Community Assistant

NU USA Northeastern University; Michigan; On-site; USD 48,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits package

Tuition assistance

Wellness program

Retirement plan

Commuting & transportation

Job summary

Northeastern University is seeking a Community Assistant to serve as a live-in staff member supporting first-year residential students in a safe, inclusive environment. You will work with Student Life to foster community, provide guidance, and respond to crises as part of a campus Residential Life team.

The role emphasizes student success, programming, and adherence to university policies while collaborating with campus partners. Evening, weekend, and on-call duties are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; 1-2 years of demonstrated student service or higher education experience in housing, residence life, or student affairs.
• Experience living with or working with high school or undergraduate students (residence life, student affairs, camp counselor, or similar role).
• Experience working with sensitive information and maintaining confidentiality.
• Ability to work under pressure and respond effectively to crisis situations.
• Fluent in English with excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Availability to work evenings, weekends, and participate in on-call rotation.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct Student Support & Guidance to first-year students and conduct regular check-ins.
• Respond to incidents as part of an on-call rotation and document accurately.
• Plan and implement diverse programs enhancing the residential experience.
• Monitor and enforce housing policies and conduct, offering educational referrals.
• Assist with day-to-day Housing & Residential Life operations and term transitions.

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Maxient

Microsoft 365

Job description

About the Opportunity

JOB SUMMARY: The Community Assistant is an entry-level, live-in staff member responsible for directly supporting the physical, emotional, social, and academic needs of first-year residential students. This position serves as a vital member of the Residential Life team, creating positive and valuable experiential learning opportunities that aid students in their academic coursework, help orient them to the Bay Area, and foster community building within residential and campus life. Community Assistants work collaboratively with Student Life and campus staff to maintain a safe, inclusive, and educationally purposeful residential environment that supports student success and personal development.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Student Support & Guidance: Provide direct guidance and support to first-year students navigating their transition to college life and studying away from home. Conduct regular one-on-one check-ins with assigned residents each semester to assess academic, social, and personal well-being. Respond to student concerns promptly and connect students to appropriate academic, medical, and/or mental health resources. Facilitate peer-to-peer connections and support networks within the residential community. Document student interactions and concerns through established case. Collaborate with Student Life and campus staff on student development initiatives and intervention strategies.
• Safety & Crisis Response: Serve as part of an on-call rotation (including after hours and overnight) for student residences to respond to incidents and emergencies. Maintain the safety and well-being of the residential population through regular community walks and community presence. Respond to incidents by following established protocols and coordinating with campus public safety and other resources when needed. Act as primary point of contact for students in residences during emergencies. Write accurate and timely incident reports documenting emergency situations and policy violations. Conduct post-incident follow-up with affected students and staff as directed. Complete routine room inspections to document and address potential. Maintain current knowledge of emergency procedures and campus safety resources.
• Community Development & Programming: Plan, coordinate, and implement diverse student programs, activities, and excursions that are educational, social, and/or recreational and enhance the residential experience. Programming may include evenings and weekends. Create programming that helps students explore the Bay Area and develop cultural awareness. Facilitate community-building activities that foster inclusive and engaging residential environments. Responsibly manage programming materials, supplies, and basic budget allocations. Assess program effectiveness through participant feedback and attendance tracking. Partner with campus departments and local organizations, where appropriate, to enhance programming opportunities.
• Community Standards & Policy Enforcement: Monitor and uphold student behavioral and housing policies and protocols while maintaining high standards of conduct. Address policy violations through educational conversations and appropriate referrals. Document student conduct concerns and collaborate with supervisor on resolution strategies. Serve as a positive role model for community standards and expectations. Facilitate conflict resolution between residents when appropriate. Assist residents in understanding and navigating university policies and procedures.
• Administrative Responsibilities: Assist with day-to-day operational needs within Housing & Residential Life. Assist with residential opening and closing processes at the beginning and end of academic terms. Prepare and submit regular updates to supervisor, as requested, on student concerns, community issues, and programming outcomes. Attend staff meetings, trainings, and professional development sessions. Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Required Qualifications: Bachelor's degree; 1-2 years of demonstrated student service experience or higher education experience in housing, residence life, or student affairs; Experience living with or working with high school or undergraduate students (residence life, student affairs, camp counselor, or similar role); Experience working with sensitive and private information and maintaining confidentiality; Sound judgment and analytical skills for problem solving and decision-making; Ability to work under pressure and respond effectively to crisis situations; Ability to work effectively in a culturally diverse environment; Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and build relationships with diverse stakeholders (colleagues, campus partners, students, families, etc.); Experience managing, facilitating, and coordinating events for large groups with enthusiasm and attention to detail; Fluent in English with excellent written and verbal communication skills; Availability to work evenings, weekends, and participate in on-call rotation; Proficiency with basic office technology and computer systems (Microsoft 365).
• Preferred Qualifications: Previous residential life or live-in staff experience; Training in crisis intervention, mental health first aid, or conflict resolution; Experience with case management or student conduct software (Maxient).

Physical, Mental, and Environmental Demands

• Work regularly involves weekend, evening, and overnight availability, and responsibilities may often extend outside traditional business hours.
• Work may involve exposure to distressing situations requiring emotional resilience and professional boundaries.
• Work often requires flexibility in terms of time, and physical demands.
• Work often requires walking moderate distances and climbing/descending stairs regularly.
• Work often includes navigating various terrains including hills, pathways, and outdoor areas in all weather conditions.
• Work often involves interruptions and meetings with a variety of people.
• Work occasionally requires sitting for long hours and using computers.
• Work occasionally requires physical exertion such as lifting heavy objects up to 50 pounds.

Position Type

Student Services

Additional Information

Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer. Northeastern has a comprehensive benefits package for benefit eligible employees. This includes medical, vision, dental, paid time off, tuition assistance, wellness & life, retirement- as well as commuting & transportation. Visit https://hr.northeastern.edu/benefits/ for more information.

Equal Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Compensation

Grade/Pay Type: 105H Expected Hiring Range: $22.85 - $31.42 With the pay range(s) shown above, the starting salary will depend on several factors, which may include your education, experience, location, knowledge and expertise, and skills as well as a pay comparison to similarly-situated employees already in the role. Salary ranges are reviewed regularly and are subject to change.

University Information

Founded in 1898, Northeastern is a global research university and the recognized leader in experiential lifelong learning. Our approach of integrating real-world experience with education, research, and innovation empowers our students, faculty, alumni, and partners to create worldwide impact. Our global university system provides our community and academic, government, and industry partners with unique opportunities to think locally and act globally. The system—which includes 14 campuses across the U.S., U.K., and Canada, 300,000-plus alumni, and 3,000 partners worldwide—serves as a platform for scaling ideas, talent, and solutions. The university’s residential campuses for undergraduate and graduate degrees are located in Boston, London, and Oakland, California. Our research and graduate campuses are in the Massachusetts communities of Burlington and Nahant; Arlington, Virginia; Charlotte, North Carolina; Miami; Portland, Maine; Seattle; Silicon Valley, California; Toronto; and Vancouver. Northeastern’s personalized, experiential undergraduate and graduate programs lead to degrees through the doctorate in 10 colleges and schools across our campuses. Learning emphasizes the intersection of data, technology, and human literacies, uniquely preparing graduates for careers of the future and lives of fulfillment and accomplishment. Our research enterprise, with an R1 Carnegie classification, is solutions oriented and spans the world. Our faculty scholars and students work in teams that cross not just disciplines, but also sectors—aligned around solving today’s highly interconnected global challenges and focused on transformative impact for humankind.