Residence Hall Director and Assistant Director of Residential Programs

Institutional Overview

Macalester College is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, on the ancestral homeland of the Dakota people who were forcibly exiled because of aggressive and persistent settler colonialism. 

Macalester is a highly selective, private liberal arts college in the vibrant Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area, with a population of approximately three million people and home to numerous colleges and universities, including the University of Minnesota. Macalester's diverse student body comprises over 2,000 undergraduates from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, as well as 99 countries.

Since its founding in 1874, Macalester has provided students with the inspiration, insight, and experience to become successful and ethical leaders. Located in St. Paul, Minnesota, Macalester enrolls nearly 2,100 students who come from every state, the District of Columbia, and 99 countries. Macalester is a distinctive liberal arts college known for its innovation of scholarship. Macalester is proud of its longstanding commitment to social justice and creating a respectful environment for all people, inclusive of sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, gender, religion, age, and ability. Macalester strongly encourages applications from everyone who would enrich our community, including people of color, individuals with disabilities, and women.

Residential Life

Residential Life at Macalester College utilizes a student-focused, learning-centered approach to foster resident development, authentic relationships, and inclusive living communities. We do this through our implementation of the community learning model, community standards, and housing services.

Living on campus is an important part of a Macalester student’s education. Residential Life focuses on the whole student experience as well as fostering learning beyond the classroom setting.  Students are provided numerous opportunities to learn about themselves as well as meet, interact, and develop relationships with others on the floor, building community with those who are different from themselves.  Our goal is to give students a greater understanding of their responsibility to the local, national, and global communities as citizens of the world.

Residential Life at Macalester serves approximately 1300 students in campus housing. Starting with the Fall 2026 incoming class, all first-year, sophomore, and junior students are required to live on-campus.  This live-on requirement will be in full effect in Fall 2028 when the Fall 2026 class are juniors. Living options include traditional and suite style residence halls, theme houses, language houses, apartments located above a Grand Avenue restaurant, and a new residence hall and welcome center slated to open in Fall 2027.

Including this position, staffing includes five Residence Hall Directors (RHD), an RHD + Assistant Director, another Assistant Director, two Associate Directors, and the Executive Director of Residential Life. It also includes a student staff of 35 Resident Assistants, 5 Office Assistants, and 2 Programming Assistants.  The RHD staff trains, coaches, and supervises a team of undergraduate paraprofessionals (Resident Assistants) who are resources, educators, and community builders to our students. RHDs and RAs are also visible and involved members of their residential communities. All members of the staff work in collaboration with students, faculty and staff to provide opportunities, support, and a rewarding living environment to residents.  Office Assistants (OA) are students who provide a welcoming environment in the building in which they’re assigned and offer administrative support to the multiple living communities. Programming Assistants (PAs) develop programming for students in the residence halls.

Job Summary:

The Department of Residential Life is seeking to hire a dynamic Residence Hall Director and Assistant Director of Residential Programs (RHD & ADRP). RHD & ADRP serves as an important member of the Residential Life team by working alongside campus partners for Residential Programs while also serving as a Residence Hall Director for a new building set to open in Fall, 2027, where juniors and seniors will live as a part of the three-year live-on requirement. In addition to Residence Hall Director responsibilities for the new building, there are two areas of administrative responsibility. Firstly, in partnership with Admissions, this role will support and staff the Pre-College Summer Program*. Secondly, this role will provide administrative support to the Living Learning Community Residential Program. This RHD & ADRP will not have the same project/committee work as other RHDs due to the specific pre-college program responsibilities. This position will live on campus and serve on-call, similarly to other Residential Life staff members.

Provides oversight of a new residential community, including community development, facility management, and educational opportunities. Serves as a student-centered educator and provides direct supervision to 8-12 student staff members. Supports and responds to issues related to students of concern during and after regular business hours (while on-call), and serves as resource and referral agent for campus and community resources.

*This pre-college summer program name is placeholder, as the program details are finalized. Additionally, this program will be for rising high school juniors and seniors and will occur over the summer, where the ADRP & RHD will be directly responsible for staffing on-site. 

• Provides administrative support to the growth and success of the Living Learning Community Program. This includes but is not limited to scheduling regular meetings with key stakeholders and communicating with them about programs and roster management. Keeps accurate documentation for the Living Learning Community program.
• Manages the daily operation of a residence hall area including supervision of student staff members, management of facilities and hall operations, creating an inclusive community, administering conduct, and facilitating conflict resolution.
• Coordinates and staff the pre-college summer program. This includes working alongside the pre-college program leader in Admissions and recruiting and supervising student workers for the program in the summer.
• Serves as a member of the Macalester on-call team (crisis/emergency response) via rotating campus-wide duty coverage.
• Completes other responsibilities as assigned. Participates as an active member of the team. Participates in department and college activities and supports the implementation of shared goals and initiatives. Provides backup support to other members of the team.

• Knowledge of student learning and development, particularly in a residential living environment. Strong commitment to diversity and social justice with an understanding of how to advance a culture that is welcoming and inclusive.
• Ability to utilize or learn basic office computing software.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and prioritize.
• Demonstrated the ability to be flexible and work with ambiguity. Strong problem-solving skills.
• Microsoft Office Suite and Google Suite, computer, printer, copier, scanner. 
• Ability to manage a budget and properly manage purchases/receipts. 
• Ability to communicate effectively to students, team, and partners. 
• Ability to supervise student staff.
• Bachelor’s degree required, Master’s preferred 

Macalester is dedicated to the goal of building a culturally diverse and pluralistic staff committed to working in a multicultural environment and strongly encourages applications from everyone who would add richness to our community, including people of color, individuals with disabilities, women and LGBTQIA+ individuals.

Founded in 1874, Macalester College provides students with the inspiration, insight, and experience to become successful and ethical leaders. Located in flourishing St. Paul, Minnesota, Macalester enrolls over 2,000 students from across the country and around the world. Macalester is a preeminent liberal arts college recognized for its student service and celebration of internationalism.

At Macalester, we look at our employees through a whole-person, holistic lens. With comprehensive benefits and well-being programs, we provide and enable our community members to grow and care for themselves, their families, and one another. Our whole-hearted fidelity to community-building and social justice exemplify these ideals.  Macalester College continuously prioritizes a culturally diverse and pluralistic community. We value individuals of all backgrounds and lived experiences. 

Our rich blend of people holding varied identities enhances our strong commitment to multiculturalism and global citizenship. We seek candidates who reflect and strengthen our campus environment. Macalester invites and encourages everyone to apply who would add depth to our community including those from all sexual orientations, races, ethnicities, national origins, genders, religions, abilities, and ages.