Temporary Residence Director, PSSP

   

Cornell University hosts several summer residential programs every year for a variety of unaffiliated and affiliated students, including Cornell’s Pre-Collegiate Summer Scholars Program (PSSP); an invitation-only 7-week program designed to help admitted Cornell students prepare for their first year at Cornell. For more information on the program, please visit https://lsc.cornell.edu/pre-collegiate-summer-scholars-program/. Housing and Residential Life works in collaboration with the leadership of the PSSP program to provide a positive, safe, and educational residential experience.

The temporary full-time, live-in Resident Director (RD) position will manage multiple aspects of the PSSP residential portions of the program as well as supervise the PSSP Resident Advisors. The RD’s areas of responsibility include direct student support, crisis and conduct management, housing operations, and most aspects of a residential experience in an accelerated timeframe to assure a safe, enjoyable experience for the students.

The RD position requires that staff display positive role modeling behavior, good judgement, and an ability to appropriately apply policy to ensure student safety. A successful RD will possess strong customer services skills and a solid work ethic to handle confidential information, effectively problem solve, make informed decisions, enforce policies and mediate potential conflict when dealing with staff, student and families. This supervisory position will have rotating responsibilities with other RDs, including office hours and afterhours on-call responsibilities, to successfully meet the needs of the students and adequately respond to afterhours urgent needs, including physical and mental health crises. Training and on-call support will be provided by full-time Housing and Residential Life (HRL) staff to ensure consistent support for those in the RD role.

During the summer, the Resident Director will gain practical experience in student affairs, develop leadership abilities, and hone supervision skills, in addition to many other transferable skills that prepare them to excel in any future position in and out of higher education.

Requires Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree (May 2025 graduates may apply).
• One year or more of experience working in residence life or otherwise directly supporting students in a college, university, or high school setting.
• Ability to work a non-standard schedule, including nights, weekends, and holidays (Juneteenth and Fourth of July) to support the program as part of a substantial on-call rotation.
• Ability to live and work on-campus during the entirety of the program.  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Current enrollment or master's degree in student affairs, higher education administration, or related program.
• Prior experience working with college populations and/or experience working with academically motivated students, preferably in an intensive residential setting. 
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills. 
• Evidence of cultural competence and inclusiveness; sensitivity to and understanding of diverse perspectives students and staff to the University setting.
• Knowledge of campus agencies and services to refer students. 

Time Commitment:

The position will be from June 3, 2025, through August 7, 2025.  Selected candidates will be expected to be on campus and complete orientation starting on Tuesday, June 3rd.  Compensation includes an $8,000 stipend to be paid out equally over the program, a summer meal plan and single-room housing within the program’s assigned residence hall. Housing will be provided June 2, 2025- August 8, 2025.

Contact Information:

Questions may be directed to Brandee Nicholson, Associate Director for Residential Education, Housing and Residential Life at bfn22@cornell.edu.

   

University Job Title:

Temporary Student Services Specialist

Job Family:

Temporary Student Services

Level:

No Grade - Annual

Pay Rate Type:

Salary

Pay Range:

Refer to Posting Language

Remote Option Availability:

Onsite

Company:

Contact Name:

Bri Muscente

Job Titles and Pay Ranges:

Non-Union Positions

Noted pay ranges reflect the potential pay opportunity for each job profile. The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined considering the following criteria:

• Prior relevant work