Residence Life and Operations Manager, Pre-College Programs

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Job Description Summary

Wake Forest University’s Pre-College Programs Department, which includes the College LAUNCH for Leadership program and Summer Immersion program, is seeking a dedicated, enthusiastic, and experienced leader to join our team as the Residence Life Manager (RLM). This vital role is central to ensuring the success, safety, and well-being of high school students residing on campus during the summer program. The RLM plays a leadership role in managing the student staff, hiring, onboarding, and training process, and fostering a positive, safe, and harmonious residential campus culture.

Job Description

*This position is not eligible for sponsorship of non-immigrant or immigrant visa status through Wake Forest University. All eligible applicants are encouraged to apply.

The RLM will support Pre-College Programs, including:

• The College LAUNCH for Leadership Program: Expands access to higher education by helping high school juniors grow as leaders, deepen their social awareness, and explore the opportunities available to them through college and beyond.
• The Summer Immersion Program: Offers high school students a week-long, hands-on learning experience led by world-class faculty, researchers, and industry professionals.

Essential Functions:

1. Recruitment, Staffing, and Training

The RLOM is responsible for the recruitment, staffing, and training of seasonal student staff and volunteers, specifically targeting Wake Forest undergraduate and graduate students.

• Recruitment: Develop and execute a targeted marketing and recruitment strategy to attract high-caliber Wake Forest students for various roles.
• Selection & Interviewing: Manage and implement the comprehensive hiring process that includes recruitment, interviews, and setting the key administrative requirements for the following positions:
  • Teaching Assistants (TAs): Support academic programming in the classroom.
  • Student Engagement Interns (SEIs): Build community and social connections while enforcing residential policies and procedures.
  • Marketing Interns: Capture the SIP story through photos, videos, social media, and newsletters.
  • Operations Interns: Support the logistics and create materials for programming.
  • Residence Life Coordinator: Enforce residential policies while managing a team of Student Engagement Interns, oversee evening activities, and provide high-level residential support.
• Onboarding: Facilitate the hiring of all seasonal student staff, plan and lead a comprehensive training week to ensure all staff are aligned with the WFU Pre-College Programs mission and safety protocols.
• Training: Develop and execute a comprehensive, week-long training modules for 40+ undergraduate staff members, successfully preparing them for the operational and student-support demands modeling the roles they will uphold during the Summer Immersion Program.
• Evaluation: Design and implement a comprehensive evaluation strategy to assess the effectiveness of staff recruitment, hiring, onboarding, and training processes (surveys, focus groups, and one-on-one meetings) as well as a structured mid-summer assessment process to identify successes, challenges, and opportunities for improvement in real time and inform future program enhancements.

2. Residential Life Leadership

• Foster a Culture of Belonging: Create and maintain a positive, inclusive, and constructive campus culture for seasonal staff and high school students.
• Student & Staff Safety: Develop and implement policies and procedures that ensure student and staff safety and well-being. Inclusive of physical, mental, and emotional health.
• Student & Staff Satisfaction: Develop and implement a system for addressing concerns, ensuring a safe, comfortable, and welcoming environment.
• Residence Hall Logistics: Oversee check-in/check-out procedures, including room assignments, inventory checks, and regular dormitory inspections to ensure cleanliness and safety standards.
• Student Conduct & Behavioral Accountability: Ensure adherence to the student code of conduct within the residential community while empowering residential staff to serve as the first line of support in addressing behavioral concerns and upholding program expectations. Provide guidance and oversight for conduct-related incidents and, when necessary, implement appropriate disciplinary actions in accordance with established program policies and dismissal procedures.

3. College LAUNCH for Leadership Program Volunteers and Work-Study

• Recruitment: Develop and execute a targeted hiring strategy to attract high-caliber College LAUNCH alumni to serve as volunteers and work-study staff members.
• Training and Onboarding: Facilitate the hiring of all College LAUNCH mentors, work-study staff members, and volunteers, and plan and lead a comprehensive training to ensure all staff are aligned with the WFU Pre-College Programs mission and safety protocols.
• Accountability: Ensure all mentors, volunteers, and work-study students do their assigned job well and lead meetings and 1:1 check-ins as needed.

