Residence Life Employment

Employment opportunities for students are plentiful within the Office of Residence Life.  In addition to offering numerous full-time and professional positions, the department is one of the largest employers of students at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.  Student staff positions are varied. Working as a student staff member provides a great opportunity to develop work skills and gain experiences.

On-campus employment offers the convenience of working for employers who are flexible with students' class schedules, walking between work and class.

Desk Assistant Application

Desk Assistants

Desk Assistants under the supervision of the Associate Director of Operations will:

  • Greeting residents, guests, and other visitors.  

  • Providing customer service to all residents, guests, and other visitors.  

  • Receiving, sorting, and distributing mail and packages. 

  • Answering telephones.  

  • Checking in and out equipment.  

  • Providing hall and campus information to residents, guests, and University personnel. 

These functions are varied and extensive.

Contact Information: Matt Allbright (Associate Director of Operations) 308-865-8156 or allbrightmd@unk.edu. 

Application Deadline: When positions are filled

Summer Resident Assistant

Summer Resident Assistants are vital to keeping our summer students safe. They perform nightly rounds to look for abnormalities, assist with desk operations, and work to create programs for the summer residents. We often work with the RA team to assist with planning for the upcoming semester with our RA training program.  We have a small crew over the summer, so we are looking for students that have enjoyed the Resident Assistant position in the past that would like to work for us and give us feedback.

General Responsibilities:

  • Participate in all required orientation, training sessions, and weekly staff meetings 

  • Create and maintain an inclusive community for summer housing located in Antelope/Nester & Possibly Martin Halls

  • Enforce University of Nebraska Student Code of Conduct & UNK Residence Life Policy

  • Report Directly to Summer Hall Director Intern & In-Directly to Residence Hall Coordinator

  • Perform nightly rounds in the community and serve in an on-call capacity

  • Prepare events for students over the summer

  • Assist with RA training planning

  • Assist with New Student Enrollment events

  • Assist with large scale summer events such as conferences, loft removal, and others.

Applicants must have been a Resident Assistant During the 2025-2026 Academic Year

Position will start May 8th 

Compensation: $15/hr (up to 25 hours per week), on-campus housing during employment.

Application Deadline: February 13, 2026 but applications will be accepted until positions are filled

Contact Information: Kelley Robonson (robinsonk4@unk.edu)  

Summer Conference Assistant

The Summer Conference Assistant is a vital member of the Conference Services team. The CA reports directly to the Conferences Coordinator and will receive work assignments from this individual. The CA is required to live in their assigned residence hall to respond to the day-to-day needs of conference participants. In many cases, the CA is the first contact conference guests have with the university. The CA represents themselves, Conference Services, the Office of Residence Life, and UNK as a provider of quality customer service. 

General Responsibilities:

  • Participate in all required orientation, training sessions, and weekly staff meetings. 

  • Operate the conference hall desks as assigned (Shifts and the number of hours will vary weekly) 

  • Assist with the preparation, registration, and check-in/outs of conference guests. 

  • Be present in the conference hall each night and relocate to other conference halls on a temporary basis as needed. 

  • Fulfill evening and weekend duty responsibilities as assigned, complete security rounds through the building, and be accessible for assistance 

  • Monitor the activities of guests and conference participants to assure their safety and satisfaction 

  • Assist with crisis intervention/emergency situations as they arise. 

  • Enforce and abide by all university rules, regulations, and conference policies 

  • Assist with staffing the New Student Enrollment (NSE) Table

  • Be a positive and knowledgeable representative on UNK, occasionally giving tours of residence halls to prospective or new UNK students and their families. 

  • Some duties will include moderate physical exertion.

  • Other duties as assigned. 

This position is open to all currently enrolled UNK Students

Position will start May 8th 

Compensation: $15/hr (up to 35 hours per week), on-campus housing during employment.

Application Deadline: February 13, 2026 but applications will be accepted until positions are filled

Contact Information: Matt Allbright (allbrightmd@unk.edu)  

Summer Staff Employment Application

The Office of Residence Life at the University of Nebraska at Kearney offers full-time Residence Hall Coordinator positions and graduate-level Graduate Hall Director positions. More information can be found below and on the UNK employment opportunities webpage.

UNK Professional Staff Recruitment Guide

View all Full-time and Graduate Employment Opportunities

Graduate Hall Director (GHD)

Graduate Hall Directors (GHD) are responsible for the development of a supportive, functioning community within a residence hall, ranging in size from 85 to 400 residents.  GHDs supervise a paraprofessional staff, advise individual students and student groups, work to resolve the behavioral problems of students and assist in the management of their residence halls.  As staff members with the Office of Residence Life, GHDs work cooperatively with other Residence Life staff and other Student Affairs offices at the University of Nebraska Kearney. GHDs are hired by the department as positions become available. Traditionally, hiring takes place at the end of the fall and/or spring semester.  Specifics concerning qualifications and job duties for the GHD position may be reviewed in the GHD job description.  The Office of Residence Life interviews local UNK undergraduates, graduates, and graduate assistant applicants for UNK graduate programs candidates and occasionally attends the Oshkosh Placement Exchange before making official job offers to candidate

Residence Hall Coordinator

Residence Hall Coordinators supervise hall personnel and total educational and developmental programs within a residence hall; serves as advisor to hall government officers, committees, boards, groups and individual students; selects, trains and evaluates staff; conducts disciplinary meetings and/or makes referrals; establishes relationship with custodial and maintenance staff; serves on departmental and University committees; initiates and implements hall financial procedures; maintains all records; and represents the Office of Residence Life to parents, guests and members of the university community.