Resident Director for Online Student Support

Harvard Summer School Resident Director for Online Student Support

HSS Resident Directors for Online Student Support are responsible for cultivating a safe and inclusive community, enforcing standards of conduct, supporting and advising students, and supporting HSS and Program administration.

For questions about the RD for Online Student Support position, please contact:
Kimberly Calnan
Program Manager
Student Engagement & Residential Life
serl@summer.harvard.edu

Harvard Summer School (HSS) seeks Resident Directors for Online Student Support for the summer session in 2026. Harvard Summer School is a rigorous and enriching summer experience with course offerings across three main Programs, two of which serve non-residential students:

  • The General Program (GP) enrolls adult and college students in credit-bearing courses of 3 weeks, 4 weeks, or 7 weeks in duration. GP students come to the Summer School for many different reasons; they may be pursuing a degree, exploring a new area of interest, or advancing their careers.
  • The Secondary School Program (SSP) enrolls high school students in credit-bearing courses of 4 weeks or 7 weeks in duration. The SSP offers students an introduction to the autonomy that characterizes the first year of college, with variable class meeting schedules and the freedom to choose how to allocate time to studying, skill-building, socializing, and more.

The HSS Resident Director for Online Student Support position offers an opportunity to hone leadership skills in the areas of student advising and support crisis response, and event planning. The Resident Director experience is supplemented by professional development programming dedicated to supporting each summer’s cohort of Resident Directors.

Position Description

Harvard Summer School Resident Directors for Online Student Support (RDs) work with students to provide the supervision, advising, and connection to resources necessary to create a safe and academically productive summer experience. They foster a hospitable environment through community activities and programming. RDs liaise between students and HSS staff members, their HSS Program (GP or SSP), and the office of Student Engagement and Residential Life (SERL).

Key Responsibilities:

HSS Resident Directors for Online Student Support are responsible for cultivating a safe and inclusive community, enforcing standards of conduct, supporting and advising students, and supporting HSS and Program administration. Specific duties within these areas of responsibility include, but are not limited to, the following:

Commitment

Dates in Residence: RDs must be in residence for all nights and weekends. Dates below are tentative and subject to change.

General Program RD Dates in Residence: Monday, June 8 through mid-afternoon on Saturday, August 8, 2026

Secondary School Program RD Dates in Residence: Monday, June 8 through mid-afternoon on Saturday, August 8, 2026

Orientation and Training: RDs must complete all assigned pre-work and online training modules, participate in occasional virtual orientation meetings in April and May, and attend full-day, on-campus trainings and meetings starting in early June (anticipated in-person arrival date of June 8, 2026).

Outside Commitments: Pending approval from their respective program director SSP Resident Directors and GP Resident Directors may be permitted to work another job or hold an outside commitment during the summer term.

Requirements

We invite applications from graduate students and professionals with a demonstrated interest in student development and/or student affairs in higher education. Please see Qualifications for all steps required in the hiring and onboarding process.

Qualifications

We invite applications from graduate students and professionals with a demonstrated interest in student development and/or student affairs in higher education. Applicants with relevant leadership experience supporting an ethnically and culturally diverse population of students (high school students or adult and college students) are strongly preferred. This position requires mature judgement and administrative competence in leading a staff of Harvard Summer School proctors and overseeing the safety and social interactions of Harvard Summer School students. Applicants must possess the physical capability and social communication skills sufficient to supervise and address the health and safety needs of students entrusted to their care. Individuals selected for the HSS Resident Director position must be authorized to work in the United States. Please note that Harvard Summer School will not provide visa sponsorship for this position.


Note: As a condition of employment, all RDs must complete the following Next Steps, which include but are not limited to: Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) and Sex Offender Registry Information (SORI) background checks in order to complete the hiring process. Before arriving on campus, RDs must complete pre-work, which includes online training through Canvas, and HR training modules on Title IX policy, the safety and protection of minors, mental health, and other topics. Key dates for training will be provided to applicants during the interview process.

Instructions

Program: Applicants apply for either the General Program (GP) or Secondary School Program (SSP) Resident Director for Online Student Support position but may also indicate an interest in an alternate Program.

If you have questions about the Resident Director for Online Student Support position, please contact Program Manager, Kimberly Calnan at: serl@summer.harvard.edu.

Applicants apply directly through the application portal linked in the box below under Application Information – How to Apply.

Application Information

Applications should indicate experience in leadership roles, particularly experience guiding a diverse population of secondary school or college/adult students.

Choose a Program

General Program (GP)
Secondary School Program (SSP)

Materials Required

A cover letter and resume detailing administrative and/or academic leadership experience.

Interview Timing

Interviews: Rolling beginning in December

Decisions: Rolling