Substitute Coach

Mansfield Hall; Madison (WI); On-site; USD 34,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Mansfield Hall invites applicants for a Substitute Coach role to support neurodivergent college students in Madison, WI. You will coach students on daily living skills, social interactions, and independence, guiding them to achieve the goals outlined in their Student MAPs.

You will build professional relationships, manage routines, and contribute to a welcoming residential environment while collaborating with the Director of Student Life and leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in behavioral sciences, psychology, education, social work, human services, or a related field.
• At least one year of direct experience coaching, mentoring, tutoring, or supporting students or young adults with diverse learning and social needs.
• Ability to build professional, trusting relationships with students, families, colleagues, campus partners, and community service providers.
• Understand the academic, social, emotional, and independent living challenges in a post-secondary environment.
• Ability to make sound decisions independently while collaborating with a multidisciplinary team.
• Able to monitor a dynamic residential environment with up to 50 students.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct coaching and support to residential students as they navigate schedules, goals, and community expectations.
• Follow routines and action steps in Student MAPs, including self-care and social goals.
• Build professional relationships with students and provide encouragement, accountability, and clear boundaries.
• Address and de-escalate student well-being concerns and conflicts.
• Facilitate positive social interactions in common spaces and during activities.
• Coordinate extracurricular activities within Mansfield Hall and the surrounding community.
• Create an engaging, inclusive residential environment and monitor student progress with documentation.
• Contribute observations to development and refinement of student plans.
• Collaborate with leadership and staff to provide coordinated programming.

Skills

Coaching

Relationship building

De-escalation

Communication

Team collaboration

Boundary setting

Education

Bachelor’s degree in behavioral sciences/psychology/education/social work/human services

Tools

Microsoft-based systems

Job description

About the Role

As a Substitute Coach at Mansfield Hall, you will help neurodivergent college students build the social, independent living, and community engagement skills needed to navigate college and emerging adulthood with greater confidence.

You will provide direct support to students as they manage daily routines, participate in the Mansfield Hall community, build relationships, and work toward the goals outlined in their individualized Student MAPs, or Making Action Plans.

This role goes beyond supervising activities or maintaining a residential environment. You will actively coach students through social interactions, emotional challenges, schedule management, self‑care, community participation, and the everyday responsibilities that contribute to greater independence.

In This Role, You Will

• Provide direct coaching and support to residential students as they navigate daily schedules, community expectations, social situations, and individual goals.
• Help students follow the routines and action steps established in their Student MAPs, including goals related to self‑care, social communication, schedule management, and community engagement.
• Build positive, professional relationships with students while providing encouragement, accountability, feedback, and clear boundaries.
• Address and de‑escalate student well‑being concerns, including heightened emotional situations, interpersonal misunderstandings, and social conflicts.
• Facilitate positive social interactions in common spaces, during meals, and at community activities and events.
• Encourage and coordinate extracurricular activities within Mansfield Hall and throughout the surrounding community.
• Help create an engaging, inclusive, and welcoming residential environment where students feel connected and supported.
• Identify student successes, challenges, and areas where additional coaching or intervention may be needed.
• Provide regular feedback to students regarding their progress, choices, communication, and follow‑through with individual plans.
• Encourage students to build independence and take increasing ownership of their schedules, responsibilities, relationships, and daily living skills.
• Contribute observations and relevant information to the development and continued refinement of student plans.
• Monitor and document student progress accurately and consistently using Mansfield Hall’s Microsoft‑based systems.
• Manage the staff phone and collaborate appropriately with Directors during on‑call situations throughout evenings and weekends.
• Assist with meal setup and takedown and help maintain organized, welcoming common spaces.
• Collaborate with the Director of Student Life, Director‑level staff, and Mansfield Hall leadership to provide coordinated and high‑quality student programming.
• Contribute to the overall functioning of the Mansfield Hall living and learning community by responding flexibly to student and program needs.

Role Requirements

• You have a bachelor’s degree in behavioral sciences, psychology, education, social work, human services, or a related field.
• You have at least one year of direct experience coaching, mentoring, tutoring, or supporting students or young adults with diverse learning and social needs.
• You are able to build professional, trusting relationships with students, families, colleagues, campus partners, and community service providers.
• You understand the academic, social, emotional, and independent living challenges that students may encounter in a post‑secondary environment.
• You are comfortable making sound decisions independently while also communicating and collaborating closely with a multidisciplinary team.
• You can demonstrate self‑advocacy, establish appropriate boundaries, and maintain professional relationships with both students and colleagues.
• You are able to monitor and support a dynamic residential environment that may include up to 50 students.
• You communicate clearly, respectfully, and professionally, including during emotionally heightened or challenging situations.

You’ll Be a Great Fit If You

• You believe students are capable. You provide meaningful support while encouraging students to make decisions, solve problems, and take responsibility for their own growth.
• You enjoy coaching in real time. You are comfortable helping students work through challenges as they occur, whether related to communication, scheduling, conflict, self‑care, or community participation.
• You remain calm under pressure. You can respond thoughtfully to emotional situations, social misunderstandings, or unexpected concerns without escalating the situation.
• You balance empathy with accountability. You can validate a student’s perspective while still reinforcing expectations, boundaries, and follow‑through.
• You are socially observant. You notice when a student may be struggling, withdrawing, misunderstanding a situation, or needing additional support.
• You are comfortable facilitating connection. You enjoy helping students participate in activities, engage with peers, and become active members of their community.
• You are flexible. You can adapt to changing student needs, shifting priorities, interruptions, and the natural unpredictability of a residential environment.
• You value collaboration. You communicate important information to colleagues and understand that strong student support requires coordination across academic, social, and independent living areas.
• You take documentation seriously. You understand that timely, accurate records help the broader team recognize patterns, track progress, and provide consistent support.
• You enjoy working with young adults. You are energized by helping students develop confidence, life skills, healthy relationships, and greater independence.

You Might Not Be a Fit If

• You prefer a quiet, highly predictable work environment with limited interruptions or changing priorities.
• You are uncomfortable addressing interpersonal conflict, emotional situations, or student behavior in the moment.
• You prefer to solve problems for students rather than coaching them to develop their own skills and judgment.
• You have difficulty setting professional boundaries or providing clear, direct feedback.
• You prefer to work independently without frequent communication and collaboration with a broader student support team.
• You view community engagement primarily as planning activities rather than helping students build social confidence, independence, accountability, and meaningful connections.
• You are uncomfortable working evenings or weekends.

Working Environment

Work is performed primarily in a professional office, residential learning, or college campus environment. The position includes regular interaction with students, movement throughout Mansfield Hall and nearby campus spaces, computer‑based documentation, and occasional support during evenings and weekends. The environment may include frequent interruptions, changing priorities, emotionally heightened situations, and responsibility for monitoring a community of up to 50 students. Minimal local travel may be required. The role may involve occasional lifting of materials or supplies weighing up to 30 pounds. Reasonable accommodations and adaptive equipment will be provided as needed.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Mansfield Hall is committed to creating an inclusive community and encourages individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, women, people with disabilities, and members of other historically underrepresented communities.

The responsibilities described above reflect the general nature and level of the position. Employees may be asked to perform additional duties that support the needs and overall functioning of Mansfield Hall.