Professional Staff

Binghamton University attracts outstanding students and is consistently recognized by Fiske Guide to Colleges as one of the “premier public universities” in the northeast. Our mission:

We provide a small school residential experience within a premier public university. Our dedicated staff and faculty educators engage with students in building strong communities that empower personal development and academic success. Our six diverse residential areas offer Bearcats a home away from home that supports learning and growth.

We are looking for professional staff members who are excited to work with an engaged, intelligent, and diverse student population. If the idea of working with a large team of talented individuals in a department that is focused on your professional development excites you, Binghamton University may be the place for you!

Res Life is Pet-friendly!

We are happy to announce that graduate-level and full-time live-in staff are welcome to bring their pet. Approval and documentations apply. Check out our pet photos on Instagram: #petsofreslife

Resident Director (RD) positions

We're currently looking for RDs! Apply here.

  • Training
    The Resident Directors participate in a comprehensive training program at the start of each semester. Additionally, staff receive on-going training throughout the academic year focusing on the Professional Competency Areas for Student Affairs Educators as identified by ACPA and NASPA.
  • Departmental Committees
    Each Resident Director serves on a departmental committee. Returning staff members may have the opportunity to serve as a chair of their committee.
  • Additional Opportunities
    Once RDs have acclimated to the department and University, they may consider some additional opportunities such as instructing a 2-credit First-Year or Senior-Year Experience course, being trained to adjudicate higher level policy violations and/or serving as a student conduct hearing board chair.
  • Conferences
    Conferences attended by staff include: ACPA, ACUHO-I, CSPA, NACA, NACADA, NASPA, NCORE, NEACUHO (Annual, Diversity Retreat, Drive-In, LGBT & Friends Retreat, Mid-Levels Professional, New Professional, Operations, Professionals of Color & Allies Retreat and Women's Winter Renewal), NODA, RELI and SJTI.
  • Roles and Responsibilities

    One of the exciting things about working in Residential Life at Binghamton is that that no two days are ever the same. We want you to get the most out of your Binghamton experience, so your supervisor will work with you to make sure you find things that challenge and interest you. To give you an idea of how you can anticipate spending your time, the following are some of the time commitments inherent to the positions:

    Day-time commitments:

    • Meet one-on-one with student staff members
    • Adjudicate policy violations
    • Engage with residents through building walk-throughs, open office hours, etc
    • Participate on a departmental committee
    • Attend weekly professional staff meetings
    • Attend monthly departmental meetings and training sessions

    Evening commitments:

    • Facilitate weekly building staff meetings
    • Work with hall/area government members and attend meetings
    • Attend building/area programs
    • Participate in duty rotation
    • Develop and implement community initiatives

    Once you've acclimated to the department and university, some of the additional professional development opportunities that may be available include:

    • Supervision of a graduate-level Assistant Residential Coordinator (ARC)
    • Facilitating a First-Year or Senior-Year Experience course
    • Serving as a student conduct level 2 hearing officer
    • Chair a departmental committee
  • Benefits

    As an employer of New York State, Binghamton University offers our employees a competitive and comprehensive set of benefits including:

    • health insurance/prescription coverage
    • dental and vision insurances
    • employee assistance program (EAP)
    • retirement plans & tax deferred programs
    • vacation, holiday and sick leave accruals

    Domestic Partners

    Resident Directors may live with one adult and any dependents. Domestic Partners may cover same or opposite sex partners with whom they reside and have a committed, long term relationship of mutual support, and for whom they have assumed long term financial responsibility or have mutual financial responsibility.

    Housing

    Resident Directors receive a furnished 1-2 bedroom apartment with laundry facilities, cable, local and long-distance phone, and high-speed internet included. Though amenities vary by apartment, staff can expect one-two bedroom, one-bathroom, living room and kitchen. Furniture also varies, but minimally includes a queen-size bed, dresser, couch, and entertainment stand. The Department’s pet policy allows for one pet per apartment. Please note, Binghamton University will be a tobacco-free campus effective August 1, 2017.

    Leave

    First year Resident Directors accrue 1.25 vacation and sick days each month. Additionally, they are eligible for up to 12 holidays each year. Accrual rates increase with years of service.

