Residence Life Employment Overview

On This Page:
Full-Time Positions (RD)
Graduate Student Positions (ARD)

Employment Overview
Organizational Chart
Vision, Mission, Values
Acronyms and Abbreviations

Residence Life Positions

As part of Housing and Residence Life, our Residence Life Staff Team is responsible for, and committed to, empowering students and staff to create safe, caring and socially just communities.

Our staff supports students in their academic, social and personal growth. We foster their personal awareness, appreciation of others and development of skills to succeed in a diverse, global society. Additionally, we provide opportunities for students to develop leadership skills and encourage them to demonstrate responsible and ethical behavior in their communities and throughout campus. We empower students to take responsibility for themselves and for the well being of others by upholding their residential rights and by creating an atmosphere of civility and cooperation. Furthermore, we focus on enhancing the residential experience of first year students, as is evident in our various services, programs and new initiatives. We also strive and continue to be an innovative organization, changing and growing to meet the needs of millennial students.

While our staff is large in number and complex in our various responsibilities, our common thread is our commitment to working with students. Much of our departmental work is done in various committees and/or area groups, which not only creates strong collegiality and personal connections among colleagues, but also a sense of smaller communities within our larger department.

Full-Time Positions

Each year the Housing and Residence Life department seeks qualified applicants for the Residence Director full-time position. We are currently seeking applicants for the 2009-2010 academic year. Below is a description of the position as well as detailed information on how to apply.

Residence Directors (RD)

The University of Massachusetts Amherst invites applicants for the position of Residence Director. The Residence Director (RD) is a 43 week or 52 week live-in, professional responsible for the overall administration of a cluster of one or more residence halls housing 275-675 students. The Residence Director supervises graduate and undergraduate students to create safe, caring and inclusive communities by demonstrating supervision, community development, student development, leadership development, administration and departmental responsibilities. Cluster-based responsibilities are negotiated within the senior staff team comprised of the RD and Assistant Residence Director(s) (ARD). The Residence Director is supervised by an Assistant Director of Residence Life (AD).

For more information about Residence Directors click here.

The University of Massachusetts Amherst is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
Women and members of minority groups are encouraged to apply.

Before you decide to apply, hear what our staff has to say about being a Residence Director at UMass Amherst.

Graduate Student Positions

Each year the Housing and Residence Life department seeks qualified applicants for four different graduate assistant opportunities. During the fall semester, we accept applicants for unexpected vacancies which may occur during the current academic year.  During the spring semester, we accept applicants for vacancies confirmed for the following academic year.

Assistant Residence Directors (ARD)

The Assistant Residence Director (ARD) is a live-in graduate assistantship (20 hours or 30 hours per week) responsible for assisting in the overall administration of a cluster of one or more residence halls housing 275-675 students. The Assistant Residence Director supervises undergraduate students to create safe, caring and inclusive communities through supervision, community development, student development, leadership development, administration and departmental responsibilities. Cluster based responsibilities are negotiated within the senior staff team comprised of the Residence Director (RD) and the Assistant Residence Director(s). The Assistant Residence Director is supervised by a Residence Director.

Community Development Graduate (CDGA)

The Graduate Assistant (GA) for Community Development is a graduate assistantship (30 hours per week) primarily responsible for the ongoing development, facilitation, and directing of Shaha: The Storytellers (a diversity peer theatre troupe) and the Diversity Peer Educator program within Residence Life. The main responsibilities include: serving as primary instructor for EDUC 258 and EDUC 291E, training and developing the troupe, coordinating performances, and providing support for various community development initiatives within Residence Life as needed. This is a live-off position; however presence in the Residence Life Programs Office and at various Residence Life events during the 30 hours is essential.  The GA for Community Development is supervised by the Assistant Director for Learning Communities.

Leadership Graduate (LGA)

The Leadership Graduate Assistant Position is responsible for assisting with UMass Amherst Residential Leadership education initiatives. Specific focus areas include: designing and implementing training and recognition for leadership groups in Residence Life, assisting with advising student leadership groups (such as the Residential Leadership Association and National Residence Hall Honorary), working with the Community Leader and House Council programs and supporting the Student Leadership Development course. The graduate student will assist in the development of resources at the Residence Life Resource Center. This is a live-off position; however, presence in the residence halls during working hours is essential. This is a 30-hour per week position and reports directly to the Leadership Education Specialist (LES).

Residential Learning Graduate (RLG)

The Department of Housing and Residence Life offers four Residential Learning Graduate Positions.  This graduate assistantship (30 hours per week), is responsible for assisting and developing the collaboration between Residence Life and Academic Affairs as it pertains to the Residential First Year Experience. The main responsibilities include: supervision of student staff, developing and facilitating residential academic success initiatives, coordinating with faculty and instructors, and working with the First Year Experience Specialist (FYES) on a regular basis to implement the themes within the First Year Halls. This is a live-off position; however presence in the residence halls during the 30 hours is essential.

For more information about our Graduate Assistant positions, as well details of how to apply click here.

The University of Massachusetts Amherst is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. Women and members of minority groups are encouraged to apply.

Before you decide to apply, hear what our staff has to say about being a Graduate Assistant at UMass Amherst.

Helpful Links

UMass Amherst Fast Facts

A Brief History of UMass Amherst

Human Resources

Domestic Partner Benefits

Office of Student Affairs and Campus Life

Office of Institutional Research

Religious Life at UMass Amherst

The Stonewall Center