What are the responsibilities and job description for the Interim Residence Life Educator position at Messiah University?
Position Type
Staff
Employee Group
Administrative
Time Status
Full-Time
Time Category
Temporary
Annual Hours
900
# of Months
5
Hours Per Week
40
Work Dates
Immediate opening for interim hire or January 3 – May 22, 2026 (this position ends the Friday before Memorial Day)
Campus
Main Campus (Grantham)
Position Description
Position Summary
The Residence Life Educator (RLE) is a live-in, professional educator whose primary responsibility is to deliver a student-development focused curriculum and co-curriculum that supports the University’s mission while achieving undergraduate learning outcomes. The RLE educates to impact student’s intellectual, spiritual and personal development by teaching foundations for learning, leadership competencies, self-awareness, faith development and social responsibility. The RLE actively promotes a safe living-learning environment. They are also responsible for the recruitment, selection, teaching, supervision, assessment of learning and evaluation of 9 – 12 undergraduate student staff members, administration of up to 385 residents in residential spaces, and serving as an active member of the Residence Life team.
Education Required
Master’s degree in student affairs, higher education, counseling or related field required.
Education Preferred
Experience Required
1 year of post undergraduate residence life experience
Experience Preferred
Skills, Characteristics Required for Position
- Ability to see student learning as a central mission to Residence Life and to fully engage students in meeting desired learning outcomes.
- Demonstrated mastery of Student Development subject matter
- Demonstrated mastery of disciplinary methods for acquiring and expressing knowledge sufficient to initiate students in the search for new knowledge.
- Commitment to the development of delivering education in both curricular and co-curricular contexts.
- Ability to deliver undergraduate learning outcomes via creative pedagogies.
- Ability to demonstrate a commitment to service, reconciliation, and justice, and to teach students to effectively and ethically respond to the complexities of an increasingly diverse and interdependent world.
- Teaching ability, curriculum development and delivery, and assessment in in both curricular and co-curricular contexts.
- Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of the stages of student development and the importance of holistic education
- Ability to teach skills which promote analysis, reflection and communication.
- Demonstrated commitment to teaching an appreciation for aesthetic dimensions of life and promoting the process of learning as a life-long pursuit.
- Ability to educate students on how to make connections between faith and learning.
- Ability to teach students to develop the intellect and character necessary to express Christian commitments in responsible decisions and actions.
- Ability to increase students’ ability to discern their vocation.
- Demonstrated commitment in encouraging students to gain awareness of options for employment, voluntary service, and or graduate education.
- Ability to model Christian faith journey
- Ability to work collaboratively within the department and other departments
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Strong administrative skills
- Supervisory and decision-making abilities
- Strong verbal and written communication abilities
Special Working Conditions
1. Live-in position; 40 hours a week, with some hours during nights, weekends, and occasional holidays.
2. After hours and on weekends, the Residence Life Educators are a critical component of the Institution’s risk management model. RLEs are expected to respond as an adult neighbor in the event of a major crisis such as a natural disaster or fire; minor crises and issues are handled after hours by the On-Call RLE. In the spirit of the RLE position being live-in no more than four of the eight RLEs can be away from campus overnight at any given time when classes are in session.
3. In order to fulfill on-call responsibilities, RLEs are expected to have a valid driver’s license.
4. Presence when students are on campus in a key part of this role. Therefore, RLEs are encouraged to use paid time off/vacation time when classes are not in session.
Driving Requirements
In order to fulfill on-call responsibilities, RLEs are expected to have a valid driver’s license.
Essential Employee
N/A
Primary Duties
1. Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula and co-curricula for students in alignment with Messiah University undergraduate learning outcomes (ULO’s) and Student Success and Engagement Educational Plans. This includes teaching students to:
- Develop knowledge and skills common to liberal arts education such as research, analysis, reflection and communication
- Develop knowledge common to the liberal arts in the fields of arts and sciences, humanities, natural and social sciences.
- Develop informed and mature convictions about Christian faith and practice
- Gain an awareness of identity, character and vocational calling
- Demonstrate a commitment to service, reconciliation, and justice, and to teach students to effectively and ethically respond to the complexities of an increasingly diverse and interdependent world
2. Deliver curricula and co-curricula in daily sessions with undergraduates as a follow up to expressed needs for their success, engagement and retention in addition to regular residential programming; daily one on one sessions and weekly meetings with individual and collective RA leaders; and weekly meetings with members of SSE division’s Touching Base team.
