The Resident Representative is a role exclusive to Animal Crossing: New Horizons that is given to the first player to arrive on an island. This player is able to relocate houses and build bridges and inclines unlike the other residents, and is the only one who can progress the game's plot. The Resident Representative can also control the number (up to 10) and location of villager housing plots. The Resident Representative cannot be changed without deleting the player's save data.
The Resident Representative's player character is locked to each island upon creation. The only way to change the Resident Representative is to delete the island's data from Nintendo Switch system settings and start the game with a different player.
After the player meets certain requirements, Tom Nook gives the Resident Representative three housing kits and a list of requested furniture for each. Once the housing kits are placed, the requested furniture must be placed around the plot or in the submission box in front of the plot.
Trivia
Tom Nook will give the Resident Representative an aircheck for "Welcome Horizons" after K.K. visits the island and performs for the first time. Other players on the island will receive it directly from K.K. Slider himself, who will always play the song upon attending his show for the first time.
The Resident Representative is given a ladderDIY recipe from Tom Nook after they choose a location for the second house plot. Any players other than the Resident Representative must either have the item crafted by another player, purchase the recipe from Nook's Cranny, or receive it from Tom Nook after completing the crafting tutorial.
The vaulting pole is a similar case with the ladder. The Resident Representative is given the vaulting pole DIY from Blathers. As with the ladder, any other players on the island will need to have someone craft one for them, buy the DIY from Nook's Cranny, or receive it from Tom Nook after completing the crafting tutorial.
