Summer Pre-College Resident Director

Skidmore College • Saratoga Springs, NY

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Skidmore Summer Pre-College Program offers academically advanced high school students from across the U.S. the opportunity to enroll in undergraduate courses for credit, primarily as residential students. The Pre-College Resident Director (RD) serves as the principal residential leader for the five-week program and holds primary responsibility for student safety, wellbeing, conduct, and the overall residential experience. Because participants are predominantly minors, the RD maintains the highest level of oversight related to student supervision, Protection of Minors compliance, and crisis response. The RD lives on campus and leads a residential staff team that includes the Assistant Resident Director and Resident/Academic Assistants (RAs). Reporting to the Pre-College Program Director, the RD oversees residential operations, provides daily staff leadership and development, and ensures consistent implementation of College and program policies. The RD collaborates with the Program Director, Assistant RD, and campus partners (including Campus Safety and Facilities) to foster a safe, inclusive, and academically supportive living-learning environment. This is a rigorous and rewarding residential leadership role requiring nights, weekends, and daytime on-call coverage.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or higher.
• Minimum of two summers or years of Residence Life experience in comparable high school or college programs (three preferred), including work with academically motivated students in intensive residential or pre-college settings.
• Demonstrated leadership, supervision, organization, and budget management experience.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, decision-making, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work effectively with a diverse student population while maintaining confidentiality and discretion.
• Ability to manage variable schedules, on-call responsibilities, high-stress situations, and a fast-paced residential environment.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in education, student affairs, or a related field.
• Strong supervisory Residential Life and/or teaching experience working with high school students in an academic setting.

Responsibilities

• Live in the Pre-College residence hall for the full program duration (June 22–August 2).
• Lead residence hall operations and maintain a visible, accessible presence for students, staff, and families.
• Cultivate a community that supports academic success, personal growth, and responsible conduct.
• Advise students, respond to parent/guardian inquiries, and oversee co-curricular programming.
• Enforce College and program policies, including Protection of Minors protocols.
• Serve as on-call lead for emergencies and urgent program needs.
• Respond to medical situations, emergencies, and high-level conduct matters; coordinate off-site care with Campus Safety as needed.
• Document incidents, manage student permissions, and ensure timely follow-up on conduct and safety concerns.
• Participate in pre-program onboarding and co-facilitate staff training (June 22–26).
• Supervise the Assistant RD and RAs, including meetings, performance feedback, and mentoring oversight.
• Co-coordinate Arrival Day (June 29) and Departure Day (August 1).
• Maintain program records and reporting (incident reports, activity logs, evaluations).
• Track residential expenditures within budget limits.
• Communicate regularly with the Program Director regarding significant student, staff, or operational matters.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• $7,800 salary plus single-occupancy residence hall housing and a full dining hall meal plan for the duration of the contract (estimated value: $3,162).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director