Program Manager, Community Connections and Engagement

About the role

The Michigan Housing Community Connections and Engagement Department is vital in fostering vibrant and inclusive residential communities where students feel a strong sense of belonging. It achieves this through dynamic engagement and programming in residence halls, addressing residents' accommodation needs, facilitating connections to campus resources, and supporting students in navigating residential inclusive community concerns.

Responsibilities

• Management of Residential Experience (40%):

  • Lead The Diversity Peer Educator (DPE) Program
  • Mentor and empower DPEs live-in student staff dedicated to fostering belonging and throughout the residential community.
  • Guide DPEs in the design and facilitation of educational workshops, courageous conversations, and signature programming that strengthen intercultural competence and uphold an inclusive campus climate.
  • Oversee Multicultural Councils, providing expert advice, leadership development, and ongoing support to student leaders as they create and implement programs celebrating identity, cultural heritage, and shared experience.
  • Actively engage with department and campus committees geared toward enhancing the residential experience, collaborating with campus partners to shape initiatives that promote a strong sense of belonging for all residents.
  • Sustain an inclusive and welcoming environment for all residents, including international and graduate students through:
  • Partnering with student leaders and professional staff to plan and facilitate community-building initiatives directly geared towards this population.
  • Oversee programmatic and logistical components of residential events and engagement opportunities, ensuring accessibility and meaningful participation.
  • Promote opportunities for residents to connect, build relationships, and engage in dialogue in ways that foster connection, belonging, and individual growth.

• Residential Climate Support and Education (40%):

  • Support the M Housing residential climate work, by supporting residents when residential inclusive community concerns arise.
  • Provide consultation to colleagues across M Housing (i.e. Residence Education, Marygrove, Housing Support and Community Responsibility) on residential inclusive community concerns.
  • Directly mediate conflicts among residents and residential communities/floors, manage conflict resolution processes with residents, problem-solving crisis intervention options to deliver for residents, and manage crisis management processes related to identity within the residential community using restorative practices.
  • Determine educational needs based on crisis interventions and create and facilitate trainings, workshops, community circles, and roommate/resident conflicts based on those needs for both residents, student staff, and professional staff.
  • Collaborate closely with Community Connections and Engagement and campus partners on creating and implementing educational programs that complement the M Housing You Belong Here campaign.
  • Develop and facilitate training sessions, workshops, and programs for students and staff that address residential inclusive community concerns.
  • Develop digital content about the You Belong Here campaign and educational components for programming, partnerships, websites, social media platforms, and phone apps.

• Departmental Administration (20%):

  • Serve in on-call rotation to manage residential inclusive community concerns remotely, by phone, or email.
  • Daily triaging and tracking of residential inclusive community concern reports.
  • Support crisis intervention, conflict resolution, and providing resource and referral services to students of all identities utilizing a culturally competent framework.
  • Work with the Community Connections and Engagement staff to assess the effectiveness of programs and interventions in residential communities and how it supports campus-wide initiatives of belonging.
  • Manage departmental communication including resident newsletters and social media and supervision of student staff who support this work.
  • Create and coordinate programs and events sponsored by the department.
  • Provide support for administrative processes of the department, including serving as the primary back-up support for health, disability, and religious observance accommodations.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in related field
• Experience in student affairs and/or related educational services work
• Experience building inclusive and multicultural communities
• Experience in mediation, conflict management, or restorative practices in resolving conflict

Application

Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without company sponsorship. Selected candidates whose start date is 4/1/2026 or after, will not be eligible for the university FY26-27 salary/merit plan unless otherwise notified. Salary may vary depending on qualifications, experience, and education of the selected candidate.