Professional Staff Recruitment

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT & LEADERSHIP

• Provide leadership, direction, and support for residential education initiatives, responding to individual resident needs and coordinating co-curricular programming that promotes the theme of the community.
• Work collaboratively with the community Leadership Team, building staff, and other University departments to provide intentional opportunities for residents to enhance academic excellence, explore the spiritual component of their individual development, support general student wellness, and cultivate a passion for learning both inside and outside of the classroom.
• Maintain a positive presence and high level of visibility and accessibility in the community by role modeling responsible behavior, personal integrity, and a commitment to Jesuit education. 
• In collaboration with the Leadership Team, facilitate the creation of an environment that promotes citizenship, respect, growth, academic success, and compassion among all community members. 
• Actively demonstrate an understanding of diversity, identity, and intercultural competence in order to create an inclusive environment that affirms and celebrates the dignity of all people.
• Serve as an advisor and resource for individual residents through personal consultation and conflict resolution.
• Advise resident student leaders, providing opportunities for skill development through formal and informal training sessions. 
• Contribute to the successful implementation of orientation sessions to introduce new students to their residential community and Santa Clara community standards and engage with families, through informal conversations and formal presentations.

2. STAFF SUPERVISION AND DEVELOPMENT

• Supervise a team of community student staff members including 1-3 Assistant Resident Directors, 6-13 Community Facilitators/Neighborhood Representatives, and 5-10 Desk Assistants.
• Assist in the recruitment, selection, training, and evaluation of community student staff members. 
• Foster staff unity and teamwork through the development and implementation of ongoing training efforts, weekly staff meetings, and staff events that prioritize opportunities for skill development and reflection for continued personal and professional growth. 
• Communicate regularly with community student staff members via weekly staff meetings, one-one meetings, individual consultations, email, and daily personal contact. 
• Motivate student staff and empower them to promote student growth and development with their residents.

3. STUDENT SAFETY AND WELFARE

• Serve as the primary university conduct hearing officer for assigned community and assist in other communities when needed. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, initiating disciplinary procedures when appropriate and adjudicating student conduct violations in conjunction with the Office of Student Life.
• Participate in the recruitment, selection, advising, and training of Peer Conduct Boards and/or Graduate Conduct Officers, as assigned.
• Communicate, uphold, administer, and evaluate policies related to student life within the University and the community. 
• Oversee safety, duty, and emergency procedures for assigned community, promote and enforce policies that protect and ensure the general welfare of students, and educate staff and residents about University emergency protocols and procedures. 
• Effectively respond to and manage emergency and/or crisis situations via participation as the second-level responder in campus-wide, year-round, 24-hour duty coverage, requiring evening and weekend availability. 
• Exercise good judgment, ethical decision-making, and responsible citizenship both on and off-campus.
• Serve as a campus security authority when informed of allegations regulated under the Clery Act.
• Serve as a responsible employee for allegations regulated under Title IX.

4. HOUSING AND RESIDENCE LIFE OPERATIONS

• Communicate, support, and implement the philosophy and mission of the University, the offices of Housing and Residence Life, and the Residential Learning Community program.
• Assist with coordination of all aspects of facilities management, building operations, and room assignment and change procedures within assigned community in partnership with the Housing Office.
• Oversee fiscal management of all community budgets.
• Chair and/or contribute to multiple departmental and or campus committees, on a yearly, rotating basis including, but not limited to: Professional Staff, Senior Staff, Student Staff, and Desk Assistant recruitment, selection, and training; co-facilitating the Student Staff Course; departmental recognition efforts; and leading the Justice Starts Here initiative.
• Coordinate community efforts related to Admissions Office events including residence hall tours, resource fairs, and presentations, as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS: EDUCATION

• Master’s degree required; Higher Education, Counseling, Organizational Leadership, or a similar program preferred. 

QUALIFICATIONS: YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

• Minimum of 1-2 years post-undergraduate residential life experience; previous professional experience preferred.

QUALIFICATIONS: KNOWLEDGE

• Knowledge of the Jesuit mission of the University, strategic initiatives, and major developmental issues of students at a highly selective, multicultural, residential university.
• Understanding and support of the Jesuit tradition of education and a commitment to the fundamental values of service to others, community, and diversity as well as a commitment to and demonstrated skills, knowledge, and awareness to serve the unique needs of the diverse campus community at Santa Clara University.
• Knowledge of student development theory and philosophy of Residential Learning Community concepts.
• Knowledge of housing functions essential; experience working with housing assignments and facility-related issues, including room changes and maintenance requests.

QUALIFICATIONS: SKILLS

• Experience adjudicating policy violations; knowledge of conduct philosophy.
• Experience supervising others in a complex and dynamic environment.
• Experience advising volunteer student groups.
• Experience with technology, database management, social media, and digital communication.

