Residential Life - Area Coordinator

Sacred Heart University; Fairfield (CT); On-site; USD 10,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player in higher education is seeking a dedicated Area Coordinator to foster a vibrant residential community for students. This role involves managing a residence hall, supervising staff, and ensuring a supportive environment that promotes academic success and personal growth. The ideal candidate will possess a Master's Degree in a relevant field and have a strong background in student development and leadership. This position offers the opportunity to make a significant impact on student life while being part of a collaborative team committed to excellence in education. If you are passionate about student success and community building, this role is perfect for you.

Qualifications

• Master's Degree in relevant field required, with 3-5 years of experience in student life.
• Live-in residence life experience strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop a supportive educational environment for students and supervise staff.
• Manage operational functions for residential areas and ensure student safety.
• Provide leadership and direction to residential students and mediate conflicts.

Skills

Student Development

Leadership

Crisis Management

Communication

Conflict Resolution

Education

Master's Degree in Higher Education Administration

Master's Degree in Counseling

Tools

Student Retention Software

Job description

5151 Park Ave, Fairfield, CT 06825, USA Req #500

Thursday, March 13, 2025

As the second-largest Catholic university in New England, and one of the fastest-growing private doctoral institutions in the U.S., Sacred Heart University is a national leader in shaping higher education for the 21st century. SHU offers more than 100 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs on its Fairfield, Conn., campus. Sacred Heart also has a campus in Dingle, Ireland, and offers online programs. More than 10,000 students attend the University’s eight colleges and schools.

To apply

Only applications submitted through the official Careers at SHU site will be accepted for employment consideration. If you are viewing this job advertisement through a different site, please visit Careers at SHU to submit a formal application.

Qualified candidates are invited to submit a complete application and resume via our online application system. A cover letter or statement of interest is also preferred for all staff positions.

Sacred Heart University complies with all federal and state employment laws and regulations. Applicants must be lawfully authorized to work for any employer in the United States. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa for this position.

Position Summary

As the primary live-in staff member for a residence hall area of up to 225 students, the Area Coordinator (AC) is charged with the responsibility to develop a supportive educational environment that fosters learning outside of the classroom, develops students holistically, and supports the academic success and retention of residential students by maintaining a regular presence to their residents and supervising para-professional staff and their efforts.

The AC assists in the development and administration of a residential area that houses approximately 500 students. The AC is an integral member of the Residential Life team; the AC understands and upholds not only the department's mission but also the University's mission and respects its Catholic values and identity.

The AC will:

• Establish and maintain a healthy, actively engaged residential community and communicate with residents living in area through individual contacts, meetings, and facilitated discussions.
• Manage all operational functions for assigned residential areas, ensuring safety, building maintenance, room and common area inventories, and damage assessments.
• Directly supervise and evaluate up to 2 graduate Residence Hall Directors in assigned area.
• Supervise & evaluate up to 5 Resident Success Assistants (RSA) and a Senior RSA.
• Build staff cohesion via regular supervisory meetings & on-going training.
• Oversee Residential Curriculum initiatives aiding in community development.
• Create and maintain an engaging living community that enhances the academic experience.
• Provide and participate in professional staff on-call coverage and duty schedule, respond as needed to crisis and emergency situations, and communicate with all necessary levels of staff during emergency situations.
• Provide leadership and direction to residential students through individual conferences, programs, and interactions with students in and out of the Office of Residential Life.
• Provide intervention and referral for students experiencing interpersonal, or academic difficulties.
• Collaborate with campus colleagues, including but not limited to: SHU Public Safety, Admissions, Campus Operations, Campus Ministry, Office of Inclusive Excellence, Student Accounts, Dining, Student Life colleagues, and faculty.
• Represent the Office of Residential Life in a variety of forums on- and off-campus; attend, conduct, or participate in a variety of meetings as assigned.
• Address student and parent issues and resolve them in a satisfactory manner.
• Mediate roommate, suite, apartment, or hall conflicts with sound judgment and follow-through.
• Serve as a hearing officer for violations of the Student Code of Conduct.
• Serve as the advisor to the National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH).
• Encouraged to teach the Fall FYE new student success course, availability permitting.
• Actively support the college's recruitment and retention efforts.

Additional Position & Departmental Responsibilities

• Weekly office hours will include at least two days of an 8-hour flexed shift, including evening hours, as prescribed by the supervisor.
• Maintain permanent, full-time on-campus residency in the assigned area.
• Must have a valid driver's license and access to a motor vehicle.
• Other related responsibilities as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities & Other Attributes

• Master's Degree in Higher Education Administration, College Student Personnel, Counseling, or related field is required.
• Three to five years or professional experience in student life. Live-in residence life experience strongly preferred.
• Experience with Student Retention software.
• Direct experience with retention related efforts and initiatives.
• Experience in student development and leadership.
• Must have a valid driver's license and vehicle for on-duty coverage.

Unusual Working Conditions

• Will require nights, weekends, and some holiday work hours.

This job posting provides an overview of the role's general nature and expected tasks. It is not meant to be a comprehensive list of all duties performed. The university reserves the right to modify or reassign job responsibilities at any time. This posting description does not constitute an employment contract, either explicit or implied.

Sacred Heart University is a space that respects and embraces differences, recognizes the unique contributions that individuals can make, and creates a community that maximizes the potential of all faculty and staff. As an equal opportunity employer, we encourage applications from qualified candidates who reflect the wider world in which we live.