Coordinator of Residential Student Development Initiatives

George Mason University; Fairfax (VA); Hybrid; USD 52,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

George Mason University is seeking a Coordinator of Residential Student Development Initiatives in Fairfax, VA. The role focuses on designing training for student staff and coordinating engagement strategies across residential communities.

The position reports to the Assistant Directors and works in a hybrid setting within Housing & Residence Life, supporting learning outcomes and student success across multiple housing facilities.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Proven ability to design and deliver training and development programs for staff and students.
• Experience partnering with campus offices and external organizations to advance engagement.

Responsibilities

• Plan, design, and execute strategies for residential student staff training and development.
• Co-lead residential student experience initiatives and engagement models.
• Collaborate with campus partners to align training with university goals.
• Supervise graduate staff and interns supporting training and engagement efforts.
• Participate in divisional meetings and serve on committees related to student engagement.

Skills

Training & development

Student engagement

Collaboration

Communication

Education

Master's degree in related field

Tools

Learning Management Systems (LMS)

Job description

Coordinator of Residential Student Development Initiatives

Department: University Life

Classification: Administrative Faculty

Job Category: Administrative or Professional Faculty

Job Type: Full-Time

Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)

Location: Fairfax, VA

Workplace Type: Hybrid Eligible

Sponsorship Eligibility: Not eligible for visa sponsorship

Salary: Salary range starting in the low $50ks, commensurate with education and experience

Criminal Background Check: Yes

About the Department:

Housing & Residence Life (HRL) is an auxiliary organization within the University Life unit of George Mason University. HRL employs over 170 full‑time and graduate staff members and over 200 undergraduate student staff members. HRL oversees student housing areas comprised of roughly 6,000+ beds within over forty (40) residential facilities, as well as housing the distributed campuses including the Science & Technology Campus and the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation. HRL is committed to provide a safe, student-centered environment that is inclusive of the global community; dedicated to creating a home that enriches the experiences of our students, staff, and faculty.

About the Position:

The Coordinator of Residential Student Development Initiatives plans, designs, and executes strategies to promote learning and development of residential student staff and staff in accordance with divisional and university goals through collaboration and coordination with internal and external partners. The Coordinator is responsible for assisting the planning of the student engagement and student staff training and development. This position has shared responsibility for the following functional areas as it pertains to the HRL department; ongoing student staff training, development opportunities, curriculum creation and implementation in conjunction with university partners. The Coordinator reports directly to the Assistant Director of Training and Development, with a dotted-line reporting relationship to the Assistant Director of Student Engagement for responsibilities related to student engagement model.

Responsibilities:

Student Staff Training & Development

• Coordinates student staff training and development in collaboration with HRL and university stakeholders to equip student staff with the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to provide consistent, high-quality support to residential students;
• Develops and implements, a tiered competency based training curriculum aligned with the University Life Core Competencies to prepare student staff to provide consistent, effective service, foster student success, and contribute to a safe and inclusive residential community;
• Collaborates with HRL stakeholders on an ongoing basis to determine and update individual and departmental training needs through assessment and consultation with supervisors and department leadership, ensuring training remains relevant and supports departmental goals;
• Utilizes data from staff evaluations and assessment regarding student staff performance to inform future training and development initiatives;
• Organizes, develops, and leads training initiatives for student staff members to ensure they are prepared with the knowledge, skills, and competencies needed to effectively support residential students and fulfill departmental expectations;
• Identifies and promotes student staff professional development opportunities through collaboration with various campus offices and external professional organizations to support student staff growth, skill development, and preparation for future academic and professional success;
• Designs and coordinates ongoing professional development and training opportunities for implementation by staff supervisors and mid‑term in‑service sessions to ensure student staff skill development; and
• Designs and builds training modules for off‑cycle training needs, incorporating best practices and technology platforms to ensure timely, accessible, and effective training that addresses emerging student staff development needs.

