Villa Residence Rector (Rome, Italy)

The Rector oversees the Villa student residence, the Living Learning Community of the University of Notre Dame in Rome. The Rector lives in residence with the students and reports directly to the Director for Student Programs (or their designee).

While specific duties may vary, the Rector is called to serve as Chief Administrator, Community Leader, Pastoral Leader, and University Resource. The role includes, but is not limited to, the following:

Chief Administrator

• Participate in regular meetings for ongoing supervision and professional development, including annual NDG Staff Training for residence hall personnel.
• Supervise, train, and direct the professional development of the Villa staff.
• Ensure University policies regarding student conduct (including du Lac and Villa-specific guidelines) are consistently implemented and documented via the Villa Log, Maxient, and/or NDG Incident Reports.
• Coordinate and participate in on-duty, in-office, and emergency response rotations (day/night/weekends/holidays) while programs are in session.
• Facilitate and document repairs, maintenance, and cleaning operations under the guidance of the Director of International Facilities.
• Liaise with Villa security personnel in collaboration with the Director for Student Programs.
• Develop and implement pre-departure preparations and on-site orientations for new student cohorts.
• Coordinate semester turnover operations, including kitchen inventory and linen services.
• Supervise the implementation of the Villa meal plan.
• Write letters of recommendation for students.

Community Leader

• Build personal relationships with all residents to understand and address their individual needs.
• Proactively build a safe, welcoming, and vibrant community for both Villa and non-Villa residents.
• Establish dialogue with students who are less involved in the residential community.
• Create opportunities to celebrate the diversity of the resident body and the broader ND community.
• Support the academic mission of Notre Dame Rome and undergraduate learning outcomes.
• Foster the integration of students within the local Roman community and encourage the study of the Italian language.
• Organize and attend community programs and events, managing the monthly Villa event budget.
• Collaborate with colleagues to integrate faith and learning within the context of the city of Rome.

Pastoral Leader

• Serve as an active and visible witness of a committed Christian life.
• Promote opportunities for Catholic worship and plan events according to the liturgical calendar.
• Exercise a “ministry of presence” and reach out to marginalized or vulnerable students.
• Address disciplinary issues in collaboration with the Office of Community Standards.
• Act as a mediator to resolve conflicts between residents.
• Provide pastoral care, support, and crisis management for students of concern.
• Collaborate with Student Affairs professionals, faculty, and families when supporting students in difficulty.

University Resource

• Execute integrated procedures for monitoring and supporting student wellbeing.
• Liaise with local providers and University officials to ensure timely and documented responses to physical or mental health concerns.
• Serve as a primary liaison for faculty, staff, and parents.
• Maintain deep knowledge of University structures and direct students toward appropriate resources.
• Share critical information with the Rome Incident Response Team, Deputy Title IX Coordinator, and the CARE Team as appropriate.
• Develop and implement periodic surveys for data collection and prepare reports.
• Serve on annual task groups or University committees as required.

 

This is a full-time (38 hours per week), 6-month position with the possibility of extension.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree
• At least 2 years of experience in a related field such as pastoral ministry, education, student personnel or counseling
• Advanced proficiency in English and Italian
• Experience living in Rome
• Ability to legally work and live in Italy at the time of application

Preferred Qualifications

• Understanding of the structure, mission, and values of institutions of Catholic higher education
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in higher education with faculty, staff and students
• Knowledge of student life issues
• Effective interpersonal skills, including a willingness to create a welcoming environment for all people
• Ability to design and implement educational programming with and for students
• Capacity to manage stress and maintain personal and emotional stability in a demanding work environment
• Strong communication skills, both written and oral, with a facility for public speaking
• Strong organizational skills, with a demonstrated attention to detail
• Competent with technology (MS Office Suite, including Word, Excel, Gmail Suite) and ability to learn new systems

Compensation: €30,000-32,000

Application Requirements: Resume/CV, Cover Letter, and 3 Professional References

This is a full-time (38 hours per week), 6-month position with the possibility of extension.

The University of Notre Dame seeks to attract, develop, and retain the highest quality faculty, staff and administration. The University is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or age in employment. Moreover, Notre Dame prohibits discrimination against veterans or disabled qualified individuals, and complies with 41 CFR 60-741.5(a) and 41 CFR 60-300.5(a). We strongly encourage applications from candidates attracted to a university with a Catholic identity.