Program Manager, Community Connections and Engagement

How to Apply

A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.

Job Summary

Unit Summary:

Michigan Housing is an actively engaged unit within Student Life Auxiliary Services within the Division of Student Life. M Housing serves approximately 11,500 students; 9,100 undergraduate and 2,400 graduate and professional students and their families. Although first-year students are not required to live on campus; historically 96-98% of all new first-year students choose to live on. Currently, the M Housing portfolio consists of 19 residential facilities that include traditional residence halls, apartments, and other living options located in communities on north and central campuses in Ann Arbor. In partnership with Michigan Dining, there are 9 dining halls and 9 retail operations embedded within the residence halls that serve approximately 4 million meals per year. Beginning Fall 2024, M Housing partnered with other units and departments within Student Life to support the residential experience for approximately 25 U-M students on the Marygrove campus, located in Detroit. In Fall 2026, five new residence halls housing 2,300 undergraduate students and a new 822-seat dining facility will open to continue M Housing's strong tradition of providing affordable housing options and services for U-M students. In addition to supporting the academic mission of the University, M Housing creates and sustains diverse learning-centered residential communities that ultimately enhance the residential experience and serve as a guide for their work in support of creating a sense of belonging for students.

Position Summary:

The M Housing Community Connections and Engagement Department is dedicated to fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment for all residents. The Program Manager plays a key role by overseeing the M Housing Multicultural Lounge Program. This program is essential in promoting engagement and connection within the residential community by building community, enhancing belonging and well-being, and serving as a bridge to campus resources. The Program Manager is responsible for managing reservations and access requests for the multicultural lounge, as well as addressing any damages. Additionally, they collaborate with their team to develop student programming and enhance engagement opportunities.

This position reports directly to Assistant Director, Community Connections and Engagement.

Responsibilities*

Management of Residential Experience (40%)

Join us by providing leadership for the Multicultural Lounge program in M Housing, focusing on ensuring our multicultural lounge programs are aligned with the shared goals of raising awareness, increasing accessibility, and enhancing learning in multicultural spaces. This person will provide leadership over this program by:

• Staff Leadership and Management
  • Select, train, and supervise approximately 20 Multicultural Lounge Community Assistants (MLCAs) and 4 Multicultural Lounge Community Coordinators (MLCCs) across residence hall communities.
  • Conduct weekly team meetings with all MLCA staff.
  • Hold regular one-on-one meetings with each MLCA and weekly one-on-one meetings with each MLCC to provide guidance and support.
• Programmatic Development and Implementation
  • Design and implement a curriculum tailored to meet student learning outcomes and address community needs.
  • Collaborate closely with the MLCAs and support student staff in designing, planning, and coordinating programs/events sponsored by the Community Connections and Engagement Department. These events aim to enhance the residential community experience and effectively connect residents to campus resources.
  • Develop and implement recruitment strategies, including marketing, branding, and outreach efforts, to engage students at various levels of programmatic involvement.
• Partnerships and Collaboration
  • Establish and maintain collaborations with student organizations and other campus entities to enrich program offerings.
  • Work closely with residential facilities and Student Life Tech Solutions teams to address any damages or issues within the multicultural lounges, ensuring an optimal experience for residents and campus partners.

Residential Climate Support and Education (35%)

• Conduct and analyze research on the history of the multicultural lounges to understand diverse cultural backgrounds, inform inclusive policies, and improve current inclusivity efforts by learning from past challenges and successes.
• Create and facilitate programs and discussions that utilize historical findings to educate residents, foster intercultural dialogue, and strengthen community bonds through a sense of belonging.
• Support the Community Connections and Engagement Senior Program Managers in co-developing curriculum content related to multicultural lounges and living environments, facilitating partnerships with campus faculty and staff.
• Regularly curate and create content for Community Connections and Engagement's electronic platforms, including Happenings @ Michigan, digital signage in residence halls, and social media channels.
• Organize and lead workshops and presentations to highlight the significance of multicultural lounges and living environments.
• Assist with case management related to residential climate support and residential accommodations, including arranging and meeting with students and providing follow up via email.

Departmental Administration (25%)

• Participate in an on-call rotation to address campus climate incidents within residence halls, providing support remotely via phone or email.
• Collaborate with the Community Connections and Engagement team to evaluate the effectiveness of programs and interventions in residential communities, ensuring alignment with campus-wide belonging initiatives.
• Oversee departmental communications, including managing resident newsletters and social media, as well as supervising student staff involved in these activities.
• Partner with the Community Connections and Engagement team to create and organize departmental programs and events.
• Support the department's administrative processes, including managing the reservation process for the multicultural lounges.
• Perform additional duties as assigned by the leadership of M Housing and the Community Connections and Engagement department.

Required Qualifications*

• Bachelor's Degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience in student affairs and/or related educational services work.
• Experience building inclusive communities or in student supervision and program leadership
• Experience in mediation, conflict management, or restorative practices in resolving conflict.
  

Modes of Work

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.

Additional Information

Financial/Budgetary Responsibility:

• This position will have responsibility for a programming budget.

Working Conditions:

• The job requires working evening and weekend hours and traveling to multiple M Housing locations on campus. The position is an onsite position and shares office coverage responsibilities.
• Possibility for one (1) day remote work a week following successful completion of probationary period and performance is in good standing.

Physical Requirements:

• Be able to move and transport packages and boxes up to 25 lbs

Direct Reports:

• Direct supervision over the Multicultural Lounge Community Assistants and other hourly student staff.
• Provides functional supervision of all Community Connections and Engagement student staff on managing the multicultural lounges and supporting residents.

Additional Information

This role may have reporting obligations under Title IX and Clery.

Authorization to work in the U.S. is a precondition of employment and applicants for this position will not be sponsored for work visas.

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.

#studentlife

Union Affiliation

This position is included in the bargaining unit represented by the University Staff United (USU), which represents bargaining unit members in all matters with respect to wages, benefits, hours and other terms and conditions of employment.

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.

U-M EEO Statement

The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.

276119

Program Manager, Community Connections and Engagement

Student Affairs Program Mgr

Ann Arbor Campus

Onsite

Full-Time

Regular

Exempt

Dsa Housing Services

Central Administration

4/10/2026 - 5/01/2026

$54,100.00 - $59,500.00

Academic & Student Services