Assistant Director of Residential Life

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 ROLEThe 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 & CommunityEnsure 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 DevelopmentProvide 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.THE QUALIFICATIONSBachelor’s degree (or equivalent experience), preferably in a related field5-8+ years of experience working with youth in a structured settingDemonstrated experience managing and coaching staff, driving strong performance and accountabilityStrong ability to build relationships with scholars while maintaining clear expectations and boundariesStrong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and ensure consistent executionAbility to use data to inform decisions, guide staff, and support scholar outcomesAbility to remain calm, consistent, and solutions-oriented in fast-paced or high-pressure situationsDemonstrated initiative, ownership, and accountability, with the ability to work both independently and as part of a teamGrowth mindset and strong alignment with HomeWorks’ mission and valuesFamiliarity with or willingness to learn systems such as Google Workspace, Salesforce, or AsanaWillingness and ability to live on campus and work Sunday evenings through Friday morningsPreferred: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 TANGIBLE GOODSLocation: Lawrence/Trenton, NJStart date: July 14, 2026 Typical Working Hours (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-10pmMonday to Thursday: 1:30pm -10pmMonday to Friday: 6:00am-6:45am/8am (occasionally until 8am if on bus route)Monthly Wednesday Professional Development Training: 12:00pm-1:30pmSummer - July to AugustMonday to Friday 9am-5pmMay work occasional weekends and night events when necessary. Salary range: Compensation package of $95,500-$105,500, with a salary $70,000-$80,000, housing valued at $22,000/year during the school year and daily dinners valued at $3,500/year when the program is in session. Benefits: 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 Program401k planPaid 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 MobileProfessional development and leadership growth opportunitiesA rewarding career that positively impacts our amazing scholars