QUALIFICATIONS: ABILITIES

• Demonstrated ability to successfully work in a 24-hour/7 day environment with the ability to quickly respond to and handle time-sensitive situations for the entire residential campus. 
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, prioritize, and be flexible. 
• Demonstrated ability to analyze and solve difficult problems and make well-reasoned and principled decisions on a variety of issues and situations.
• Demonstrated ability to provide a high level of professional discretion and integrity in handling confidential, sensitive information. 
• Demonstrated ability to resolve conflicts utilizing counseling and arbitration skills.
• Demonstrated tolerance for ambiguity and extensive consultation to build consensus and to earn student, faculty, and administrative support.
• Demonstrated ability to provide clear, effective, and timely written and verbal communication to a variety of stakeholders including, but not limited to, students, faculty, staff, and parents.

The Department of Residence Life is committed to the individual professional development of its Professional Staff. Santa Clara University is an exceptionally collaborative environment, and Professional Staff regularly have the opportunity to work with other campus offices, academic departments, and advisory committees. 

Each Professional Staff Member is assigned to several emphasis areas, including departmental and campus committees, on a yearly, rotating basis. In addition, summer projects provide alternate opportunities to work on departmental projects and personal interests.

Emphasis Areas include:

• Professional Staff Recruitment and Selection
• Senior Staff Recruitment and Selection
• Student Staff Recruitment and Selection
• Desk Assistant Recruitment and Selection
• Teaching the Student Staff Course
• Planning All-Staff Meetings
• Professional Staff Formation (Training)
• Senior Staff Formation (Training)
• Student Staff Formation (Training)
• Desk Assistant Formation (Training)
• Supervising Graduate Conduct Officers
• Senior Staff Guidance and Duty Scheduling 
• Student Staff Recognition
• Leading the Justice Starts Here initiative

Committees Include:

• Dining Services
• Division of Student Life Staff Development

Potential Campus Engagement Opportunities Include:

• Co-teaching the Emerging Leaders Program, a first-year seminar lead by the Center for Student Involvement
• Serving as a Companion on Spring and Summer Immersion Trips with the Ignatian Center for Jesuit Education
• Facilitating small groups in the Diversity and Inclusion Series for all first-year students 
• Teaching a seminar designed for first-generation college students with the LEAD Scholars Program

Other opportunities on campus that Professional Staff have participated in include an Alcohol and Other Drug Advisory Board, Staff Senate leadership, Sexual Assault Awareness Month Planning Committee, and the Momentum Men's Discussion Group.

Each Professional staff member also receives a professional development allowance*. In recent years, Professional Staff have utilized these funds to attend national and regional conferences and trainings, including:

• NASPA Conference
• ACPA Conference
• WACE Conference
• Women of WACUHO 
• ACPA Restorative Justice Training

*Professional Development funds are dependent on budget availability. 

Santa Clara offers a generous benefits package to employees. As a Professional Staff Member, you can expect: 

• A competitive starting salary (see job posting for the advertised salary)
• 15% University Retirement Contribution, regardless of individual contribution*
• An inclusive Pet Policy
• FLEX funding for use at On and Off-Campus Dining**
• At least a 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom fully-furnished apartment
• A complimentary fitness center membership
• Tuition remission after the first year
• Flexible work hours
• Access to an on-campus Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) pick up
• Five days of university Community Service leave per year, with supervisor approval

Please refer to the Human Resources Benefits website for additional information and policies regarding staff benefits.

*The University Retirement Contribution was reduced during the COVID-19 pandemic. University leadership decided that they would increase the contributions from 5% to 15% from December 1, 2021, to October 15, 2022, after which the employer contribution will revert back to 10% of eligible compensation.
**The purpose of FLEX funds is to be used for off- or on-campus dining with students (staff meetings, informal student check-ins, etc.). This funding is reviewed annually and subject to change. 

One of the biggest perks of working at Santa Clara University is its prime location in the South Bay. The San Francisco Bay Area is one of the most culturally and environmentally diverse regions in the world. From our campus, you can make the short trip to the Golden Gate Bridge of San Francisco or the beaches of Santa Cruz. Outdoor activities, farmer's markets, local libraries, tech giants, arts and culture, and diverse communities are all within reach, especially with a Caltrain station directly across the street.

• A 10 minute walk from the Caltrain Station with access to San Jose Airport, Palo Alto, and San Francisco
• A 15 minute walk from Avaya Stadium, home of the San Jose Earthquakes soccer team
• 45 minutes from Seabright Beach in Santa Cruz
• 1.5 hours from Napa Valley and its wineries
• 1 hour from downtown Berkeley or Oakland
• 0.3 miles from the local Saturday Farmer's Market