Area Coordinator for Residence Life

The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc.; Hickory (NC); On-site; USD 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private apartment in student housing

Job summary

Lenoir-Rhyne University is seeking a 12-month Area Coordinator (AC) to live in a private apartment within the residence hall. The AC will manage housing for ~400 students, supervise Resident Assistants, and respond to crises as part of an on-call rotation.

Responsibilities include advising students, coordinating programming, collaborating with campus partners, and reviewing housing operations with the Director of Residence Life. Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Experience in Residence Life or related student affairs area.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills with professionalism in sensitive situations.
• Exceptional time management and organizational skills.
• Ability to collaborate with campus partners and students.

Responsibilities

• Train, supervise and evaluate a team of Resident Assistants.
• Oversee housing operations for assigned residence halls.
• Coordinate check-in/check-out procedures and housing logistics.
• Develop programs fostering inclusive communities and student growth.
• Serve as a hearing officer for student conduct matters.
• Respond to emergencies and participate in 24-hour on-call rotation.

Skills

Communication skills

Time management

Conflict resolution

Interpersonal skills

Crisis response

Social media engagement

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree in Higher Education or related field

Tools

eRezLife

Job description

Location

Hickory, North Carolina

Position Summary

The Area Coordinator (AC) is a 12-month, live-in professional staffmember within the Office of Residence Life at Lenoir-Rhyne University. The AC is an integral member of the Residence Lifeteam, providing direct support to students through communityengagement, programming, crisis response, and individualizedstudent outreach. As part of a collaborative and student-centered Student Life team,the AC helps foster a safe, inclusive and vibrant residentialenvironment. The AC is responsible for the day-to-day management ofresidential area housing approximately 400 students, includingtraining and supervising a team of resident assistants. The AC also serves in an on-call rotation to provide crisis intervention and emergency response support. To support on-call responsibilities and integration within the residential community, the AC is provided with a private, fully furnished apartment in a residence hall. This includes a full kitchen, utilities, cable and internet, offered as part of the overall compensation package.

Supervision

• Train, supervise and evaluate a team of undergraduate andgraduate Resident Assistants, ensuring strong performance,leadership development and support of departmental goals.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Promote individual and community growth through one-on-one andgroup advising, staff development, intentional role modeling andcollaborative programming.
• Collaborate with campus partners to enhance communityengagement, share resources and increase visibility of residencehall events and initiatives.
• In collaboration with the Director of Residence Life andStudent Conduct, oversee the student development and housingoperations of assigned residence halls.
• Coordinate and support check-in/check-out procedures andrelated housing logistics.
• Develop and implement programs independently and in partnershipwith staff and students that foster inclusive communities and meetthe educational, cultural, recreational and social needs ofresidents.
• Serve as the lead on one or more departmental collateral areas(e.g., RA recruitment and selection, RA training and development,housing operations, facilities, assessment) based on departmentalneeds, individual strengths, and professional growth goals.
• Assist with student retention initiatives as needed.
• Serve as a hearing officer for student conduct matters,providing fair and educational processes that support studentgrowth and uphold community standards.
• Provide occasional support to the Office of Student Support andOutreach, contributing to broader student well-being efforts.
• Respond to emergencies efficiently and compassionately toensure the safety and well-being of residents.
• Participate in a rotating on-call schedule with other ResidenceLife staff, providing 24-hour emergency response, includingresponding to medical incidents and accompanying students to thehospital when necessary.
• Assist the Director of Residence Life and Student Conduct inreviewing and developing residential policies and procedures.
• Build and maintain collaborative partnerships with campusstakeholders across all university locations.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Director of ResidenceLife and Student Conduct.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Experience using social media platforms for communication orengagement.
• Prior experience in Residence Life or a related student affairsarea.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to managesensitive and confidential situations with professionalism andeffectively interact with individuals at all levels of theuniversity.
• Exceptional time management and organizational skills withstrong attention to detail.
• Well-developed analytical, problem-solving, and conflictresolution skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs,Counseling, or a related field.
• Experience in planning and implementing residence hallprogramming.
• Experience supervising student staff or peer leaders.
• Experience using residential software, such as eRezLife.
• Training in crisis intervention, de-escalation, or relatedresponse techniques.