4. Operations Management & Logistical Coordination

• Campus Partner Liaison: Serve as the operational point of contact between Pre-College Programs and vital university auxiliary departments, including WFU Conference Services, Dining Services, Facilities, Information Systems (IT), and Transportation/Parking.
• Supply Chain & Inventory Control: Oversee the procurement, tracking, organization, and distribution of all program assets, including academic supplies, operational technology, signage, evening activity materials, and residential access cards/keys.
• Master Scheduling & Space Utilization: Manage reservations and logistical setups for all academic classrooms, recreational facilities, and large-scale event spaces utilized across both programs, ensuring classroom spaces are equipped and ready.
• Financial Tracking: Monitor and track summer operational expenditures, reconcile procurement cards (P-Cards), manage petty cash workflows, and ensure all purchasing adheres to Wake Forest University financial policies.
• Vendor Management: Coordinate with external vendors and charter bus services for field trips, off-campus excursions, and programmatic deliveries, ensuring tight adherence to timelines and safety regulations.
• Rosters & Room Assignments: Manage the end-to-end room assignment process for residential students, including room selection, roommate matching, room changes, and coordination of building maintenance requests. Oversee the development and management of all program rosters and staff assignments, including orientation groups, campus tour groups, morning and evening check-in rosters, institute rosters, Student Engagement Intern group assignments, airport shuttle manifests, Google Classroom rosters, Academic Leader assignments, and medical and dietary accommodation rosters.
• Learning Management Systems & Resources: Develop, manage, and maintain Google Classrooms for all Pre-College Programs (Summer Immersion and College LAUNCH) and program staff. Curate and organize daily schedules, program materials, announcements, and resources to support student engagement and staff communication. Coordinate the collection, organization, and dissemination of guest presenter materials, including presentations, handouts, biographies, and supplemental resources, ensuring all content is accessible and available to participants and staff in a timely manner.

5. Safety and Security

• Enforcement: Oversee large-scale residential operations for students and staff; uphold program integrity by managing behavioral scenarios and exercising final authority on disciplinary actions, including the dismissal of participants or personnel when necessary.
• Emergency Response: Collaborate with campus security and university personnel to address emergencies or health concerns.
• Risk Management: Maintain a secure environment through constant vigilance and adherence to university residential policies.

6. Evening Activities and Workshops

• Programming: Plan, coordinate, and oversee engaging evening activities and workshops in collaboration with Residence Life Coordinators and SEIs.
• Engagement: Facilitate student participation to foster a sense of community and camaraderie. Ensure SEIs lead evening activities throughout the entire summer.
• Evaluation: Assess the impact of evening programs and pivot strategies as needed to improve the student experience.

7. Supervision and Training

• Mentorship: Directly supervise and mentor a large team of seasonal residential SEIs and Residence Life Assistants.
• Support: Provide ongoing training and regular check-ins to ensure staff effectively assist with logistics and maintain a positive atmosphere.
• Team Accountability: Maintain high performance standards across the seasonal team. Preside over weekly staff meetings and 1:1s to monitor progress, address challenges, and ensure all program goals are met.
• Training: Develop staff training for seasonal staff members, both asynchronous and in-person, in the following areas: program operations, student safety and wellbeing, conflict resolution and mediation, disciplinary procedures, team culture, professionalism, and customer service.

8. Administrative Duties

• Documentation: Maintain accurate records, including incident reports, maintenance requests, and program evaluations.
• Collaboration: Partner with program leadership to address programmatic, behavioral, social-emotional, or operational challenges.
• Residential Life: Oversee residence halls to ensure a clean, safe, and welcoming environment.

Required Commitment & Logistics

• Residential Requirement: This position requires living in an assigned Wake Forest University residence hall, supervising high school students and staff from Sunday afternoon through Friday afternoon for the duration of the program (June and July).
• Non-standard Work Schedule: The role typically requires 37.5 hours per week. However, during the summer, the position requires regular evening shifts until midnight. Flexibility is essential to accommodate weekend hours required for student check-in/check-out days. Additionally, this position requires working 1 Saturday per month (September - May) to assist with the College LAUNCH for Leadership Program from 9 am - 2 pm in Winston-Salem and Charlotte, North Carolina. A valid driver's license is required.
• Required Staff Move-in: May 29, 2026 (2:00 pm – 5:00 pm)
• Required Staff Training: June 1 – 5, 2026

Required Education, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• A background in education, teaching, school administration, counseling or student affairs is highly preferred.
• Proven experience in Residence Life, student supervision, undergraduate staff recruitment and training, and behavioral program management.
• Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to manage complex logistics while maintaining a clear vision for the program.
• The ability to maintain composure, exercise sound judgment, and lead effectively in a high-energy, fast-paced environment.
• Strong affinity for the Wake Forest University community and the Pro Humanitate spirit.
• Demonstrated success in staff recruitment, training, and the management of large teams of seasonal employees and volunteers.

