Community Director

Position Details

Position Information

Announcement Number STAFF - VA - 26292 For questions regarding this position, please contact:

Search Support at auxjobs@montana.edu or 406-994-6468

Classification Title Student Support Specialist Working Title Community Director Brief Position Overview

Community Directors are responsible for providing educational and administrative leadership to foster welcoming, supportive communities that promote student learning, belonging, and development. The CD is student-centered, customer-service oriented, and has the ability and desire to work in an organization fostering academic success and personal growth.

Position Number 4Cxxxx Department Residence Life Administration Division Auxiliary Services Appointment Type Professional Contract Term Fiscal Year Semester If other, specify From date If other, specify End date FLSA Exempt Union Affiliation Exempt from Collective Bargaining FTE 1.0 Benefits Eligible Eligible Salary Salary commensurate with experience, education, and qualifications. Contract Type LOA If other, please specify Recruitment Type Open

Position Details

General Statement

University Student Housing(USH) at MSU, offers a unique, on-campus living experience for students and their families/associates as they focus on their academic success. Managing 18 active on-campus communities (11 Residence Halls and 7 Apartments) which are the home of up to 6,500 residents. The departmental mission includes provision of reasonably priced living environments which are clean, attractive, well-maintained, comfortable, and include safety features; ensures the orderly and effective administration of the program through efficient management; and provides a learning environment and related co-curricular programs which promote maturity and academic success.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of an Area Coordinator or Assistant Director, the CD is responsible for the overall management of the community they are assigned to and its residents/tenants. The CD community assignments are assessed yearly. CDs can expect to interact with students, University staff/faculty, parents and perspective students on a daily basis while performing the duties of the position.

• Developing a sense of community and belonging.
• Championing student development and student success.
• Managing security and safety procedures.
• Overseeing student conduct within the community.
• Conducting regular meetings with residents to share information and to provide a forum to discuss resident concerns.
• Supervision of staff to include: centralized staff selection, training, and evaluations.
• Over-seeing the front desk operations of the community.
• Advising students both individually and in groups concerning academic, social, and personal problems.
• Advising student committees.
• Leading and coordinating engagement and programming efforts taking into consideration the community’s populations.
• Serving as a liaison with Housing’s Building Services, Facilities Services, University Police, and Counseling Services to maintain sound working relationships for their services.
• Actively participates as part of the team while performing other duties in support of the department’s mission.
  
  

CDs will be assigned to a community on a yearly basis and will focus on one following areas:

• Residence Halls: provide educational and administrative leadership for primarily undergraduate communities, supporting hall councils, leading engagement initiatives, and managing hall openings, closings, and transitions. This role centers on fostering belonging, student leadership development, and a vibrant residential experience.
• Apartments – Community Engagement: lead intentional outreach and programming efforts that foster connection and belonging among upperclassmen, graduate, family, and non-traditional populations. This role emphasizes year-round engagement, leadership advising, and the creation of welcoming experiences for diverse apartment populations.
• Apartments – Operations: partner closely with Housing Operations and Building Services teams to ensure operational consistency, safety, and smooth transitions within apartment communities. This role integrates community leadership with a strong focus on inspections, move-in/move-out coordination, and collaborative facilities management.
  
  

Required Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills

• Bachelor’s degree plus at least one year of working experience in on-campus housing or an equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.
• Served in a defined leadership role for at least 2 years in university or college housing, residence life, or a closely related student-facing environment (e.g., orientation, student activities, or campus community development) including supervision, mentoring, or team leadership.
• Experience developing and implementing programs or initiatives that support student success, belonging, and community development.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with diverse populations and contribute to inclusive communities.
• Strong organizational, communication, and crisis response skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.
• Proficient computer experience in applications such as but not limited to Word, Outlook, Excel, etc.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills

• Master’s degree in student personnel, higher education, or related field.
• Significant undergraduate or graduate experience in campus housing or residence life (e.g., Resident Assistant, Community Assistant, Graduate Hall Director, or full-time professional housing experience).
• Professional or graduate-level experience working in on-campus housing or residential communities.
• Experience working with graduate students, international students, families, or other non-traditional student populations in a residential or student support setting.
• Demonstrated success supervising and developing student staff or paraprofessional teams.
• Experience advising student organizations or leadership groups.
• Experience managing or supporting residential operations such as occupancy management, facilities coordination, conduct processes, or large-scale transitions (openings/closings, move-in/move-out).
• Experience collaborating with campus partners (e.g., facilities, counseling, student conduct, international programs) to support holistic student success.
• Experience in facilitating and evaluating student leadership programs.
• Campus-wide emergency response experience, including response to high-level mental health concerns and emergency facility issues.
• Demonstrated competence adjudicating student conduct cases and implementing intentional, educational sanctions.
  
  

The Successful Candidate Will

• Engage in meaningful interactions with resident population.
• Use independent judgment in all situations, especially in crisis or emergency situations with support of Director Team.
• Possess excellent communication and effective interpersonal skills.
• Capable of working individually and in collaborative and dynamic team settings.
• Effectively manage multiple priorities and make sound decisions in a dynamic higher education environment.
• Exhibit self-motivation and high initiative.
• Effectively work in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.
• Meet timelines and maintain accurate administrative documentation.
• Represent the department in a courteous and professional manner.
  
  

Position Special Requirements/Additional Information

This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements, but a general description of the job. Nothing contained herein restricts Montana State University’s rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

• Full-time, live-in position with a furnished apartment and a board plan (when the food service is open for residential service).
• Department-wide, there are 11 communities managed by CDs. Community placement will be taken into consideration on a yearly basis during the creation of teams for each of these facilities.
• Occasional travel for professional development.
• Will work flexible hours during evening, weekend, and transitional periods (opening/closing) and occasional holidays.
• Will participate in Housing’s campus-wide emergency response rotation and react to emergency situations as needed across Housing areas.
  
  

Physical Demands

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

• Navigate campus and the areas in and around the residence halls and apartment communities.
• Occasionally move and place items to 30 lbs.
• Occasionally work outside and in inclement weather.
  
  

This position has supervisory duties? Yes

Posting Detail Information

Number of Vacancies Desired Start Date Position End Date (if temporary) Open Date Close Date Applications will be:

Screening of applications will begin on March 12, 2026; however, applications will continue to be accepted until an adequate applicant pool has been established.

Special Instructions

Please address the qualifications in your cover letter and resume.

Questions? Contact: Search Support at auxjobs@montana.edu or 406-994-6468.

EEO Statement

Montana State University is an equal opportunity employer. MSU does not discriminate against any applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, national origin, physical or mental disability, or any other protected class status in violation of any applicable law.

In compliance with the Montana Veteran’s Employment Preference Act, MSU provides preference in employment to veterans, disabled veterans, and certain eligible relatives of veterans. To claim veteran’s preference, please complete the veteran’s preference information located in the Demographics section of your profile.

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

• Resume
• Cover Letter
  
  

Optional Documents

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).