Resident Director

Harvard Summer School Resident Director (RD)

Each summer Harvard Summer School hires staff to serve as Resident Directors who manage teams of proctors living in Harvard residencies and supervising Summer School Students. Resident Directors are responsible for cultivating a safe and inclusive environment though the supervision of proctors, support and advising of HSS students, enforcement of standards of conduct, and support of HSS & Program-specific administration.

For questions about the HSS Resident Director role, please contact:
Kimberly Calnan
Program Manager
Student Engagement & Residential Life
serl@summer.harvard.edu

Programs Served

Learn more about the various programs Resident Directors support within Harvard Summer School and the requirements of each.

GP Resident Director

General Program
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. 

Compensation: $7,000

Dates in Residence: Monday, June 8, 2026, through Saturday, August 8, 2026. (Dates are subject to change.) 

Pre-College Resident Director

Pre-College Program
The Pre-College Program (Pre-College) offers 3 sessions of non-credit, two-week, college-level courses for high school students. It provides students an introduction to life in college through a structure of daily class meetings, college readiness skill-building workshops, academic exploration lectures, and community-building activities and social events. 

Compensation: *$8,000

Dates in Residence: Monday, June 8, 2026, through Saturday, August 1, 2026. (Dates are subject to change.)

SSP Resident Director

Secondary School Program
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.  

Compensation:*$8,000

Dates in Residence: Monday, June 8, 2026, through Saturday, August 8, 2026. (Dates are subject to change.)

Job Description with Key Responsibilities

All Resident Directors share the same key responsibilities, but as each of our programs serves a different student population, each program has its own unique features and additional requirements. Please refer to the full job description https://summeropportunities.dce.harvard.edu/files/2025/11/2026-HSS-Resident-Director-Position-Description-2.pdf.

The Key Responsibilities that are listed below include but are not limited to the following:

Commitment

Dates in Residence (varies by Program): 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

Pre-College Program RD Dates in Residence: Monday, June 8 through mid-afternoon on Saturday, August 1, 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: Pre-College Resident Directors may not work another job during the summer term. 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), Pre-College, or Secondary School Program (SSP) Resident Director position, but may also indicate an interest in an alternate Program.

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

Note: For the Pre-College RD position, applicants may also apply via the ACUHO-I internship website*.

* Harvard Summer School is not directly affiliated with the Association of College and University Housing Officers – International (ACUHO-I) and applicants are not required to apply through ACUHO-I to be considered for a Resident Director position. Applicants are encouraged to apply directly through the application portal linked in the box below under Application Information – How to Apply.

Application Information

Choose a Program

General Program (GP)
Pre-College Program (Pre-College)
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 (unless ACUHO-I)

Decisions: Rolling (unless ACUHO-I)