Resident Director of Special Projects

Posting Details

• Requisition
• Location:
  
  Chicago, IL, USA
• Salary: $40,000 - $45,000
• Posting Close Date: 4/10/2026
• Search Extended Until July 2, 2026

UIC Campus Housing

The Resident Director of Special Projects is responsible for UIC Residence Hall(s) oversight and leadership, creating a dynamic and healthy living environment where students can thrive and diversity is embraced. The RD supervises and manages hall staff, works closely with administrative and facilities staff, and provides ongoing outreach to support academic success. This live‑in role may require responding during unscheduled times and is intended to fill RD vacancies during the academic year.

• Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance
• Retirement Plan
• Paid Time Off
• Tuition waivers for employees and dependents

Supervision

• Establish expectations, goals, and vision for the academic year and lead hall staff toward successful realization.
• Provide onboarding, training, and development to RA staff and other staff they may oversee.
• Offer ongoing feedback and evaluation to RAs and other student staff as needed.
• Plan, assign, and review work of Resident Assistants to meet group objectives.
• Hold staff accountable to job expectations and university policies.
• Chaperone and supervise student activities, including weekends and evenings.
• Monitor and track student staff hours and timesheets.
• Facilitate weekly staff meetings.
• Provide ongoing emergency response training and drills for hall staff.

Crisis / Emergency Response

• Participate in a 24‑hour on‑call rotation schedule with other RD staff, including evenings, weekends, and some holidays.
• Respond on‑site to medical, mental health, facilities, and weather emergencies during on‑call duty.
• Act as the first responder in minor and major emergency situations within own hall and other halls when on‑call.

Administrative

• Manage a co‑residential housing facility of 250‑600 students.
• Work with the Campus Administrative Team to maintain occupancy management through the Star Rez System.
• Coordinate with the area Housing Officer to maintain desk functions within the hall/area.
• Create and monitor staff budgets, including hall programming and staff/student organization budgets.
• Generate and distribute reports as needed and requested.
• Track and oversee staff programming efforts.
• Manage and enter payroll for staff.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with campus partners.

Facilities

• Participate in scheduled building tours and inspections, monitor hall upkeep and facilities.
• Oversee all hall openings and closings.
• Troubleshoot day‑to‑day work orders and unanticipated building maintenance or repair.
• Communicate with and follow up on housekeeping and maintenance as needed.
• Troubleshoot after‑hour facility and maintenance issues when on‑call.

Community / Academic Initiatives

• Work with student staff and hall leaders to create a celebrative, positive, and healthy hall atmosphere and community.
• Advise student leadership groups within campus housing.
• Incorporate the Residential Curriculum into community and academic initiatives.
• Oversee Living Learning Communities, Affinity Spaces, and Faculty‑In‑Residence programs within hall.

Student Advocacy and Outreach

• Assess student needs and concerns and provide appropriate direction.
• Provide support and resources to students in need of mental health, physical health, and immediate crisis response.
• Support parents of students as needed.
• Coordinate with parents or outside agencies to inform or gather information.
• Deliver quality customer service to housing residents, guests, and visitors.

• Master’s degree in higher education or a related field.
• Minimum of 2 years of residence life or student affairs experience.
• Strong interpersonal, management, organizational, and communication skills.

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. The university provides accommodations to applicants and employees. Request an accommodation. Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.