Assistant Director of Residential Life

HOMEWORKS TRENTON

HomeWorks Trenton, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that combines the public school education with a boarding school experience to equip high school girls in marginalized communities to achieve economic freedom and become community leaders. By providing a space to explore and define their experiences, cultures, and identities, HomeWorks offers our scholars a chance to see that their ideas, visions, and presence are valid and relevant in this world.

The HomeWorks team has been recognized by The State of New Jersey, Princeton University, McKinsey & Company, Echoing Green, Comcast, Hollister, TRESemmé, Camelback Ventures, Barclays, Vital Voices, The Rachael Ray Show and more.

THE ROLE

The Assistant Director of Residential Life (Assistant House Director) manages the day-to-day execution of the HomeWorks residential program. This role ensures a structured, safe, and supportive residential environment where scholars are consistently engaged, supported, and growing academically and developing as leaders.

Reporting to the Director of Residential Life, the Assistant Director leads the daily implementation of the residential program by managing staff performance, reinforcing expectations, and ensuring consistent execution of systems aligned with the organization’s mission, strategic plan, and Theory of Change.

Because HomeWorks operates as a residential program, the Assistant Director lives on campus and provides leadership and supervision from Sunday evenings to Friday mornings.

The role spans four primary areas: team leadership and management; residential culture and scholar development; residential operations and safety; and family communication and engagement, in close collaboration with the Residential team and in partnership with the Program, Enrollment & Engagement, and Operations teams.

Residential Team Leadership & Management - 20%

• Partner with the Director of Residential Life to ensure strong team culture and consistent execution of residential systems and priorities across the residential program.
• Provide direct supervision, coaching, and performance feedback to Residential Life Assistants (House Sisters), reinforcing expectations, accountability, and follow-through.
• Manage execution of residential projects and initiatives set by the Director by translating direction into clear team actions, assigning responsibilities, and ensuring timely, high-quality completion.
• Ensure clear expectations, routines, and systems are implemented consistently, holding staff accountable for strong execution.
• Manage staff scheduling and coverage, ensuring supervision expectations are consistently met.
• Support preparation and follow-through for residential team meetings, including compiling scholar updates, tracking action items, and ensuring consistent execution of next steps.
• Model strong leadership in daily practice, setting the standard for professionalism, consistency, and engagement with scholars.

Residential Life Culture and Scholar Development - 45%

Residential Culture & Community

• Ensure consistent implementation of residential expectations for scholar behavior, routines, and shared responsibilities.
• Support the development of a positive residential culture by reinforcing community norms, modeling expectations, and addressing challenges in real time.
• Plan and lead scholar house meetings and community circles, ensuring they are structured, engaging, and aligned with residential priorities and scholar development goals.
• Lead restorative conversations and conflict resolution processes with scholars, supporting relationship-building and reinforcing community expectations.
• Respond to day-to-day scholar behavior concerns, escalating more complex or high-impact situations to the Director of Residential Life as needed.

Scholar Development

• Provide direct mentorship and support to scholars, building strong relationships and fostering independence, leadership, responsibility, and life skills.
• Monitor scholar well-being, engagement, and academic progress, and ensure consistent implementation of intervention plans to keep scholars on track.
• Oversee the day-to-day execution of academic support systems, including study hall, tutoring coordination, and academic accountability structures.
• Ensure scholars are progressing toward key academic, leadership and post-secondary milestones.
• Use scholar data to guide scholar coaching and drive timely support plans.
• Partner with the Program team to support the effective implementation of programming within the residential setting and serve as a programming facilitator as needed.
• Support alignment with the mental health partner (Family & Community Growth Center), ensuring follow-through on care plans and communication with the Director as needed.
• Co-lead the planning and execution of scholar and residential life events and milestones, including graduation and community events.

