Careers in residential life

Welcome!

Thank you for your interest in working in Housing & Residential Life at Northeastern University. We hope you find the information below helpful when determining if Northeastern is the right fit for you.

The Department of Residential Life values Community Development, Academic Engagement, Inclusion, Citizenship, and Experiential Learning.

Who We Are

With a staff of over 30 full and part-time professional staff members and 241 resident assistants, the Department of Residential Life strives to create a community for all students by providing programs and services that promote holistic student development and ensure a positive residential experience.

Living in the Boston Area

Northeastern University is conveniently located in beautiful downtown Boston and borders some of the most diverse communities in the city, including Roxbury, Back Bay, and the Fenway. Learn more about living in Boston here. 

Residential Life Position

Residence Director

Welcome to the online home of the Residence Director position at Northeastern University. In the pages ahead, interested applicants will find a wealth of information regarding the position, our institutional mission and culture, life in Boston and many of the frequently asked questions posed by candidates in the past.

We invite you to explore everything there is to see and look forward to working with you as future candidates and colleagues.

Position Summary

The Residence Director is a 12-month, non-exempt, live-in professional staff position within the Department of Residential Life. The Residence Director’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• The creation of a residential community conducive to the social and intellectual growth of its 250 – 700 resident students.
• The direct supervision and development of a paraprofessional staff between 8-16 Resident Assistants.
• The opportunity to support multiple Living Learning Communities (LLCs).
• The housing and occupancy administration of one or more residential communities.
• Participation in an on-call duty rotation for a residential campus of more than 10,000 students.
• Service on one departmental committee including:
  • RA Selection, Training, and Development
  • Professional Staff Selection, Training, and Development
  • Community Engagement
  • nuExchange (diversity and social justice) 
• A summer assignment with External Events & Conference Housing, New Student Orientation, or summer-session housing.

A complete position description is available via the HR website. Benefits of the position can be found here. 

Qualifications of a Successful Candidate

Education and graduate/professional experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree required and Master’s Degree preferred in College Student Development, Higher Education Administration, or related field. Experience as a live-in professional or graduate assistant in a residence hall setting is also preferred.
• Experience mediating and resolving conflict among students and peers.
• Working knowledge of theories related to community and/or student development.
• Commitment to multicultural competency and experience working with students from diverse backgrounds.
• Demonstrate strong administrative, supervisory, and communication skills.
• Display a positive work ethic and ability to work autonomously within a fast-paced urban institution.
• Successful completion of a criminal background check (prior to position offer).