenant College and help shape the next generation of servant leaders in a community that values excellence, mission, and faith-driven purpose.

Job Title: Resident Director

Reports to: Associate Dean of Students, Residence Life

Classification: Full-time, Exempt, 10-month

Summary

The Resident Director facilitates an environment that cultivates the discipleship and holistic development of students. While living alongside students, the Resident Director will mentor and develop students, manage discipline and conflict, facilitate co-curricular programs, and oversee the administration of the residence hall, as well as help coordinate responses to emergencies on campus. The Resident Director is to demonstrate an active and Reformed Christian commitment, serving as a model, advisor, and facilitator of student development.

Essential Functions:

Student Experience and Management

1. Provide mentorship and discipleship opportunities for student leaders and residents.
2. Supervise, track, and guide all Residence Hall programming with a focus on learning outcomes and student needs.
3. Administer the Residence Hall day-to-day operations through partnering with various campus departments to ensure a safe and well-maintained residence hall.
4. Encourage a culture of student participation and foster a sense of belonging by providing students with opportunities for relational development and holistic growth.
5. Manage a residence hall budget and maintain up-to-date and accurate accounting records.
6. Maintain availability to students and be a visible presence in the residence hall.
7. Conduct closing and opening procedures at the beginning and end of each semester.

Student Care and Accountability

1. Serve in an on-call duty rotation both weekdays, weekends, and academic breaks to respond to incidents and emergencies (i.e., mental health, medical, facilities, etc.)
2. Engage and facilitate student care, conflict, and discipline conversations, and provide follow-up care in conjunction with Resident Assistants.
3. Assist in the development, implementation, and enforcement of all college policies, including serving as a hearing officer in disciplinary meetings and decisions.

Supervision of Student Leaders

1. Recruit, interview, and hire Resident Assistants for the upcoming academic year.
2. Provide an intensive fall and winter Resident Assistant training to prepare Resident Assistants for their job responsibilities.
3. Teach a three-week spring Resident Assistant class to orient them to their future responsibilities.
4. Meet regularly with each Resident Assistant for one-on-one supervision and mentorship.
5. Conduct a weekly Resident Assistant staff meeting that provides relational and professional development for the Resident Assistant team.

Collaboration

1. Oversee the housing process sign-ups for returning students and collaborate with the Admissions Department to assign rooms to incoming students.
2. Act as a liaison between the residence hall community and the faculty and staff to provide institutional knowledge of the student experience.
3. Meet regularly with Residence Life staff and the Associate Dean of Students.
4. Communicate with the Center for Student Success regarding high-risk students to provide additional support and resources.
5. Assist the Admissions Department on strategic recruiting weekends.
6. Participate in student and college activities to build relationships and to maintain an awareness of the campus culture.

General

1. Model and live in a manner worthy of the Lord and pleasing to Him.
2. Fulfill all employee responsibilities outlined in the Staff Manual.
3. Fulfill other duties as assigned by the Associate Dean of Students.

Core Competencies

• Servant Leadership: lead by example and serve the needs of others.
• Teamwork and Collaboration: contribute to the common vision and mission of Covenant College, help foster a workplace of trust and mutual support, and take responsibility for individual work.
• Time management: strategically allocate time to immediate concerns and long-term projects.
• Attention to detail: accurately execute assigned tasks.
• Organizational skills: effectively manage multiple systems and processes.
• Effective communication: clearly express ideas and information both verbally and in writing across a wide variety of audiences.
• Adaptability: adjust to new situations with flexibility.
• Conflict Management: Engage in difficult conversations or situations with professionalism and wisdom.

Working Conditions:

Operates in a professional office setting and routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, printers, and scanners for the majority of the workday.

Physical Demands:

• Extended periods of sitting or standing.
• Frequent verbal communication; must be fluent in English.
• Use of standard office equipment.
• Ability to remain in a standing or stationary position for at least 50% of the workday.

Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in a related field.
• 3-4 years of experience working in related fields.

Preferred:

• Strong preference for a Master's degree in Higher Education/Student Affairs or with a related field.
• Basic counseling and mentoring skills.
• Experience serving in an on-duty capacity responding to mental health and medical emergencies.

Faith and Mission Alignment:

• An acceptance of and commitment to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
• An understanding of the mission and purpose of Covenant College.
• Must be able to assent to Covenant College's Staff Commitments

To Apply:

Interested applicants should apply at https://www.covenant.edu/about/employment and provide the following:

• Letter of interest
• Resume, including contact information for three references.
• A brief statement (one-page maximum) summarizing your philosophy of residence life and student development. Of particular interest to us is how the applicant views these areas of student life as complementing the full educational life of the college.
• A statement of faith, sharing about his or her ongoing walk with Christ and your understanding of and commitment to Scripture, and the Westminster Confession of Faith (http://www.pcaac.org/resources/wcf/).