    Meal Plan

    Resident Directors are provided a meal plan during the academic year.

    Parking

    Resident Directors are allocated one parking space. If they should have more than one vehicle, they would have to park the second one in general parking. Staff are responsible for the cost to obtain a campus parking permit at a discounted rate from UUP.

    Retirement Options

    Resident Directors can choose among New York State Teachers' Retirement System, Employees Retirement System, ING, MetLife, TIAA-CREF or VALIC.

    Tuition Assistance

    We ask that new Resident Directors do not take classes during their first semester so they can become acclimated to the University and their position. Our union, United University Professions, offers a space available program which covers tuition for one classroom-based course (i.e. not an independent study) during each semester taken at a SUNY operated campus. Partial assistance for an additional course can be secured through the Tuition Waiver program (based on funding).

    Union Membership

    All Resident Directors automatically gain membership in a professional union, United University Professionals.

  • Interview Process

    Individuals interested in our Resident Director positions should apply through Human Resources.

    Pre-screening may include a phone, skype or conference interview and reference checks. Candidates invited to campus will be provided an individualized schedule.

  • FAQs

    Are you interviewing for current vacancies?

    We will be accepting applications and interviewing for fall vacancies starting in the spring semester throughout the summer.

    What is the remuneration?

    This is a 10-month live-in position with a salary of $33,076 (prorated to start date) and an excellent benefits package including health insurance, vision and dental coverage, retirement plan, board during academic year, and a furnished apartment with free cable, local and long-distance phone, high-speed internet, and laundry facilities. The Department’s pet policy allows for one pet per apartment. Binghamton University offers Domestic Partner benefits. Please note, Binghamton University is a tobacco-free campus.

    Will you be interviewing at any conferences?

    We will be interviewing at The Placement Exchange (TPE).

    What if I don't go to a conference - will I still be considered?

    Qualified candidates who are not interviewed at conference will be contacted by the screening committee to schedule a phone or video conference interview.

    What is your domestic partnership policy?

    RDs may have their domestic partner and any dependents live with them in their apartment, as well as qualify for medical benefits.

    Do you have a pet policy?

    We allow for one pet per apartment.

    Are there opportunities for summer employment?

    If RDs are interested in summer positions they can apply for one of the 5 office or 2 conference positions with Residential Life. Other offices on campus (such as Orientation, Upward Bound, and the Education Opportunity Program) also offer summer employment opportunities.

    What is your interview process and timeline?

    After screening resumes, the committee coordinates an initial phone or conference interview with the candidate. After a successful first interview and reference checks, invitations for a campus interview are extended. The committee then reviews the candidate's file and makes a recommendation to the Director of Residential Life. Upon her positive review of the file, offers are extended to join the Binghamton team.

    Because Binghamton does not have a "term limit," (i.e. some schools institute a 2 year limit for their RDs) our process can be lengthy as we wait until staff have secured new positions before hiring their replacement. Campus interviews will begin in April and continue until all positions are filled. With 3-5 anticipated openings, we will be interviewing and hiring through July.

    What is the anticipated start date?

    The start date is August 1.

    What is your travel reimbursement policy?

    Travel reimbursements are processed if we offer a position and it is accepted, or if we do not offer a position.  If an offer is not accepted, or the candidate withdraws from our process, we do not reimburse for travel.

    If the RD candidate drives, takes the bus or flies into an airport other than Binghamton, we will reimburse up to $350 of travel expenses. If the candidate flies into Binghamton airport, we will reimburse up to $500 of travel expenses.

