What are the responsibilities and job description for the Residence Hall Director position at Michigan State University?
Position Summary
This posting is for an anticipated vacancy with expected start dates in 2026.
Basic Function
Provides leadership, management, supervision, and development for a residence hall community under the direction of the Community Director. Responsible for student staff supervision and training, student organization advising, individual student development, coordinating community development and residential curriculum efforts, and administrative and departmental responsibilities. This is a 12-month live-in position.
Characteristic Duties And Responsibilities
Interacts With
First level supervision over undergraduate, graduate, and law student team members serving in a Resident Assistant role.
Responsibility For The Health/Safety Of Others
This position has responsibility for the health and/or safety of others. Responsibilities include responding to emergency situations, supervising and training the staff for emergency situations, providing crisis intervention and referral for students with emotional and/or mental concerns, and maintaining a safe and emotionally healthy living environment.
Impact on Programs/Services/Operations
Programs developed and implemented affect the quality of students' educational experience. Quality of the environment developed affects students' safety, security, and academic success. Properly trained personnel intervene in crisis situations and provide effective programs and positive environments which could otherwise negatively impact student satisfaction, University and/or residence hall retention, and University liability. These, in turn, impact the financial stability of the residence hall system and the University.
Work Environment
Mildly disagreeable working conditions involving working in an environment with limited privacy and noise. Staff must frequently respond to situations at any time of the day and night. The job requires moderate physical effort when responding to emergencies.
This posting will fill 5 vacancies.
Additional Requirements
All positions in RHS are designated as critical status. In the event of a university closure, modification, or suspension of operations due to snow or other emergency condition, persons in this position are expected to make all reasonable attempts to report to work as scheduled for the duration of the closure/suspension. If a person has an approved remote work agreement to work a portion of their normally scheduled work hours remotely, they may be called upon to work on-site to serve the MSU community.
Minimum Requirements
Knowledge equivalent to that which normally would be acquired by completing a four-year college degree program in a human services field, such as student personnel, counseling, or a related field; one to three years of experience in residence life, student affairs, housing operations, or a related student services field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.
Required Application Materials
Resume/Cover letter
Work Hours
STANDARD 8-5
Description of End Date
This is an off dated position with an end date of 6/30/2027. Notice for re-appointment is provided by May 15th of each calendar year.
Bidding eligibility ends January 20, 2026 at 11:55 P.M.
This posting is for an anticipated vacancy with expected start dates in 2026.
Basic Function
Provides leadership, management, supervision, and development for a residence hall community under the direction of the Community Director. Responsible for student staff supervision and training, student organization advising, individual student development, coordinating community development and residential curriculum efforts, and administrative and departmental responsibilities. This is a 12-month live-in position.
Characteristic Duties And Responsibilities
- Supervises, plans, schedules, and coordinates the activities of a residence hall.
- Manages residence hall or apartment business and administrative operations for a community of approximately 400-600 students.
- Assists with the recruitment, selection, hiring, training, supervision, and evaluation of student and graduate student staff.
- Enforces University and Departmental policies and procedures and serves as a hearing officer for basic level university disciplinary violations
- Serves as the primary in-hall administrator responsible for developing a response to and managing room/suitemate conflicts and mediations, including basic student and parent follow-up.
- Monitors budgets for programming
- Assumes weekday, weekend, and holiday/vacation duty coverage through serving in the on-call duty rotation.
- Provides appropriate crisis response for on-campus residents.
- Assists in the coordination of the opening and closing of the residence halls/apartments.
- Assists University Conference Services with summer programs
- Disciplines student team members with guidance from RHS Human Resources.
Interacts With
- Community Director- to receive direction, discuss and plan programs, and resolve problems
- Students - to provide crisis intervention and referral, provide information and assistance, mediate conflicts, and to exchange information.
- Resident Assistants - to provide direction, discuss and plan programs, and resolve problems
- Residential and Hospitality Services Management and Staff – to discuss events and daily operation, staffing, project completion and customer questions.
- Department of Police and Public Safety - to address concerns about students and safety issues.
- Parents of Students - to listen to their concerns and provide information and assistance with solving problems.
- Other Residence Hall Directors and Graduate Assistant Directors- to discuss and plan programs, consult on problems, and exchange information.
- Other Campus Partners- to discuss and plan programs, serve on committees, consult on issues, and exchange information
First level supervision over undergraduate, graduate, and law student team members serving in a Resident Assistant role.
Responsibility For The Health/Safety Of Others
This position has responsibility for the health and/or safety of others. Responsibilities include responding to emergency situations, supervising and training the staff for emergency situations, providing crisis intervention and referral for students with emotional and/or mental concerns, and maintaining a safe and emotionally healthy living environment.
Impact on Programs/Services/Operations
Programs developed and implemented affect the quality of students' educational experience. Quality of the environment developed affects students' safety, security, and academic success. Properly trained personnel intervene in crisis situations and provide effective programs and positive environments which could otherwise negatively impact student satisfaction, University and/or residence hall retention, and University liability. These, in turn, impact the financial stability of the residence hall system and the University.
Work Environment
Mildly disagreeable working conditions involving working in an environment with limited privacy and noise. Staff must frequently respond to situations at any time of the day and night. The job requires moderate physical effort when responding to emergencies.
This posting will fill 5 vacancies.
Additional Requirements
- Valid vehicle operator's license where needed to perform duties of the position.
- Other skills and/or physical abilities required to perform duties of the position.
- This position requires or will require prior to the completion of the probationary period: knowledge of basic personal computer terminology and operations, and the ability to use e-mail and the Internet.
- This is a 12-month live-in position – which means Residence Hall Directors must reside in their assigned on-campus apartment throughout their employment.
All positions in RHS are designated as critical status. In the event of a university closure, modification, or suspension of operations due to snow or other emergency condition, persons in this position are expected to make all reasonable attempts to report to work as scheduled for the duration of the closure/suspension. If a person has an approved remote work agreement to work a portion of their normally scheduled work hours remotely, they may be called upon to work on-site to serve the MSU community.
Minimum Requirements
Knowledge equivalent to that which normally would be acquired by completing a four-year college degree program in a human services field, such as student personnel, counseling, or a related field; one to three years of experience in residence life, student affairs, housing operations, or a related student services field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.
Required Application Materials
Resume/Cover letter
Work Hours
STANDARD 8-5
Description of End Date
This is an off dated position with an end date of 6/30/2027. Notice for re-appointment is provided by May 15th of each calendar year.
Bidding eligibility ends January 20, 2026 at 11:55 P.M.