Project Program Specialist

Kinsley Power Systems; Arkadelphia, Northern (AR, KY); Hybrid; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, AR seeks an Area Coordinator of Housing Administrative Services within Housing and Community Standards. The role leads administrative, budget, and staffing operations, coordinates housing records, and analyzes data to improve services for students and families.

The position involves supervising graduate assistants, training staff, and collaborating with campus partners to ensure responsive student-centered housing operations. Live-on duties are required.

Qualifications

• The formal education equivalent of a bachelor’s degree is required.
• Preferred: a master’s degree in student affairs, higher education administration, or related field.
• Experience in university housing, residence life, student affairs, or administrative operations preferred.
• Live-on position and participation in professional staff duty rotation required.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate housing contracts and maintain accurate housing records.
• Manage room assignments and changes in the housing system.
• Process meal plan changes and assist students with the online housing system.
• Enter and verify housing-related charges in billing software.
• Supervise graduate assistants and student workers; provide training and guidance.
• Collect and analyze housing, occupancy, and billing data to support decision making.
• Review policies and processes for efficiency and alignment with university requirements.

Skills

Housing administration

Data analysis

Staff supervision

Customer service

Communication

Process improvement

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree (preferred)

Tools

Microsoft Office (Excel)

Housing software systems

Job description

Project Program Specialist Working Title Area Coordinator of Housing Administrative Services Position # A00050 Department Housing and Community Standards - HSU

Position Summary

The Area Coordinator of Housing Administrative Services is a professional staff member within the Office of Housing and Community Standards who provides leadership for the department’s administrative, operational, analytical, and student service functions. The position coordinates essential housing processes, including departmental and personnel records, budget and payroll processing, purchasing, student billing, housing contracts, room assignments and changes, meal plan processing, housing software system functions, reporting, and data management. The Area Coordinator supervises assigned graduate assistants and student workers, provides training and ongoing direction, and supports the effective operation of the Housing and Community Standards office. The position also conducts research, analyzes housing and operational data, prepares reports and statistics, evaluates departmental systems and processes, and assists with projects and initiatives that support strategic planning, operational effectiveness, resource allocation, and continuous improvement. As a live-on professional staff member, the Area Coordinator participates in the professional staff duty rotation and responds to housing emergencies, student concerns, and other after-hours situations as assigned. The position works collaboratively with Housing and Community Standards leadership, campus partners, Hall Directors, Resident Assistants, graduate assistants, student employees, students, and families to support efficient, responsive, and student-centered housing operations.

Duties & Responsibilities

Housing Administrative Services & Student Support

• Coordinate incoming housing contracts and maintain accurate housing records.
• Manage room assignments and room changes in the housing system in coordination with Housing and Community Standards leadership.
• Process student meal plan changes and maintain related records.
• Assist students with the online housing system and troubleshoot routine portal or record issues.
• Enter, review, and verify student housing-related charges in the billing software system.
• Support occupancy management, assignment reporting, contract administration, and other housing operational processes.
• Respond to student, parent, staff, and campus partner inquiries and provide accurate information regarding departmental processes, policies, and procedures.

Budget, Payroll, Purchasing & Office Administration

• Submit EPAFs and other personnel actions in the payroll system and prepare, review, and verify personnel documentation.
• Complete and track requisitions for departmental purchases, travel requisitions, official function paperwork, and related administrative documentation.
• Order and maintain office supplies and support departmental purchasing processes.
• Maintain accurate, current, organized, and confidential departmental, personnel, housing, and operational records.
• Prepare departmental correspondence, reports, documentation, and responses to written inquiries.
• Coordinate daily administrative functions and provide comprehensive administrative support to Housing and Community Standards leadership.

