Temporary Residence Director, PSSP

Cornell University hosts several summer residential programs every year including Cornell's Pre-Collegiate Summer Scholars Program (PSSP); an invitation-only 4-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/. To best support the program, Housing and Residential Life hires residential staff to oversee approximately 200 incoming freshmen students, which includes Resident Directors (RD) and Resident Advisors (RA). Additionally, the PSSP program hires Program Mentors (PM) and Course Assistants to provide academic support. These are hired through a different selection process overseen by PSSP directly.

The temporary full-time, live-in Resident Director (RD) position will manage the summer RAs (Resident Advisors) through opportunities to engage in supervision, 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 staff display, maturity, positive role modeling behavior, and good judgement at all times. Successful candidates should expect a fast-paced environment where they will be challenged to learn quickly and adapt to varying priorities based on what is occurring within the program. 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, students and families. This supervisory position will have rotating responsibilities with other RDs, including office hours and on-call responsibilities, to successfully meet the needs of the students and adequately respond to potential crises, including physical and mental health crises.

During the summer, incumbents will gain practical experience in campus life, develop leadership abilities, and hone supervision skills, in addition to many other transferable skills that prepare them to excel in any future position in higher education.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree (May 2026 graduates may apply)
• One year or more of full-time or graduate level experience working Residential settings with youth.
• Must be willing and able to work non-standard hours including evening, weekends, holidays and on call.
• Ability to live and work on campus during the entirety of the program.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Current enrollment or completed master's degree in student Affairs, Higher Ed. 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 that students and staff bring to their work, including those of academic, socioeconomic, culture, race and ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and intersectional identities.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex situations.

Time Commitment:

The position will be from June 16, 2026, through August 7, 2026.Selected candidates will be expected to be on campus and complete orientation staring on Monday June 15, 2026, and are expected to depart Saturday August 8, 2026, from provided housing. Compensation includes a $7,500 stipend to be paid out equally over the course of the program as well as a summer meal plan and single room housing within the program's assigned residence hall. Please note that this position is not eligible for benefits or visa sponsorship.

Contact Information:

Questions may be directed to Associate Director Brandee Nicholson bfn22@cornell.edu.

While position responsibilities vary, every member of our community is expected to foster a culture of belonging and a healthy work environment by communicating across differences; being cooperative, collaborative, open, and welcoming; showing respect, compassion, and empathy; engaging and supporting others regardless of background or perspective; speaking up when others are being excluded or treated inappropriately; and supporting work/life integration of oneself and others.

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