Residential Operations & Safety - 25%

• Oversee the day-to-day execution of residential routines, ensuring consistency in schedules, transitions, and scholar supervision across all shifts.
• Ensure consistent implementation of residential systems, including attendance tracking, health documentation, and daily routines, reinforcing accountability across the residential team.
• Oversee execution of residential logistics, including transportation, meals, inventory, and facility-related needs, ensuring smooth daily operations in partnership with the Residential Life Coordinator.
• Monitor the residential environment to ensure it remains safe, organized, and conducive to scholar well-being.
• Ensure safety protocols, supervision expectations, and emergency procedures are consistently followed by all residential staff.
• Respond to operational or safety issues in real time, ensuring immediate action, clear communication, and appropriate escalation to the Director of Residential Life and the Operations team when needed.
• Serve as bus aide when needed to ensure consistent supervision coverage and scholar safety during transportation.

Family Communication & Engagement - 10%

• Lead day-to-day communication with families regarding scholar progress, behavior, and residential expectations.
• Communicate proactively with families when concerns arise, ensuring clear, timely, and supportive communication.
• Execute quarterly parent-scholar meetings, including preparing updates and facilitating meetings.
• Build strong relationships with families, fostering trust and alignment in support of scholar success.
• Support family engagement efforts led by the Director of Enrollment & Engagement, including participation in family events and meetings.
• Contribute to scholar recruitment efforts led by the Director of Enrollment & Engagement by participating in key admission events and interactions with prospective scholars and families.

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE IN THE FIRST YEAR

The Assistant Director is responsible for ensuring the consistent execution of residential systems and staff practices that drive achievement of scholar outcomes.

Residential Leadership & Team Management

• 90-100% of Residential Life Assistants (House Sisters) meet or exceed performance expectations for supervision, routines, and scholar engagement, as measured through observation, coaching, and performance feedback.
• 100% of Residential Life Assistants receive regular (at least biweekly) coaching and feedback conversations, with documented progress and performance improvement over time.
• At least 1 out of 2 or 50% retention of Residential Life Assistants, supported by strong day-to-day management and coaching.
• Residential staff demonstrate consistent adherence to daily routines, supervision systems, and residential expectations across all shifts 90-100% of the time.
• 100% of weekly reviews of key residential data (attendance, behavior, scholar updates) are completed to inform staff actions and interventions.
• Maintains strong organizational systems and communication, including timely responses (urgent communication within 24-48 hours) and meeting at least 95% of project deadlines.

Scholar Outcomes

• 95-100% of scheduled scholar house meetings and community circles are executed as planned, with clear agendas and follow-up actions.
• Residential academic support systems (study hall, tutoring, academic check-ins) are executed with 95-100% consistency.
• 95-100% of scholars attend scheduled study hall and core programming.
• Residential expectations, routines, and community norms are consistently reinforced, resulting in at least 95% of scholars meeting residential expectations.
• 95-100% of scholars participate in residential programming and community activities.
• 100% of scholar behavior, engagement, and participation data is reviewed and used to inform staff actions and interventions on at least a weekly basis.
• 100% of scholars requiring additional academic or social-emotional support are identified and communicated to the Director within 24 hours of concern identification.
• 100% of scholar support plans are implemented with consistent follow-through by residential staff, with progress monitored and documented.
• 90-100% of scholars within the assigned cohort meet or exceed scholar academic and leadership expectations.
• 95%+ scholar retention supported through consistent monitoring of scholar well-being, engagement, and early identification of concerns.

Residential Operations & Safety

• 90-100% of daily residential routines (including wake-up, meals, transitions, transportation, and evening schedules) are executed on time across all shifts.
• 100% supervision coverage across all residential shifts, with no gaps in staffing.
• 100% of safety protocols, supervision expectations, and documentation procedures are followed by residential staff.
• 100% of facility, safety, or logistical concerns are addressed in real time and resolved or escalated to the Director as appropriate.