Supervision & Staff Development

• Directly supervise assigned graduate assistants and student workers, including selection, onboarding, training, scheduling, delegation of responsibilities, performance feedback, and accountability.
• Establish clear expectations and work priorities for supervised staff and monitor completion and quality of assigned administrative and operational responsibilities.
• Provide ongoing coaching, development, and support to graduate assistants and student employees.
• Collaborate with Hall Directors, Resident Assistants, and other Housing and Community Standards staff to support departmental operations and student needs.

Housing Data Analysis & Operational Effectiveness

• Collect, compile, validate, analyze, and interpret housing, occupancy, assignment, contract, billing, meal plan, operational, and other departmental data to support decision- making.
• Conduct special studies, trend analyses, comparative reviews, and other research related to housing operations, utilization, service delivery, and departmental priorities.
• Prepare reports, summaries, statistics, dashboards, and other analytical materials that clearly communicate findings, trends, risks, and opportunities.
• Develop, maintain, and quality-check key departmental data sets used for internal and institutional reporting.
• Track housing operational activity and assist leadership in evaluating the effectiveness of housing programs, services, and practices.

Policy, Systems & Process Improvement

• Review housing policies, procedures, administrative practices, and operational processes for effectiveness, efficiency, consistency, and alignment with institutional requirements.
• Interpret departmental and institutional administrative procedures to support consistent application and accurate communication.
• Recommend process and system improvements and assist with implementation, testing, documentation, and evaluation of changes.
• Assist with housing software system administration and data integrity by monitoring records, identifying discrepancies, and supporting consistent system practices.
• Support implementation and communication of revised systems, policies, procedures, and processes.
• Participate in the professional staff duty rotation, including evening, overnight, weekend, and holiday coverage as scheduled.
• Respond to student concerns, facilities issues, conduct matters, crises, and other housing emergencies while on duty, following departmental and University protocols.
• Provide guidance and support to Hall Directors, Resident Assistants, and student staff during duty-related incidents and elevate matters to appropriate University personnel when necessary.
• Assist with residence hall openings, closings, move-in, move-out, training, recruitment, special events, and other major departmental operations as assigned.
• Serve as a representative of the department, division, and University and provide professional, responsive customer service.
• Assist with meetings, workshops, special projects, implementation efforts, and departmental initiatives as assigned.
• Perform other duties as assigned or deemed necessary.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Knowledge of housing administration, record keeping, office operations, and student service principles.
• Ability to collect, organize, analyze, and communicate data accurately.
• Ability to develop and maintain data sets, reports, tracking tools, dashboards, performance measures, and quality assurance processes.
• Ability to supervise, train, motivate, and provide constructive feedback to graduate assistants and student employees.
• Ability to respond effectively to student concerns, emergencies, and after-hours situations using sound judgment and established protocols.
• Ability to identify operational problems, evaluate alternatives, and support implementation of process and system improvements.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, deadlines, and recurring operational responsibilities in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to maintain a high degree of accuracy, confidentiality, professional judgment, and attention to detail.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel, and ability to learn and effectively use housing, student information, billing, payroll, purchasing, and reporting systems.
• Strong written and verbal communication, collaboration, customer service, conflict management, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently, exercise initiative, and collaborate effectively as part of a team.
• Knowledge of housing operations, administrative processes, policies, procedures, and applicable institutional, state, and federal requirements preferred.

General Days/Hours

Monday - Friday

8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Additional evening, overnight, weekend, and holiday hours are required as part of the professional staff duty rotation and departmental operations.

Additional hours as requested and/or needed.

Regular and reliable attendance is required.

Other

• University-provided on-campus housing as a benefit of the live-on position.
• 17-meals-per-week meal plan.

Minimum Qualifications

• The formal education equivalent of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
• Preferred: A master’s degree in student affairs, higher education administration, college student personnel, counseling, educational leadership, or a related field.
• Experience in university housing, residence life, student affairs, administrative operations, staff supervision, data analysis, reporting, or related work is preferred.
• Because this is a live-on position with duty responsibilities, the employee must be able to reside in University-provided on-campus housing and participate in the professional staff duty rotation.

This employer participates in E-Verify.