Residence Life Jobs

Interested candidates must attend an information session. Information sessions for the 2025-2026 hiring cycle can be found in Engage.

CA Job Summary:

*This role is available on the Montclair Campus only*

Reporting directly to the Community Director (CD), the Community Assistant (CA) is responsible for the after-hours coverage and response to the needs of students who reside in the residence halls. General responsibilities include maintenance of a safe and secure environment for resident students, response to student and facility needs after hours, development of the community, and completion of associated administrative responsibilities.

This is a live-in position and CAs are required to reside in their assigned room. This position requires overnight duty responsibilities and will work 16-20 hours per week when classes are in session. This position is required to work during breaks and may work up to 30 hours per week during the breaks. Compensation is a single room waiver and hourly pay ($16.00/hour).

CAs are expected to be “On Duty” (as scheduled) and available in their residence hall (or designated area) between the time duty begins and ends.
CAs are required to stay in their assigned space overnight while on duty.
Duty on weekdays begins at 6:00 PM and ends at 6:00 AM the following morning. Weekend duty is 24-hour coverage.

CP Job Summary:

*This role is available on the Montclair Campus only*

Reporting directly to either the Assistant Director (or their designee), the Community Programmer (CP) is responsible for community programming to create social interaction and educational development of the students who reside in the residence halls. General responsibilities include the development of a student community, implementation of educational and social programming, and completion of associated administrative responsibilities.

CPs can expect to work 10-14 hours per week. Hours will consist of planning programs for the community, hosting planned events, and supporting community development efforts in the residence halls. CPs can anticipate 8-10 office hours per week and 6-8 hours per week implementing and hosting programs and events. Pay is $15.13/hour paid bi-weekly.

DA Job Summary:

*This role is available on the Montclair Campus only*

Reporting directly to an Assistant Community Director, the Desk Assistant (DA) is responsible for assisting in creating an enthusiastic, inclusive, safe, and welcoming environment for all residents and guests of the assigned community. The DA is responsible for ensuring a secure community, by allowing only residents and properly registered guests building access. The DA is expected to act as a representative of the department and to utilize proper service etiquette when addressing the needs of all residents, staff members, and guests within the Montclair State University campus community. Desk assistants will work between 16 and 20 hours per week when classes are in session, this includes overnight and weekend responsibilities. This position is required to work during breaks and may work up to 30 hours per week during the breaks. Pay is $15.13/hour paid bi-weekly.

FA Job Summary:

*This role is available on the Bloomfield and Montclair Campuses*

Reporting directly to the Assistant Director for Facilities Management, the Facilities Assistant (FA) is responsible for the day-to-day operations support in the residence halls. General responsibilities include maintenance of a safe and secure environment for resident students, facilities follow-up, room inspections, completion of health and safety and fire safety inspections, key inventory, and completion of associated administrative responsibilities.

Facilities Assistants are expected to complete between 10 and 20 hours of work weekly during University business hours. Pay is $15.13/hour paid bi-weekly.

OA Job Summary:

*This role is available on the Bloomfield and Montclair Campuses*

Reporting directly to the Community Director (CD) and/or Assistant Community Director (ACD) the Office Assistant (OA) is responsible for assisting in administrative responsibilities for an assigned community. Office Assistants are responsible for completing assigned administrative tasks including but not limited to processing/delivering mail, updating information in the community, and filing. The OA is expected to act as a representative of the department and to utilize proper service etiquette when addressing the needs of all residents, staff members, and guests within the Montclair State University campus community.

OAs are expected to complete between 16 and 20 hours of work weekly during University business hours. Pay is $15.13/hour paid bi-weekly.

RA Job Summary:

*This role is available on the Bloomfield Campus only*

Reporting directly to the Community Director (CD) or Residence Life Coordinator (RLC), the Resident Assistant (RA) is responsible for the day-to-day social interaction and educational development in the residence halls of the resident students. General responsibilities include the maintenance of a safe and secure environment for resident students, the development of a student community, the implementation of educational and social programming, and the completion of associated administrative responsibilities.

This is a live-in position, and RAs must reside in their designated residential communities/housing assignments. This position requires overnight duty responsibilities and will work approximately 20 hours per week when classes are in session. This position is required to work during breaks. Compensation is a housing waiver and $1,500 stipend per semester distributed in multiple payments.

*Note: This is a summary of general requirements. An official job description will be provided to finalists.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

Reporting directly to a Community Director, the Assistant Community Director (ACD) is a member of the Residence Life team who will assist in the administration and supervision of a residence facility and staff. The primary functions are to assist students in the areas of educational and social developmental, personal growth in a community environment, crisis management, mediation, and on-call duty response. The ACD position can differ based on the needs of the community. Compensation includes an annual stipend, tuition remission per academic year (fall: 9 credits, spring: 9 credits, summer: 6 credits) for full-time study in a Montclair State University graduate program, a furnished on-campus apartment, limited meal allowance and a waived parking fee within proximity to your residence hall.

Supervision, Training and Selection

• Work with the Community Director to provide supervision and support to the Resident Assistants and Resident Assistant Coordinator (where applicable).
• Assist the Community Director with the supervision of the Service Assistants and Service Assistant Coordinator (where applicable).
• Meet regularly with 5-20 staff members individually and as a group on a weekly basis to set goals, evaluate performance and provide/receive feedback.
• Contribute to and encourage the development of positive working relationships between all staff.
• Assist with selection, training, and in-service activities for all paraprofessional staff.
• Become well acquainted with, provide training on, and enforce the rules, policies, regulations, and the use of procedures outlined in the department manual as well as the Resident Student Community Living Guide, the Code of Conduct, and the Dining Services Agreement.
• Respond to behavioral problems and emergencies quickly, calmly, and consistently.
• Record and communicate incidents in an accurate and timely manner.
• Implement and design on-going staff development opportunities for student staff in conjunction with the Community Director and Assistant Director.

