Job Description
USC Bovard Scholars aims to help high-achieving high school students with financial need gain admission to and succeed at the nation's top universities. Scholars will receive admission and financial aid guidance, personalized career exploration opportunities, comprehensive test preparation, and leadership development. Many of our students will be the first in their families to attend college. The program includes an intensive, two-week residential experience during the summer on USC's campus at no cost to the students.
USC Bovard Scholars is seeking a motivated and driven leader to serve as Residential Coordinator for the 2026 summer intensive. Candidates should have experience supporting economically disadvantaged students within an academic environment. The ideal candidates will have experience working with high school students and a passion for expanding student access and academic opportunity.
This is a full-time, live-in professional position overseeing high school scholars and a team of resident assistant staff. This position performs a variety of important daily operational tasks.
Responsibilities: - Train, supervise, and evaluate a team of resident assistant (RA) staff members.
- Provide leadership to scholars and create and maintain an accepting, respectful, and friendly atmosphere that stimulates student learning and development.
- Establish rapport with scholars and RA staff through attentive listening, genuine care and support, awareness of student needs, and appropriate consultation and referral.
- Provide oversight and guidance to RA staff - delegate tasks appropriately and oversee completion.
- Respond to emergency situations that include psychological, physical, maintenance, and natural/environmental crises.
- Enforce university policies, and Bovard Scholars policies, confront student behavior, and document student actions and/or situations when necessary.
- Working closely with the RA staff, create and implement an enriching and fun evening and weekend schedule of activities for scholars.
- Serve as a collaborative member of the leadership team, willing to troubleshoot and problem-solve across teams to foster a positive environment for staff and students.
- Provide leadership to the RA team, helping them understand and carry out their tasks and enforce limitations to their roles.
- Uphold University policies to protect the health and safety of all students and staff. Lead the RAs in understanding and upholding policies.
- Serve as a solution-focused liaison between the RA staff and the broader leadership team to foster collaboration, resolve concerns, and aid in crisis prevention.
- Participate in departmental leadership team check-in meetings.
- Maintain continuous lines of communication with RA staff via verbal communication and emails, texts, and phone calls.
- Oversee student attendance. Manage the student check-in/out system and procedures for scholars coming to and from campus. Serve as the first point of contact for classroom staff with tardy students. Ensure all students are accounted for each evening before lights out.
- Lead meal and event coordination. Establish and supervise off-campus excursions, manage transportation schedules, procure meals for trips, and ensure appropriate staff-to-student ratios. Arrange meals for staff and students outside the routine dining hall schedule.
- Maintain health/emergency support and documentation. Document all student medical concerns that are addressed by the Student Health Center or another clinic/hospital. Coordinate with RAs so all students have a staff member accompanying them to the Student Health Center. Serve as the accompanying staff member for all off-campus medical visits.
- Other duties as assigned by department leadership.
Required Work Schedule Summer Intensive Program: July 26-August 2, 2026 (Full-time+ hours per week, live-in, 24/7 position, overtime hours likely)
- Evening and weekend hours are required, which are the busiest times, and lighter hours during the daytime.
In addition to the summer session (July 26- August 2, 2026), this role includes:
- Staff Training: RC will lead a one week training of RA team before the summer intensive program - remote and in-person; Residence hall move-in day for all residential staff will be Tuesday, July 21, 2026 to commence in-person training week.
- Onboarding training and preparation in June - remote, flexible, approximately 20 hours total
- Room and board
- Three meals provided daily, including weekends
The hourly rate for this position is $30/hour. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.
Required Qualifications
Bachelor's degree
Supervisory experience within residence life / residential education preferred
Experience working with youth/young adults
Experience working with low-income students and families
Superior writing and communication skills
Ability to understand the unique social-emotional needs of individual students
Demonstrated cultural awareness and competency
Ability to adjust to changing priorities and perform well under pressure
Demonstrated organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to work both independently and as part of a team
Ability and willingness to operate a motor vehicle preferred
USC is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or USC policy. USC observes affirmative action obligations consistent with state and federal law. USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal records in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for employers and the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and with due consideration for patient and student safety. Please refer to the
Background Screening Policy Appendix D for specific employment screen implications for the position for which you are applying. We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact USC Human Resources by phone at (213) 821-8100, or by email at uschr@usc.edu. Inquiries will be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by law.
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Job Tags
Hourly pay, Full time, Work experience placement, Summer work, Live in, Local area, Remote work, Flexible hours, Afternoon shift