Accountabilities:

• Responsible for own work only.

Physical Requirements:

• Talking; Hearing; Repetitive motions; Close visual acuity; Communicating with others to exchange information; repeating motions that may include the wrists, hands, and/or fingers; and assessing the accuracy, neatness, and thoroughness of the work assigned.

Environmental Conditions:

• No environmental conditions.

Additional Job Description

Time Type RequirementFull time

Note to Applicant:

This position profile identifies the key responsibilities and expectations for performance. It cannot encompass all specific job tasks that an employee may be required to perform. Employees are required to follow any other job-related instructions and perform job-related duties as may be reasonably assigned by his/her supervisor.

In order to provide a safe and productive learning and living community, Wake Forest University conducts background investigations and drug screens for all final staff candidates being considered for employment.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The University is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all qualified candidates to apply without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, disability and military or veteran status.

Accommodations for Applicants

If you are an individual with a disability and need an accommodation to participate in the application or interview process, please contact AskHR@wfu.edu or (336) 758-4700.

Organization

Wake Forest University, formed in 1834, has experienced decades of growth and innovation. WFU is a distinctive university that combines a liberal arts core with graduate and professional schools and innovative research programs. The University embraces the teacher-scholar ideal, which prizes the personal interaction between students and faculty. It is a place where exceptional teaching, fundamental research and discovery, and the engagement of faculty and students in the classroom and the laboratory are paramount.

Wake Forest University is a community that seeks the enlightenment and freedom which come through diligent study and learning. Its higher goal, however, is to give life to the University motto "Pro Humanitate," as members translate a passion for knowledge into compassionate service. The community shares a tradition that embraces freedom and integrity and acknowledges the worth of the individual. The heritage, established by the school's founders and nurtured by succeeding generations, promotes a democratic spirit arising from open-mindedness and discourse. Wake Forest fosters compassion and caring for others. Its collective strength and character are derived from the values and distinctive experiences of each individual; therefore, it affirms the richness of human intellect and culture and its contribution to knowledge, faith, reason, and dialogue. Furthermore, it strives toward a society in which good will, respect, and equality prevail. To that end, Wake Forest University rejects hatred and bigotry in any form and promotes justice, honor, and mutual trust.

The University is comprised of: the undergraduate college, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, School of Business, School of Divinity, School of Law, and School of Medicine (located on the Bowman Gray campus with Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center) and today enrolls about 4,846 undergraduates and 2,823 students in graduate programs at its principal location, the Reynolda campus. Students at Wake Forest University enjoy a great deal of access to and interaction with world-class faculty both in and out of the classroom setting with a student-faculty ratio of 11:1. Wake Forest employs approximately 2,772 full and part-time faculty and staff.

Wake Forest is a collegiate university offering a vibrant, intellectual community with a rich cultural life, an impressive array of facilities, and a strong athletics program competing in the fifteen-team Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Since its founding, the university has adopted the motto "pro humanitate," which is exemplified by a deep institutional commitment to public service and engagement with the world. Wake Forest has a strong commitment to holistic, eight-dimensional well-being for students, faculty and staff as evidenced in the Thrive initiative.

Winston-Salem, NC

Wake Forest is located in Winston-Salem, NC, a beautiful, mid-sized city centrally located in the Piedmont-Triad region of North Carolina. Winston-Salem is a family-friendly city with high quality schools, numerous outdoor recreational activities and events, and is known for its vibrant and thriving arts scene.

Winston-Salem residents enjoy close proximity to the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains (1.5 hours) and Atlantic beaches (4 hours), a moderate climate with four distinct seasons, a very reasonable cost of living, and an eclectic variety of restaurants, wine bars, and breweries for dining with friends and family. Winston-Salem offers many of the amenities of a large city but with the sense of community and quality of life of a smaller town (www.visitwinstonsalem.com).