Community Director Residence Education

MSU Careers Details•East Lansing, MI

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Community Director provides leadership, management, supervision, and development for a residence hall or apartment community of approximately 700–1,100 students. The position provides high-level customer service and fosters a community that supports academic excellence, personal growth, inclusion, and the University’s Residential Learning Experience. It includes administrative, operational, and conference-related responsibilities and is a 12-month, live-in position requiring residence in an assigned on-campus apartment throughout employment. The Community Director supervises professional and student staff, manages community operations and budgets, supports staff development, and oversees educational, social, recreational, and cultural programming. The role enforces University and departmental policies, addresses roommate and suitemate conflicts, responds to crises, and participates in weekday, weekend, holiday, and low-occupancy on-call coverage. The position works with students, families, University departments, and campus partners to support a safe, inclusive, and academically supportive residential environment. This position reports directly to an Assistant Director of Residence Education. It provides supervision to Community Support Specialists, Residence Hall Directors, and Assistant Community Directors, and is responsible for health and safety matters including emergency response, staff training, crisis intervention, and referrals. The position is designated critical status and may be expected to report during University closures or emergencies. The posting indicates four vacancies. Community Directors may be eligible for renewals of up to five years; the posting describes an off-date position with an end date of June 30, 2028, and annual reappointment notice by May 15.

Requirements

Knowledge equivalent to one or two years of post-bachelor’s study, such as a master’s degree in a human-services-related field, student personnel, counseling, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
One to three years of full-time related, progressively responsible or expansive professional experience in residence hall or apartment community work, residence life, student affairs, housing operations, or a related student-services field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Knowledge of basic personal computer terminology and operations, and ability to use email and the Internet, required before completion of the probationary period.
Must reside in the assigned on-campus apartment throughout employment.
Must make reasonable attempts to report to work during University closures or suspensions of operations; employees with approved remote-work agreements may be called on-site.
Professional team members are qualified based on graduate education and/or an appropriate combination of education and experience according to industry standards.

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated leadership and communication skills.
Sensitivity to individual differences.
Understanding of how to promote student learning and academic success.
Experience working with students.
Knowledge gained through academic preparation, workshops, active research, self-study, work experience, professional organizations, or in-service training.

Responsibilities

Supervise, plan, schedule, and coordinate the activities of a residence hall or apartment community.
Manage business and administrative operations for a residential community of approximately 700–1,100 students.
Assist with recruiting, selecting, hiring, training, supervising, performance-managing, and evaluating student and professional staff.
Assist with development of the Residential Learning Experience and manage it for the designated community.
Enforce University and departmental policies and procedures and serve as a hearing officer for basic-level University disciplinary violations.
Develop responses to and manage room and suitemate conflicts and mediations, including follow-up with students and families.
Manage programming and staff-development budgets.
Coordinate with Operations, Facilities, Housing Services, Culinary, and other campus partners.
Oversee recreational, social, educational, and cultural programming through the Residential Learning Experience.
Participate in assessment practices for the assigned area and department.
Provide weekday, weekend, holiday, and low-occupancy on-call duty coverage and respond to crises involving on-campus residents.
Assist with opening, closing, and transition of residence halls and apartments.
Maintain visibility and contact with individual students and student groups.
Support Graduate Assistants and/or Residence Hall Directors in advising and coaching residence-hall leadership groups.
Manage summer housing and assist University Conference Services, including crisis management and response.
Facilitate professional development plans for direct reports.
Refer students to relevant University services and resources.
Respond to emergency situations, provide crisis intervention and referrals, and help maintain a safe and emotionally healthy living environment.
Perform other duties as assigned.