Family Communication

• 100% of day-to-day family communication is completed within established timelines and aligned with residential expectations and scholar progress.
• 100% completion of quarterly parent–scholar meetings, including scheduling, preparation, and follow-up.
• 100% of family concerns are acknowledged within 24 hours and addressed or escalated appropriately.

THE QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent experience), preferably in a related field
• 5-8+ years of experience working with youth in a structured setting
• Demonstrated experience managing and coaching staff, driving strong performance and accountability
• Strong ability to build relationships with scholars while maintaining clear expectations and boundaries
• Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and ensure consistent execution
• Ability to use data to inform decisions, guide staff, and support scholar outcomes
• Ability to remain calm, consistent, and solutions-oriented in fast-paced or high-pressure situations
• Demonstrated initiative, ownership, and accountability, with the ability to work both independently and as part of a team
• Growth mindset and strong alignment with HomeWorks’ mission and values
• Familiarity with or willingness to learn systems such as Google Workspace, Salesforce, or Asana
• Willingness and ability to live on campus and work Sunday evenings through Friday mornings

Preferred:

• Experience working in a residential program, boarding school, or youth development organization.
• Experience implementing academic support systems (e.g., study hall, tutoring, or academic coaching)
• Experience working with high school students.
• Experience working with/in the Trenton Public School System or comparable public school system.
• Bilingual (Spanish preferred)

THE PERSON

The person we would be over-the-moon to work with is deeply committed to our mission and excited to help build a strong, structured, and supportive residential community alongside a diverse team. The Assistant Director of Residential Life will see themselves in the examples below:

• Culture Builder & Leader – You intentionally shape a strong, values-driven residential community where scholars feel safe, supported, and challenged to grow. You understand that culture is built through consistency, accountability, and daily interactions.
• People Manager & Coach – You develop others through clear expectations, direct feedback, and accountability. You build trust while ensuring your team is aligned and executing at a high level.
• Execution-Oriented & Accountable – You ensure priorities turn into action. You are organized, follow through consistently, and hold yourself and others accountable for strong results.
• Student-Centered & Relational – You build strong relationships with scholars while maintaining clear boundaries and high expectations. You respond thoughtfully to changes in behavior, engagement, and well-being.
• Calm & Solutions-Oriented – You remain steady in fast-paced or high-pressure situations, approach challenges with a problem-solving mindset, and provide clear direction to others.
• Detail-Oriented & Data-Informed – You use data and attention to detail to guide decisions, coach staff, and ensure scholars are on track.
• Flexible & Team-Oriented – You are adaptable, collaborative, and willing to step in where needed to support the team and scholars.
• Clear & Courageous Communicator – You communicate directly and respectfully, and are comfortable engaging in difficult or high-stakes conversations.

THE LOCATION AND SCHEDULE

• Location: Lawrence/Trenton, NJ
• Typical Working Hours (Schedule Attached Below). Please note that times may be scheduled to change, and may vary if an emergency or unexpected situation occurs.
  • School Year - September to June
    • Sunday: 4:30pm-10pm
    • Monday to Thursday: 1:30pm -10pm
    • Monday to Friday: 6:00am-6:45am/8am (occasionally until 8am if on bus route)
    • Monthly Wednesday Professional Development Training - 12:00pm-1:30pm
  • Summer - July to August
    • Monday to Friday 9am-5pm
    • May work occasional weekends and night events when necessary.

• Your own residence (1 bed, 1 bath) in our new campus dormitory Fall of 2026, for the duration that you are employed with our organization.
• Medical, Dental, Vision plan offerings
• Long-term Disability Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• 401k plan
• Paid Time Off
  • During the school year - Following our partner school holiday schedules, which is approximately 22 days.
  • During the summer - returning residential staff get 15 days off.
  • Please Note: residential staff are unable to take vacation time off while our program is in session and our scholars are staying overnight in the dorm during the academic year.
• Smartphone and fully paid wireless plan through Mint Mobile
• Professional development and leadership growth opportunities
• A rewarding career that positively impacts our amazing scholars