Residential Student Experience & Engagement Model

• Co‑leads the design, planning, and implementation of residential student experience initiatives, including active and passive programs and engagement strategies, to foster student learning, engagement, and community development aligned with departmental and University Life learning outcomes;
• Serves on the Student Engagement Committee with department and campus partners to develop, implement, and continuously update student engagement learning outcomes, educational strategies, engagement approaches, and assessment practices to enhance student learning, engagement, and community development within residential communities;
• Collaborates with campus partners to design and implement campus initiatives and learning outcomes within the residence halls to enhance student learning, engagement, and overall residential student experience;
• Engages residential students, the Residence Hall Association, and HRL student staff in the planning, execution, and assessment of residential student experience initiatives to promote student involvement, strengthen community engagement, and improve program effectiveness;
• Engages HRL staff, with focus on the Residence Life team, in the implementation of the Student Engagement Model;
• Develops training and educational initiatives for the HRL student and professional staff to help disseminate the student engagement model and ensure proper implementation;
• Engages in the residential student experience strategic planning process by connecting the Student Engagement Model to residential learning communities and other related initiatives to ensure alignment, consistency, and the promotion of student learning and community development within the residence halls;
• Provides outreach and encourages student leaders within the residence halls to participate in work groups and review committees related to updating and refining the model;
• Conducts research and collaborates with other institutions across the nation to stay up‑to‑date with best practices as they relate to the student engagement model; and
• Serves as the departmental liaison with other Mason offices to coordinate their contributions to student staff training and the student engagement model, ensuring consistent collaboration that strengthens program quality, alignment, and the overall residential student experience.

Supervision & Leadership

• Supervises and evaluates departmental graduate staff and interns supporting student staff training and residential experience initiatives by setting clear performance expectations, providing direction, and addressing performance issues;
• Conducts weekly one‑on‑one meetings to monitor performance, provide feedback, and support professional growth to ensure effective performance and high‑quality program delivery;
• Organizes workflow and ensures that student employees understand their duties or delegated tasks; and
• Co‑advises the HRL Student Staff Voice organization to provide guidance, support, and structure that empowers student staff leadership, strengthens communication between students and departmental leadership, and enhances the overall residential student experience.

Departmental and Divisional Responsibilities

• Actively participatesin UL divisional meetings, initiatives, and in‑personevents to stay connected with divisional and institutional priorities, and to foster a cross‑unit collaboration. Participatein professional development workshops and training sessions for staff across the division to promote continuous learning and skill enhancement;
• Serves as a live‑in staff member and participates in an on‑call rotation to respond promptly to residence hall incidents and support student safety as part of the residence life duty response team;
• Stays informed about best practices, research, and emerging trends in higher education and student support services to ensure Housing & Residence Life remains innovative and responsive to the evolving needs of the student body;
• Supports divisional initiatives and other special projects as assigned, actively participating at in‑person events and volunteer opportunities to represent Housing & Residence Life and UL effectively to the campus community; and
• Participates in professional development workshops and training sessions for staff across the division to promote continuous learning and skill enhancement.

Required Qualifications:

• Master's degree in related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience;
• Professional full‑time experience typically obtained in 1+ years in student affairs; 2 years of graduate level experience may be substituted for an equivalency to 1 year of full‑time professional experience;
• Experience developing and implementing intentional programs, activities, or engagement models that foster meaningful connections with students and creates opportunities for students to engage with one another and the institution;
• Experience planning, coordinating, and leading the implementation of large‑scale programs, training, or events, such as student staff training, banquets, block parties, or similar initiatives involving multiple activities, partners, and logistical components;
• Experience developing and delivering training for student employees and evaluating training effectiveness to improve future training and learning outcomes;
• Demonstrated interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills with the ability to communicate and engage effectively with varying audiences of constituents and departmental stakeholders;
• Demonstrated ability to effectively engage and educate students and staff through presentation training, ensuring clear communication and enhanced learning outcomes;
• Ability to work collaboratively and build effective working relationships with external offices and campus partners; and
• Ability to effectively solve problems, adapt to new situations and/or competing priorities, and effectively implement change.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience at a four‑year institution in Housing or other student affairs department;
• Experience supervising, coaching, and evaluating staff, including providing constructive feedback, supporting professional development, and promoting effective performance outcomes;
• Experience with learning management systems or other software platforms designed to manage student success and communication; and
• Knowledge of student learning and development theory and student engagement practices in higher education, including program design, learning outcomes, and assessment methods for residential student experiences.

Instructions to Applicants:

For full consideration, applicants must apply for Coordinator of Residential Student Development Initiatives at https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information, and provide a resume, and cover letter for review.

Posting Open Date: October 5, 2026

For Full Consideration, Apply by: October 19, 2026

Open Until Filled: Yes