Programs Assistant Jobs in Mishawaka, IN (NOW HIRING)

Join a team dedicated to creating transformative residential experiences.

Saint Mary's College is a nationally recognized Catholic, residential women's college rooted in the charism of the Sisters of the Holy Cross. We are committed to educating women to make a difference in the world through academic excellence, leadership development, and a vibrant residential community.

The Residence Hall Director is a critical member of the Student Affairs team and serves as an educator, mentor, administrator, and community builder. Through intentional relationships, leadership development, and student support, Residence Hall Directors create welcoming living-learning communities where students thrive academically, socially, spiritually, and personally.

This position provides an exceptional opportunity to positively impact students' college experience by fostering belonging, encouraging leadership, promoting student success, and supporting personal growth within a dynamic residential environment.

This is a full-time, 12-month, live-in position 

Job Responsibilities

Community Development

• Develop, implement, and assess educational initiatives, community traditions, and engagement opportunities that promote belonging, wellness, leadership development, civic responsibility, and student success.
• Create an inclusive residential environment where students feel welcomed, valued, respected, and connected.
• Build meaningful relationships with residents through regular interaction, mentorship, and visible leadership.
• Encourage student engagement through educational, social, and leadership programming aligned with the College's mission.
• Promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging while supporting the Catholic identity and values of Saint Mary's College.
• Address student conduct concerns through educational conversations, documentation, sanctions, referrals, and follow-up.
• Advocate for students by connecting them with campus resources and community partners.

Student Development

• Support students experiencing academic, emotional, behavioral, or personal concerns through intervention, mentoring, and referrals.
• Collaborate with campus partners to promote student well-being, persistence, and academic success.
• Facilitate conflict resolution and mediation among residents.
• Engage students in meaningful conversations that foster personal responsibility and leadership.
• Assess residential learning outcomes and utilize assessment results to enhance future programming.

Staff Leadership & Supervision

• Recruit, select, train, supervise, mentor, and evaluate 10-18 Resident Assistants and front desk student employees.
• Conduct weekly staff meetings and provide ongoing leadership development opportunities.
• Meet regularly with Resident Assistants to provide coaching, performance feedback, and professional development.
• Foster a collaborative, supportive, and accountable student staff team.

Residence Hall Operations

• Respond to emergencies, crisis situations, student behavioral concerns, and campus incidents while exercising sound judgment and professionalism.
• Participate in an on-call rotation, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and overnight responsibilities.
• Maintain regular office hours and remain accessible to students.
• Coordinate room inspections, occupancy management, housing transitions, and work orders.
• Collaborate with Facilities and Campus Safety to maintain a safe and welcoming residential environment.
• Support departmental initiatives including room selection, staff recruitment, training, recognition programs, social media, committee work, and special projects.
• Attend departmental meetings and collaborate with campus partners to support divisional initiatives.

Summer Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary professional staff member overseeing summer housing operations.
• Supervise summer student employees and residence hall operations.
• Support summer conference and camp housing programs.
• Assist with office operations and coverage of the See Hub.
• Manage housing assignments, occupancy records, and key distribution.
• Participate in orientation, reunion activities, departmental planning, and other institutional initiatives.
• Collaborate with campus departments on special projects throughout the summer.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of Residence Life and Student Affairs.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Demonstrated leadership experience.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Strong organizational, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to effectively supervise, mentor, and develop student leaders.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, professionalism, and discretion in a fast-paced environment.
• Competency with technology and willingness to learn new software systems.
• Commitment to student development and the mission of Saint Mary's College.
• Ability to work evenings, weekends, holidays, overnight on-call rotations, and respond to emergencies.
• Ability to walk multiple flights of stairs and lift up to 25 pounds.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs, Counseling, or a related field.
• Experience in residence life, student affairs, or higher education.
• Experience with community development, student conduct, conflict resolution, advising, educational programming, and leadership development.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
• Strong relationship-building skills with students from diverse backgrounds.
• Experience supervising student employees.
• Ability to build collaborative relationships across campus and contribute positively to a team-oriented environment.

Schedule

• Full-time, 12-month, live-in position.
• Furnished on-campus apartment provided.
• Meal plan included while the dining hall is open.
• Comprehensive benefits package and professional development opportunities.
• Evening, weekend, holiday, emergency response, and overnight on-call responsibilities are required.
• This position is designated as essential personnel.