3. Communicate, promote, and hold students accountable to Messiah University community standards.
4. Facilitate educational conduct meeting weekly for students who violate the Code of Conduct by delivering and assessing curricula aimed at developing their Engagement, Personal Development, Interpersonal Development and Community membership (E.P.I.C.)
5. Prepare and deliver Resident Assistant leadership education in alignment with student leadership curriculum. This includes teaching RA’s to grow in competencies of:
3. Communicate, promote, and hold students accountable to Messiah University community standards.
4. Facilitate educational conduct meeting weekly for students who violate the Code of Conduct by delivering and assessing curricula aimed at developing their Engagement, Personal Development, Interpersonal Development and Community membership (E.P.I.C.)
5. Prepare and deliver Resident Assistant leadership education in alignment with student leadership curriculum. This includes teaching RA’s to grow in competencies of:
- Self-Awareness, Leadership and Emotional Intelligence
- Team Development, Cultural / InterCultural Awareness
- Trust, Psychological Safety, and Coaching
- Utilizing Feedback, Managing Conflict, Making Decisions, and Action Planning
6. Implement and perform assessment of curricula and staff to ensure excellent service, educational effectiveness and progress on student learning outcomes.
7. Academically advise undeclared students.
8. Develop professionally by keeping current in Student Development field, by continuing study, holding membership, participating in professional organizations and sharing with the department.
9. Evaluate students’ performance
10. Maintain student attendance and required records
11. Maintain regularly scheduled hours to advise and mentor students.
12. Provide administrative oversight:
7. Academically advise undeclared students.
8. Develop professionally by keeping current in Student Development field, by continuing study, holding membership, participating in professional organizations and sharing with the department.
9. Evaluate students’ performance
10. Maintain student attendance and required records
11. Maintain regularly scheduled hours to advise and mentor students.
12. Provide administrative oversight:
- Complete administrative responsibilities within the residence hall including housing paperwork, student conduct meetings and related paperwork, reporting and following up on maintenance and custodial concerns, and hall budget management.
- Recruit and select student staff in collaboration with colleagues.
- Facilitate the opening and closing of residence halls.
- Actively contribute to Residence Life and SSE Divisional meetings
- Identify, maintain, and publish 5 office hours per week.
13. Foster safe, hospitable, holistic living-learning environments that promote a sense of belonging for all students, encouraging ownership of student learning, engagement, development and well – being.
14. Coordinate and assist with retention efforts of students
14. Coordinate and assist with retention efforts of students
- Partner with campus-wide retention efforts in meeting with and supporting students, directing them to important campus resources, tracking their progress and responding to tasks in our software related to student care, engagement in student conduct, persistence, academic updates from faculty, and retention.
- Respond as required/requested to student crises.
- Serve on the On-Call Response rotation of Residence Life personnel and work in cooperation with Safety, Counseling staff, medical staff and On-Consult Administrator as needed.
15. Make intentional efforts to get to know your residents.
16. Complete special tasks and projects assigned by the Director of Residence Life.
17. Partner with the Director of Residence Life in department-wide initiatives.
16. Complete special tasks and projects assigned by the Director of Residence Life.
17. Partner with the Director of Residence Life in department-wide initiatives.
Secondary Duties
1. Participate in various committees through membership in the Community of Educators.
2. Other duties as assigned.
2. Other duties as assigned.
Supervises: # of Administrative
0
Supervises: # of Staff
0
Supervises: # of Student
9-12
Posting Date
11/04/2025
Open Until Filled
Yes
Application Deadline
Diversity
Messiah University’s commitment to diversity and inclusive excellence draws inspiration from its mission “to educate men and women toward maturity of intellect, character and Christian faith in preparation for lives of service, leadership and reconciliation in church and society.” The university has pursued this vision through a strategic planning process that encourages diversity through employee and student composition, campus climate, and an educational program that seeks to equip and enable educators and students to embrace diversity. Candidates should clearly articulate why diversity and inclusive excellence matter to them as persons of faith as well as in their profession. Candidates will speak to how as a potential employee, they will contribute to the advancement of this vision through their teaching-learning, research, institutional service, and public engagement.