Community Director, Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation

Department: Cross Functional

Classification: Professional Faculty

Job Category: Administrative or Professional Faculty

Job Type: Full-Time

Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)

Location: Front Royal, VA

Workplace Type: On Site Required

Salary: Salary range starting high $40k's; commensurate with education and experience (on-campus housing included)

Criminal Background Check: Yes

Motor Vehicle Records Check: Yes

Works with Minors check: Yes

About the Department:

The Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation (SMSC) offers a range of compelling residential, hands-on, interdisciplinary programs in conservation biology for undergraduate and graduate students and professionals on the grounds of Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI) in Front Royal, Virginia, USA. Highly qualified world experts, including Smithsonian scientists, Mason faculty, and colleagues from other U.S. and international conservation organizations provide students with direct connections to the most current teaching, research techniques, and work in the field. The SMSC department administers all aspects of this off-site instructional location comprised of a dining, residential and academic facility, including academic and administrative oversight, with extensive coordination with departments from George Mason University and Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI).

About the Position:

The Community Director provides program support to the student and academic functions of the SMSC Living-Learning Community. The community consists of three interwoven initiatives: 1.) an undergraduate program; 2.) graduate courses and professional training; and 3.) high school programming. These activities are supported by a 120-bed residence hall; a 135-seat dining hall; and an academic building with four classrooms and two labs.

The position provides support in student life and academic programming. Key areas of responsibility include but are not limited to:
• Supervision and Leadership;
• Student Support and Development;
• Administrative & Operations;
• Community Development and Programming; and
• Recruitment and Outreach.

In addition, this position is responsible for working collaboratively with the Smithsonian-Mason stakeholders and Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation faculty, by providing student development, and creating and maintaining critical systems that support the student operations of the housing facility in Front Royal, VA.

This position requires a visible presence in the SMSC Residence Hall as a live-in professional. Flexible working hours are required in order to best serve students.

Responsibilities:

Supervision and Leadership—Resident Assistants (RAs)

• Hires, evaluates, selects, supervises, and supports (RAs);
• Provides ongoing training and implements staff development to enhance competencies essential to the RA position;
• Develops and maintains staff awareness of campus/community issues through training, programming, individual contacts, and role modeling;
• Holds staff accountable to all university, housing, and Smithsonian policies;
• Meets with the RAs weekly to share information and address concerns;
• Participates in the evening, weekend, and holiday duty rotations with the two RAs; and
• Provides opportunities for staff to receive feedback on their quality and effectiveness of their work. 

Student Support and Development

• Actively participates in cultivating an environment that supports the well-being of residential students;
• Develops and maintains positive relations with residents, Smithsonian, and SMSC faculty/staff that encourages ongoing communication, mutual support and respect;
• Manages situations involving psychological, emotional, medical, or other safety related incidents in the SMSC Living Learning Community;
• Directly responds to on-campus emergencies and student crisis as needed, to ensure student safety and support;
• Addresses incidents of inappropriate behavior in or around the SMSC campus using an educational and developmental approach;
• Serves as a hearing officer to effectively resolve cases of student misconduct and violations of the Code of Conduct; and
• Supports residential students in overcoming challenges and achieving success by forging connections with appropriate academic, personal, or social resources. 

Administrative & Operations

• Maintains a visible presence in the residence halls as a live-in professional and engages in positive, professional interactions with students after business hours to promote community development;
• Submits and approves access requests for student guests entering the NZCBI facilities;
• Oversees the room assignment process for SMSC;
• Coordinates and implements the distribution of keys, access cards, and student ID’s for SMSC students;
• Creates, edits and distributes Student Resource Manual, working closely with faculty and Mason constituents;
• Manages community and roommate agreements for all students in assigned residence halls, to aid in setting community expectations and mitigate potential conflict factors;
• Creates room cards, performs check-in duties, assists with room lockouts, ensures desk coverage, and provides on-call support during conferences and events;
• Conducts regular community walk-throughs of the SMSC Residence Hall to detect any maintenance or facilities concerns;
• Triages after-hour facility and security related issues to the appropriate Mason and NZCBI departments;
• When necessary and appropriate, utilizes the damage billing protocol outlined in the student Housing Agreement, to ensure appropriate, consistent and fair billing practice for student/guest damages incurred in the SMSC Residence Hall;
• Maintains all appropriate documentation related to facilities management and inventory control, conducts equipment and building inventories on a regular basis, to ensure student safety and building maintenance and upkeep;
• Ensures timely and accurate documentation of all student interactions and processes as needed such as incident reports, student conduct meeting notes, student care reports, etc.;
• Maintains accurate records regarding all purchases and budget reconciliations as required, to ensure compliance with financial policies and support effective budget management;
• In conjunction with Environmental Health & Safety, assists in the execution of fire drills and health and safety inspections as scheduled by HRL; and
• Performs other related duties as assigned by the direct supervisor and/or HRL Leadership. 

Community Development and Programming

• Acts as the primary residential point of contact for campus programming at SMSC, interfacing with students ranging from high school through graduate;
• Coordinates and is responsible for check-in/out for SMSC groups/courses/programs utilizing the SMSC Residence Hall; and
• Engages with the SMSC faculty and Smithsonian staff for campus events and programs such as campfires, science seminars, lectures, camping trips, field trips, etc. 

Recruitment & Outreach and Other

• Staffs special events, college fairs, transfer events, class and campus visits, and orientation sessions;
• Provides Residence Hall tours as needed;
• Delivers oral presentations and workshops for high school, public agencies, and other higher education institutions; and
• Performs other related duties as assigned by the direct supervisor. 

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in related field or the equivalent combination of education and experience;
• Considerable leadership experience as an undergraduate and/or graduate student within a residential and/or university setting;
• Demonstrated experience with computer systems and applications;
• Demonstrated experience in scheduling, prioritizing, and planning multiple assignments while adjusting to changing priorities;
• Knowledge and skills to demonstrate problem solving abilities;
• Demonstrated effective communication skills;
• Demonstrated leadership skills;
• Demonstrated organizational skills;
• Ability to work independently and maintain effective working relationships with a broad spectrum of stakeholders;
• Position requires successful completion of a federal background check; and
• Valid driver's license: must currently possess an appropriate, active, valid motor vehicle operator’s license that meets all of GMU’s requirements for operating state vehicles and equipment under Mason’s Vehicle Use Policy 1411 https://universitypolicy.gmu.edu/policies/vehicle-use/. The Office of Risk Management reserves the right to review the driver’s licenses and Motor Vehicle Reports (MVRs) of all candidates selected with employment contingent upon a favorable review.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in related field;
• Previous experience in a live-in housing and residence life position;
• Experience with Star Rez, Access It, Handshake, Banner or similar programs;
• Demonstrated relationship-building skills;
• Ability to work in highly autonomous environment; and
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects.

Instructions to Applicants: 

For full consideration, applicants must apply for Community Director, Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation at https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information, and provide a Cover Letter/Letter of Intent with Resume for review.

Posting Open Date: June 12, 2025

For Full Consideration, Apply by:  June 29, 2025

Open Until Filled:  Yes