Residential Curriculum and Community Building

• Support the Community Director in their curricular initiatives and assist with associated monthly programming and budget report during the academic year.
• Assist Community Director with tracking RA completion of curricular and programmatic responsibilities.
• Assist with edits and revisions of educational plans and lesson plans for the residential curriculum.
• Be present and engage with residents and the community to ensure residents know your role and can approach you with concerns and needs.
• Serve as a resource to the staff and support individuals and groups of students as necessary and make appropriate referrals.
• Promote an atmosphere conducive to academic and social development.
• Support and lead the entire staff in maintaining a comfortable atmosphere in which the rights of all individuals are protected. This includes the fostering of respect for individuals’ privacy, security, personal property, and the collective property of the hall.
• Actively encourage a lively, enthusiastic, and academically centered community.
• Co-advise the Hall Council, attending weekly e-board and general meetings as well as events.
• Attend 1 Residence Hall Association meeting per semester.
• Regularly have a presence at community building events.

Administration

• Assist in administrative procedures for the office such as room selection, opening/closing of the residence halls, occupancy reports, assessment initiatives, facilities tours of buildings, etc.
• Maintain 20 structured office hours per week to fulfill responsibilities of ACD role. Note: Because of the nature of this position, it should be understood that performance is not easily translated into hours worked per day or week. As a general guideline, the Assistant Community Director should anticipate a minimum of 20 scheduled office hours per week.
• Participate in all mandatory training, opening, and closing dates. Please note that there are departmental blackout dates during which all staff are required to be present. These are published each year and include, but are not limited to, summer training, fall opening and the first few days of fall classes, closing in December, winter training, spring opening and the first few days of spring classes, closing in May, finals, commencement, and the summer transition period.
• Respond to all written and verbal communication.
• Communicate regularly with the housing assignments team to ensure that all occupancy reports are accurate and up to date.
• Administers an effective student conduct program with an emphasis on education, ethical development, and community responsibility in conjunction with the Director of Student Conduct and the Assistant Director for Residence Life.
• Complete required monthly, annual, and transitional reports.
• Attend all Residence Life meetings and professional staff trainings; and when applicable, subcommittee or task force meetings.
• Meet weekly with respective Community Director.
• Respond to emergencies as needed and provide on-call duty coverage at least twice per semester, subject to change based on staffing needs.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Student Development & Campus Life

• Attend all Student Development and Campus Life division meetings and contribute to the residence hall experience when applicable. Participate in group meetings with the Vice President for Student Development & Campus Life when scheduled.
• Work on committees as applicable, and participate in projects in order to obtain experience in various facets of student personnel work.

Ancillary Assignment

• The Assistant Community Director will also have ancillary assignments in one or more of the following areas, as determined by the Assistant/Associate Director.
• Professional and Student Staff Training and Development
• Professional and Student Staff Recruitment and Selection
• Residential Hall Association Advisement
• National Residence Hall Honorary Advisement
• Assessment
• Additional ancillary assignments may be added based on the needs of the department and at the discretion of the Assistant/Associate Director. 

Qualifications for Graduate Student Positions:

• Bachelor’s degree and prior experience as an undergraduate within residence life, student activities, or another major functional area of student affairs is required.  
• Must be enrolled as a full-time graduate student in a degree-granting program at Montclair State University. Preference is given to candidates enrolled in the Master of Arts in Higher Education program. Must be accepted to the graduate school by May 1.
• One year experience directly related to event planning, programming, or residential curriculum is preferred.
• The successful candidate must possess strong interpersonal and communication skills, the ability to work with a diverse student population, and knowledge of resident student needs.
• Familiarity with residence halls and college/university faculty and experience living/working within the residence halls is preferred.
• ACDs must maintain a cumulative and current grade point average of 3.0 at all times.

Note: This is a summary of general requirements. An official job description will be provided to finalists.

The Peer Mediator (PM) is responsible for the day-to-day peer mediation and educational development of the students who reside in the residence halls. General responsibilities include mediation of roommate conflicts, coordination and facilitation of roommate agreements, development of the residential community, implementation of educational programming, and completion of associated administrative responsibilities.

Central Office Operations Assistants assist in the administration and execution of our housing operations and special projects. Key areas of responsibility include, but are not limited to; providing excellent customer service, working with internal and external personnel to complete a variety of projects and general administrative support in the Residence Life Central Office. All undergraduate students who are returning as full-time students for fall 2025 are eligible to apply.

Summer Conference Desk Assistants are responsible for building preparations for all conference buildings, assisting with linens, working the desks, verifying residency, signing in guests, customer service, check-ins, check-outs and assisting with other desks as needed. All undergraduate students who are returning as full-time students for fall 2025 are eligible to apply.

Summer Residents Assistants are responsible for duty in the Village and other halls used for conferences, office/desk support in the Village, organizing monthly programs, Health and Safety Inspections and operations and facilities assignments. Applicants must be current Residence Life staff members who are also returning to the staff for fall 2025.