Compensation

• Compensation includes salary, benefits, a private one- ortwo-bedroom, one-bath apartment in student housing with utilities,cable, internet, free parking and a limited meal plan.

Work Schedule

• Standard office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5p.m., with rotational and occasional evening and weekendresponsibilities as needed.
• Participation in an on-call rotation with other Residence Lifestaff is required.
• Schedule is subject to change based on university needs, theacademic calendar and institutional growth.

The requirements outlined in this position description indicate theminimum knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to perform thejob competently. Role descriptions are an overview of the duties,responsibilities and requirements of the position and are notintended to be construed as an exhaustive list of the position.Employees may be required to perform other job-related assignmentsas requested and acquire new skills and responsibilities.Lenoir-Rhyne University reserves the right to modify, add, remove,or waive the position's responsibilities, duties, and skillsrequired.

Application Process

While completing the application, candidates will be prompted tosubmit:

1. Resume
2. Cover letter
3. Three professional references

References will only be contacted for finalists, and candidateswill be notified in advance.

The university’s mission, vision, and values statements may be reviewed using AboutLR .

Lenoir-Rhyne University promotes a welcoming campus environmentthat is integral to the university's commitment to excellence inengagement and education. We are particularly interested incandidates who have demonstrated experience nurturing a welcomingcommunity, working with faculty, staff and/or students from allwalks of life and/or incorporating varied perspectives andtraditions in their current or previous positions. This commitmentis rooted in our Lutheran tradition of fostering wisdom, nurturingvocation and preparing students for lives of purpose while servingthe common good.

About Lenoir-Rhyne University

Lenoir-Rhyne University is a co-educational, private, comprehensiveinstitution founded in 1891, with its traditional campus located inHickory, North Carolina, a city of more than 40,000. The universityhas additional graduate centers in Asheville, N.C., and Columbia,S.C. Situated in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Lenoir-Rhyne is less than an hour’s drive from Charlotte, and theHickory-Lenoir-Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area has apopulation of about 365,000. The university now offers more than 45undergraduate and 20 graduate degree programs to approximately2,400 students. Lenoir-Rhyne University seeks to liberate mind andspirit, clarify personal faith, foster physical wholeness, buildcommunity, and promote responsible leadership for service to theworld. Affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America(ELCA), Lenoir-Rhyne is open to people from all religious andnon-religious backgrounds.

Non-Discrimination and Equal Opportunity Policy

Lenoir-Rhyne University is committed to providing a workplace andeducational environment, as well as other benefits, programs, andactivities that are free from discrimination, harassment andretaliation.

LR is committed to creating a safe campus environment for allmembers of the LR community, including, but not limited to, thosewho identify as transgender and gender non-conforming. To that end,LR does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex(including sex stereotypes and sex characteristics), ethnicity,national origin, physical or mental disability, age, maritalstatus, pregnancy or related conditions, sexual orientation, genderidentity, gender expression, veteran or military status or anyother characteristic or status protected by applicable law.

To ensure compliance with federal and state civil rights laws andregulations and to affirm its commitment to promoting the goals offairness and equity in all aspects of the educational program,activity and employment, LR has developed internal policies andprocedures that provide a prompt, fair and impartial process forthose involved in an allegation of discrimination or harassment,and for allegations of retaliation.

LR values and upholds the equal dignity of all members of itscommunity and strives to balance the rights of the parties in thegrievance process during what is often a difficult time for allthose involved.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Lenoir-Rhyne University promotes a welcoming campus environmentthat is integral to the university's commitment to excellence inengagement and education. We are particularly interested incandidates who have demonstrated experience nurturing a welcomingcommunity, working with faculty, staff, and/or students from allwalks of life and/or incorporating varied perspectives andtraditions in their current or previous positions. This commitmentis rooted in our Lutheran tradition of fostering wisdom, nurturingvocation, and preparing students for lives of purpose while servingthe common good.