Employment Opportunities

This role is an on-campus, in-person position.

The Residential Community Director (RCD) at SMU provides leadership in developing and sustaining positive, academically-focused, residential communities. A successful RCD also accomplishes administrative functions required in managing a university residential community. The position is live-in, serves in an on-call rotation, and reports to an Associate Director for Residential Life. 

While our current vacancies are in Residential Commons, serving mainly first-year and some second-year students, it is possible that the successful candidate is placed in one of our Upper Division communities serving sophomores, juniors, and seniors. 

Essential Functions:

• Train, supervise, and evaluate the job performance of student leaders. Conduct regularly scheduled individual and group meetings. Provide development and accountability for student leaders.
• Develop a personal knowledge of individual residents to better provide assistance and related support. Assist with retention efforts. Serve as a case manager through the Caring Community Connections program. Provide conflict mediation and parent interaction to resolve student issues.
• Assess needs of residents. Provide and facilitate programming (including at least one large-scale signature event program yearly) in support of the Residential Commons tradition to promote a positive living and learning environment that fosters a sense of belonging. Advise the programming board for your community.
• Lead and/or serve on one or more RLSH (and potentially Student Affairs) committees. Meet regularly with the supervisor and other RLSH staff.
• Collaborate with the Faculty in Residence (FIR) for your community and support their connection to the leadership team and programmatic efforts where applicable.
• Serve as a Conduct Officer for student conduct cases occurring in the residential areas.
• Coordinate building operations. Assist with occupancy management, including but not limited to managing room and hall changes, check-in and check-out activity, etc. Monitor the physical condition of assigned areas and report work requests and desired facility improvements per established procedures.
• Manage budget & financial paperwork, including purchasing and expense reports.
• Assist in major annual processes, e.g., staff selection, assessments, and serve on the on-call rotation to manage student and facilities emergencies, etc.
• Perform related duties as assigned or required to meet RLSH and University goals.
• Regular evening/weekend hours will be required for student meetings, programs, trainings and other events. 
• This person will serve on an on-call rotation. This person is also expected to be a presence in the community in which they live.

Education and Experience:

• A Bachelor’s degree is required. A Master's degree is preferred. A degree in Higher Education Administration, College Student Personnel, Counseling in Higher Education, or related field is preferred. 
• Work experience in related areas of Student Affairs is required. Previous Residence Life experience (full-time or graduate) is strongly preferred. Experience working in a Residential College setting or experience working with academic and faculty partners is preferred. Experience supervising student staff is also preferred.

Deadline to Apply:

Priority consideration may be given to submissions received by February 23, 2026.

This position is open until filled.