Graduate Assistant - Residence Life, Staff Selection & Training

James Madison University•Harrisonburg, VA

About The Position

Situated in the heart of Virginia’s beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the city of Harrisonburg is a vibrant community with a population of approximately 52,000. Harrisonburg is conveniently located approximately 120 miles from Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA. JMU is a selective, public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and supportive environment for students, faculty and staff. The student body includes approximately 21,000 undergraduate and 1,800 graduate students, with over 1,000 full-time instructional faculty. JMU offers thriving programs in the liberal arts, science and technology, and professional disciplines at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels. JMU has achieved national recognition for the high quality of its academic programs, focus on maintaining strong student/faculty interaction, and innovative faculty research. Mission Statement: The Office of Residence Life is committed to designing and maintaining a caring environment that encourages academic success, respect, personal growth and responsibility to one's community. Optional Opportunity: The successful candidate will have the option to work during the summer leading up to the fall 2026 semester.

Requirements

Must be admitted to and enrolled in a JMU graduate program for the 2026-2027 academic year
Demonstration of strong interpersonal, leadership, and administrative skills
Demonstration of strong communication skills
Demonstration of high ethical standards and strong work ethic
Patience, customer service skills, and organization skills
Constructive and kind while providing feedback to applicants

Nice To Haves

Creativity encouraged
Experience with programming/event management is encouraged
Experience with project management is encouraged

Responsibilities

Attend and participate in all meetings arranged by the Assistant Director of Staff Selection and Training and/or Residence Life.
Learn and adhere to Title II digital accessibility requirements in all communications and formats
Design and execute recruitment events in the fall semester including the RA Recruitment Fair
Connect with campus partners to provide additional recruitment-based events and opportunities (e.g. mock interview sessions with the Career Center, attending the Part-Time Student Employment Fair hosted by Student Employment, and participating in the Off Campus Service’s Housing Fair)
Work with the Social Media and Marketing Manager to creatively advertise all student staff positions within Residence Life as well as to update the ResLife Student Employment Hub website as needed
Manages the ResLife Student Jobs email to ensure that all questions are responded to in a timely manner
Plans the recruitment and selection timeline for the following academic year in accordance with the academic calendar
Co-leads the Resident Adviser and Undergraduate Hall Director selection process with the Assistant Director of Staff Selection and Training
Edits the Resident Adviser and Undergraduate Hall Director interview questions to better connect with each position as well as allow candidates the best opportunity to demonstrate their skills while interviewing
Maintains and updates selection and employment data within StarRez and on the ResLife Employment Portal in StarRez
Ensures that internal and campus partners are kept up to date on all hiring and employment information including staff resignations and terminations
Provides constructive feedback to student staff applicants who were not hired following selection notifications being distributed
Co-organizes the Community Sign-Up process with the Assistant Director of Staff Selection and Training in the spring semester
Provides support with Residence Life pre-service training and additional training throughout the year
Assists in planning and co-instructing the Psychology 100 class for new Resident Advisers
Trains Residence Life staff members on appropriate interview etiquette and how to utilize StarRez to input interview information
Assists the Assistant Director of Staff Selection and Training in planning Staff Kick-Off in the spring semester for the upcoming academic year
Lead the student staff recruitment and selection process
Communicate regularly with internal and campus partners throughout the year
Support the mission and activities of Learning Initiatives and Residence Life
Perform designated tasks in a timely, organized, and professional manner
Participate in Hall Director and Resident Adviser pre-service training during late July/August
Adaptable to change during events and while managing hiring
Maintain a positive attitude