Residence Director

Job Description

Job Description

The New England Conservatory, an independent not-for-profit institution, is recognized internationally as a leader among music schools, educating and training musicians of all ages from around the world. With approximately 750 music students representing more than 40 countries, NEC cultivates a diverse, dynamic community for students, providing them with performance opportunities and high-caliber training by 225 internationally esteemed artist-teachers and scholars. NEC pushes the boundaries of making and teaching music through college-level musical training in classical, jazz, and Contemporary Improvisation. It offers unique interdisciplinary programs such as Entrepreneurial Musicianship and Community Performances & Partnerships that empower students to create their own musical opportunities. As part of NEC's mission to make lifelong music education available to everyone, the Division of Expanded Education delivers training and performance opportunities for children, pre-college students, and adults.

Job Summary

The Residence Director (RD) is a full-time, twelve-month, live-in professional staff member within the Office of Academic and Student Affairs (OASA) at New England Conservatory (NEC). Reporting to the Associate Dean of Student and Academic Affairs, the RD plays a key role in creating a safe, inclusive, and engaging living-learning environment that supports students’ academic, artistic, and personal growth.

The Residence Director is an educator and community builder who helps students connect their academic, artistic, and personal lives through a vibrant residential experience. By fostering community, promoting wellness, and supporting student growth, the RD advances the mission of both OASA and NEC as a whole.

As an institutional representative, the RD also upholds NEC’s policies and values within the residential community. The role requires professionalism, sound judgment, and a clear commitment to both student development and the broader responsibilities of the institution. Through this administrative and educational leadership, the RD contributes to a healthy, respectful, and mission-aligned living-learning environment.

This position connects the residential experience to NEC’s mission to build community, support well-being, and inspire the confidence to create, learn, and lead. The RD provides leadership in community development, student engagement, staff supervision, crisis response, and collaboration across academic and student life initiatives.

The position includes a furnished one-bedroom campus apartment and a dining meal plan.

Essential Functions

Staff Supervision and Training

Recruit, train, supervise, and evaluate a team of Resident Assistants (RAs).

Conduct weekly individual and team meetings to provide guidance, build community, and promote staff development.

Support RAs in planning and assessing programs that encourage connection, wellness, and learning in the residence halls.

Foster a positive and inclusive team culture built on communication, accountability, and professional growth.

Residence Life and Educational Engagement

Develop and lead a residential program model that integrates academic and co-curricular experiences to promote student engagement and success.

Collaborate with OASA staff, faculty, and campus partners to design and implement enrichment opportunities such as study groups, faculty-led discussions, wellness workshops, and community events.

Apply creative and educational design principles to support student belonging, personal development, and academic persistence.

Evaluate the effectiveness of residence life programs and contribute to departmental goals and assessment.

Crisis Response and Student Support

Serve on a 24 / 7 on-call rotation for residential students and respond promptly to emergencies and crises.

Provide follow-up and support for students managing academic, personal, or wellness challenges.

Collaborate with Counseling Services, Campus Security, the CARE (Concern, Assessment, Response, Evaluation) Team, and the Emergency Response Team to provide coordinated student support.

Maintain confidentiality, accurate records, and timely communication regarding student concerns.

Community Standards and Conduct

Serve as conduct officer for residential cases as assigned by the Associate Dean of Student and Academic Affairs.

Educate residents about institutional and community expectations.

Adjudicate cases and maintain accurate conduct records and reports.

Facilities and Operations

Conduct regular building walkthroughs and inspections to ensure a safe and well-maintained residential environment.

Coordinate with Facilities and Campus Security to address work orders, safety issues, and preventative maintenance needs.

Manage Room Condition Reports (RCRs) and oversee check-in / check-out and damage billing processes.

Actively partner with members of the Enrollment Management Committee to coordinate housing assignments and ensure that residence hall occupancy is aligned with budgeted revenue goals

Summer Responsibilities

Support summer housing and program operations in collaboration with OASA and campus partners.

Supervise summer student staff and assist with the coordination of pre-college, conference, or special programs.

Qualifications

Required

Bachelor’s degree and two to three years of professional experience in residence life, student affairs, or a related field.

Experience supervising and developing student staff.

Strong communication, organizational, and administrative skills.

Demonstrated commitment to supporting the holistic well-being of students through the cultivation of community and belonging in residential campus spaces

Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings, weekends, and on-call rotations.

Preferred

Master’s degree in Student Affairs, Higher Education, Counseling, or a related discipline.

Experience with co-curricular program design, event planning, or learning community development.

Familiarity with housing management systems and assessment tools.

Understanding of how residential life contributes to student learning, wellness, and belonging.

NEC is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits and hires qualified candidates without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, disability, or veteran status.

Annual Clery Report

In accordance with the federal Clery and Campus SaVE Acts, New England Conservatory of Music (NEC) commits to providing all current and prospective students and employees with access to the annual Campus Security and Fire Safety Report. This report will provide the reader with a record of statistics regarding crimes that were reported in the NEC community during the previous three years as well as College policies and procedures, in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. This report may be accessed here. A paper copy can be requested by contacting NEC's Director of Public Safety at 290 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115..