Lead Residential Counselor For Service - Gatton Academy (internal Search)

Lead Residential Counselor

The Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky at WKU seeks qualified candidates for the position of Lead Residential Counselor for Service. The Gatton Academy is a public residential STEM school, established and funded by the Kentucky legislature, on the campus of Western Kentucky University. Students complete their last two years of high school by beginning college and earn at least 60 hours of college credit. This is a 10-month position that reports to the Assistant Director of Residential Life. Gatton Academy staff and administrators are officially employees of Western Kentucky University. WKU is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, which is approximately 70 miles north of Nashville, Tennessee, and 110 miles south of Louisville, Kentucky.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Coordinates Gatton Academy community service opportunities and tracking student service hours.
• Creates and manages a safe, healthy, and nurturing living/learning environment within the residence hall.
• Develops a supportive community consistent with the Gatton Academy's creed of Integrity, Compassion, Respect, Equality, and Diversity through creative educational, cultural, social, and recreational programming.
• Advises, counsels, and seeks to develop students through individual interactions and by creating and sustaining a supportive living environment.
• Provides appropriate support and referrals for students during emotional and physical crises.
• Provides academic support services in coordination with other Gatton staff and serves on the Academic Success Team.
• Provides leadership and supervision on Gatton study abroad programs.
• Monitors and documents student progress in academics and personal growth.
• Serves as an advisor and liaison for clubs and activities.
• Provides on-call support to students on a rotation basis.

Essential Functions

• Collaborate with all Gatton Residential Counselors and staff to create and sustain a community that fosters student learning, independence, and academic success.
• Establish rapport and develop mentoring relationships with students.
• Live on student wing and serve as a role model/mentor in all areas of personal, relational, and academic life.
• Play an integral role acclimating students to Gatton in student orientation week.
• Transport students in University owned or rented vehicles.
• Implement Gatton initiatives, particularly those focused on student retention.
• Coordinate Gatton student community service opportunities.
• Establish partnerships with non-profit organizations to provide students with short term and year-long service opportunities throughout Bowling Green and Warren County.
• Administer a process for Gatton students to track their community service hours such that their hours are verifiable and progress toward the service graduation requirement is easy to determine.
• Provide leadership for the Residential Counselor team and serve as designated supervisor when the Assistant Director of Residential Life is off-duty.
• Report and keep record of maintenance and security issues within the wing.
• Communicate regularly with parents in support of students and to foster parental involvement in the academy.
• Provide day-to-day intervention and crisis response.
• Collaborate with housekeeping and facilities staff to maintain a living environment conducive to learning.
• Staff and support the front desk as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Essential Knowledge and Skills

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to build effective mentoring relationships with students in keeping with Gatton's values of Integrity, Compassion, and Respect.
• Effective leadership, mentorship, and organizational skills.
• Ability to make sound, ethical decisions in times of crises.
• Willingness to serve as a role model for students in work ethic, attitude, and respect for others.

Job Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree.
• Experience working in residential life at the secondary or post-secondary level as hall director, residential assistant, desk clerk, or similar position.
• Must be able to reside on a single-gender residential wing within Gatton's residence hall.
• Must be at least 21 years of age and hold a valid driver's license.
• Must be willing to submit to a state and national criminal history background check.

Compensation and Benefits

10-month contract paid over a 12-month period. Partially furnished room with cable, internet service, utilities, local phone service (fair market value of approximately $10,000 per year). Room use is restricted to the employee. Professional development opportunities. Salary of $33,972 annually, with benefits package including options for medical insurance, dental insurance, life insurance, retirement plan, partial University tuition waiver, University Bookstore discount, and reduced-price membership to the University's health and fitness facility.