Hall Directors

Hall Directors share a critical leadership role in the Office of Residence Life. This residential full-time staff position cares for the well-being and development of our students in one of our 10 unique residence halls. The Hall Director has a special responsibility to foster community within each residence hall, inspired and informed by the University of Portland's exceptional tradition of residentiality.

If you're looking to get in touch with a specific hall director, please visit our Contact Us page.

What Does a Hall Director Do?

Each Hall Director lives and works in a specific residence hall community. Every day can look different as we give the freedom to our staff to listen and respond to the needs of their own community. There are four major areas in which hall directors strive to support their residence hall communities through their day-to-day work.

Community Development

Hall Directors cultivate strong communities in their hall, building rapport with residents through daily interactions and providing a consistent presence as a role model and resource. Using a Holy Cross approach to residentiality means individual hall identity is promoted and celebrated, and we encourage our staff to come alongside students as they create and maintain strong hall traditions and a sense of belonging for all residents. Hall Directors implement educational programming and develop student leaders who support connections between the hall and other university partners. 

Student Development

Hall Directors assist students with many facets of their lives including academics, social life, personal life, family, spirituality and faith, transition and adjustment, and more. They gain familiarity with many campus resources, helping connect students to experts in other offices that continue the support. Hall Directors help mediate student conflicts and resolve issues between students.  They are educators who teach students how to thrive within our community standards, upholding regulations and serving as a conduct officer for violations of these policies. Our staff get training to assist our Care Team efforts that support students in crisis. 

Staff Development

Hall directors serve as the primary supervisor for their designated Assistant Hall Director and a team of Resident Assistants in their assigned residence hall. They coordinate the staff selection process and design hall-specific orientation and training for their staff.

Hall Operations & Administration

Hall Directors maintain regular duty hours in their assigned residence hall in rotation with the Assistant Hall Director. They respond to problems and concerns brought forward by students and manage crises through sound judgment, excellent training, and appropriate referrals. They serve as a liaison with Physical Plant for the needs of the hall and with Campus Safety for security concerns. Hall Directors also complete important administrative reports and oversee the stewardship of the hall's finances.

Hall Director Recruitment & Hiring

The 2024-2025 Hall Director Selection Process will begin in March 2024!

For the upcoming year, the Office of Residence Life is looking for energetic and passionate professionals who want to work with students and expand their professional development within Higher Education/Student Affairs. This position is live-in and would start on Monday, July 22, 2024. Scroll down for more information about working as a Hall Director and how to apply. 

University of Portland Benefits for Full-Time Employees 

UP offers a rich benefits package for full-time employees including a retirement contribution, low-cost health and dental insurance, tuition remission, and home-buying assistance. See the Human Resources Benefits page for full details. 

Additional Perks

Some of these are specific to the Hall Director role and the Office of Residence Life:

• 10-month position with summers off
• 12-month, fully-furnished, 1-bedroom apartment with separate office
• A full meal plan to use in our on-campus award-winning eateries
• A monthly phone stipend
• The opportunity to earn a MA or EdD in Higher Education & Student Affairs from UP
• Professional training in emerging trends within Higher Education
• An opportunity to be a part of a fun and supportive team
• Living on a beautiful campus located in popular Portland, Oregon
• A flexible schedule that gives you time to explore the Pacific Northwest

Supervision Opportunities 

• Supervision of a professional Assistant Hall Director
• Building and hiring a team of paraprofessional Resident Assistants
• Overseeing student-leadership positions like Community Assistants, Hall Council Members, and Hall Ambassadors

Professional Development & Growth Opportunities 

In addition to receiving an annual professional development budget from the Office of Residence Life, Hall Directors can:

• participate, coach, and teach through the University's Leadership Certificate Program
• teach a 1-credit course for RAs on residential leadership 
• serve on University-wide committees (HDs currently or have recently served on committees for orientation/FYE, sophomore experience, DEI, food insecurity, Title IX, and Green Dot Bystander Intervention)
• lead RA recruitment, selection, training, formation, and development 
• work alongside and gain experience from other University offices/services for student care and behavioral intervention, student activities, campus ministry, service and justice, health, counseling, career development, disability support services, FGEN support, dining, facilities, DEI, admissions, international student services, athletics, recreation, and more

Our Hall Directors also benefit from opportunities for growth within the University. Former Hall Directors are currently serving or have served in other roles at UP including: 

• Program Counselor (academic advisor)
• Career Advisor
• Dean of Admissions
• Director of the Shepard Academic Resource Center
• Wellness Education & Prevention Program Coordinator
• Associate Director for Community Standards
• Associate Director for Housing
• Associate Director for Student Support
• Housing Coordinator
• Director of Campus Ministry
• Assistant Director for First Year Experience
• Associate Director of Student Activities
• Program Coordinator in Student Activities

Salary

• In addition to year-round housing and an academic year meal-plan our Hall Directors get an additional salary:
  • Year 1: $33,120
  • Year 2: $35,438
  • Year 3: $37,210
• Salary can be paid out over 12 months so that you can continue to earn while enjoying a summer of rest

Staff Apartment Occupancy

Currently, the University does not permit staff to live on-campus with spouses/partners, children, or pets. We welcome and support staff with individualized accommodations through partnership with our Human Resources department.

Get More Information

Potential applicants can email questions anytime Residence Life at reslife@up.edu or give us a call at 503.943.7205. We would love to connect with you and even connect you with a current Assistant Hall Director to hear about their experience!

To Apply

When hiring, our Hall Director position will be made available on our University Job Board. Click 'Staff' and the select 'Residence Life' in the department selection box. You will be asked so submit a cover letter, resume, references, and a separate sheet with answers to the following supplemental question:

• If you were selected for this position, how would you use your skills and experience to contribute to supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion in this position at the University of Portland?