Community Director (CD) positions

  • Training
    New CDs will work with their supervisor and colleagues to learn the specific responsibilities and procedures required of the position.
  • Career and Skill Development
    Staff are encouraged to continue their growth and development of their professional skill set. With a primary focus on their residential community, CDs have oversight of an area office, direct supervision of support staff and live-in professionals, and advocate for the needs of their students. Once CDs have acclimated to the department and University, they may consider working on initiatives to enhance the programs and services of the department. Some areas that have been explored include transfer students, assessment, title IX initiatives, and gender-neutral housing.
  • Departmental Committees
    Staff may serve as mentors to departmental committees and may serve as Residential Life representatives on University committees.
  • Roles and Responsibilities

    One of the exciting things about working in Residential Life at Binghamton is that that no two days are ever the same. We want you to get the most out of your Binghamton experience, so your supervisor will work with you to make sure you find things that challenge and interest you. To give you an idea of how you can anticipate spending your time, the following are some of the time commitments inherent to the positions:

    Day-time commitments:

    • One-on-one meetings with professional staff members
    • Review, disseminate and oversee student conduct case load for residential area
    • Serve as a student conduct hearing board chair
    • Mentor departmental committee members
    • Oversee day-to-day operations of area office
    • Attend weekly management team meetings
    • Attend weekly meetings
    • Attend monthly departmental meetings
    • Plan and implement professional staff training
    • Participate in student staff training

    Evening commitments:

    • Work with area government leaders and attend meetings
    • Attend monthly in-service training for student staff

    • Attend area-wide programs

    • Participate in duty rotation

    Once you've acclimated to the department and university, some of the additional professional development opportunities that may be available include:

    • Instructing a First-Year or Senior-Year Experience course
    • Serving as the Residential Life representative on University committees
    • Propose and implement a departmental initiative or other project
  • Benefits

    As an employer of New York State, Binghamton University offers our employees a competitive and comprehensive set of benefits including:

    • health insurance/prescription coverage
    • dental and vision insurances
    • employee assistance program (EAP)
    • retirement plans & tax deferred programs
    • vacation, holiday and sick leave accruals

    Domestic Partners

    Domestic partners and dependents are covered by  Domestic Partners benefit package 

    Leave

    As a first-year staff member you will accrue 1.25 vacation and sick days each month. Additionally, they are eligible for up to 12 holidays each year. Accrual rates increase with years of service.

    Retirement Options

    Resident Directors can choose among New York State Teachers' Retirement System, Employees Retirement System, ING, MetLife, TIAA-CREF or VALIC.

    Tuition Assistance

    We ask that new staff members do not take classes during their first semester so they can become acclimated to the University and their position. Our union, United University Professions, offers a space available program which covers tuition for one classroom-based course (i.e. not an independent study) during each semester taken at a SUNY operated campus. Partial assistance for an additional course can be secured through the Tuition Waiver program (based on funding).

    Union Membership

    All Resident Directors automatically gain membership in a professional union, United University Professionals.

  • Interview Process

    Individuals interested in our Community Director positions should apply through Human Resources.

    Pre-screening may include a phone, skype or conference interview and reference checks. Candidates invited to campus will be provided an individualized schedule.

  • FAQs

    Are you interviewing for current vacancies?

    We will be accepting applications and interviewing for fall vacancies starting in the spring semester throughout the summer.

    What is the remuneration?

    This is a 12-month live-out position with a salary and an excellent benefits package including health insurance, vision and dental coverage, and a retirement plan. Binghamton University offers Domestic Partner benefits.

    Will you be interviewing at any conferences?

    We will be interviewing at The Placement Exchange (TPE).

    What if I don't go to a conference - will I still be considered?

    Qualified candidates who are not interviewed at conference will be contacted by the screening committee to schedule a phone or video conference interview.

    What is your interview process and timeline?

    After screening resumes, the committee coordinates an initial phone or conference interview with the candidate. After a successful first interview and reference checks, invitations for a campus interview are extended. The committee then reviews the candidate's file and makes a recommendation to the Director of Residential Life. Upon her positive review of the file, offers are extended to join the Binghamton team.

    What is the anticipated start date?

    The anticipated start date is this summer.

    What is your travel reimbursement policy?

    For applicants, travel reimbursements are processed if we offer a position and it is accepted, or if we do not offer a position. If an offer is not accepted, or the candidate withdraws from our process, we do not reimburse for travel.

    If the candidate drives, takes the bus or flies into an airport other than Binghamton, we will reimburse up to $500 of travel expenses. If the candidate flies into Binghamton airport, we will reimburse up to $650 of travel expenses.