"Residence Life Coordinator"

Residence Life Coordinator

Posting Number: R0006766
Location: Salem Campus

ABOUT WILLAMETTE UNIVERSITY:

Willamette University, founded in 1842, is a nationally-renowned private university enrolling 2800 students across five colleges. Our historic campus, adjacent to the Oregon State Capitol, hosts a distinguished undergraduate liberal arts college in Salem, Oregon. Our downtown Portland campus is home to the Pacific Northwest College of Art (PNCA). We offer a wide range of professional graduate programs, including Oregon's top-ranked MBA program, the Northwest's oldest law school, as well as MA/MFA programs at PNCA and master's degrees in data science and computer science.

Willamette University provides a high-value and comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees. Our Benefits Summary includes options for health, dental, life insurance, retirement, substantial paid time off, tuition and more. If you need assistance applying for a job or have any questions on recruitment at Willamette, please contact our HR Department, hr@willamette.edu or call us at 503-370-6210.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Residence Life Coordinator will be responsible for the overall operation of one to seven residence halls or apartment buildings (300-500 students) and a departmental functional area. With these responsibilities, the Residence Life Coordinator will develop residential programs and procedures that support the mission of a liberal arts education as well as provide leadership for communities that are culturally rich, academically successful, and socially robust.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Community Development

• Provides leadership for staff and students by developing communities which: support students' personal, academic, and social development; respect the rights of others and promote multicultural understanding and consideration of individual needs in a group living environment; promote responsible community engagement and leadership development.
• Maintains visibility in the community by regularly interacting with residents, attending events, visiting staff and residents in their rooms, and eating meals in the campus dining facility, etc.
• Advises hall councils and assists in the development of self-governance and community participation.
• Meets regularly with student leaders.

Supervision

• Supervises five to thirteen Resident Advisors and indirectly assists in supervising other student staff. Meets weekly with student staff as a group and weekly with individual staff members. Provides on-going feedback to student staff.
• Provides the resources, guidance, and support necessary for staff to be successful in their positions. Provides on-going staff development opportunities for staff. Evaluates staff performance.
• Establishes a sense of unity and teamwork among staff members. Provides team-building opportunities and promotes positive staff relations.
• Addresses behaviors not congruent with expectations or position descriptions.

Learning Approach

• Develops and implements regular educational, social, and recreational programs and activities tied to student affairs divisional goals. Promotes student-faculty contacts and resources. Coordinates an educational learning centered approach within the residential community and across campus.
• Supports staff in educational strategies efforts through training, attendance, resources, and guidance.

Advising and Referral of Students

• Available, approachable and responsive to student needs. Knowledgeable about university resources and procedures in order to advise and refer students and groups regarding personal and academic needs. Educates students about University or Residence Life & Housing procedures.
• Mediates conflicts between students or staff as necessary.

Student Conduct

• Promotes student rights and responsibilities through the administration of the University Student Code of Conduct and office of Residence Life & Housing policies.
• Educates student staff on community expectations and policy enforcement strategies and expectations.
• Serves as a conduct hearing officer. Includes conducting conduct conferences and writing student conduct related letters and correspondence.

General Program Administration

• Coordinates, in conjunction with other Residence Life Coordinators, a special assignment during the academic year such as Residence Life Learning Approach, student staff recruitment and training, Residence Hall Association (RHA) advising, or department assessment.
• Keeps the supervisor informed regarding hall activities, staff efforts, and student concerns and keeps accurate records as requested. Refers student issues related to resident safety, housing assignments, and building maintenance to appropriate university staff.
• Serve as emergency on-call professional staff on a rotating basis, including weekend and evening hours, to respond to emergencies dealing with student behavior, mental health emergencies, and other situations that require an immediate response.
• Executes assigned administrative tasks thoroughly and promptly.
• Coordinates staff efforts to achieve departmental goals and administrative tasks in a timely manner.
• Maintains productive working relationships with students, faculty and other University staff.
• Implements procedures outlined in Residence Life and Housing staff manual and communicated by department staff.
• Attends regular meetings with supervisor as well as required department and division meetings.
• Effectively manages financial accounts. Disperses departmental monies responsibly and prudently. Maintains financial records as required.
• Safeguards the confidentiality of student records by exercising appropriate discretion in the handling of all private information and materials.

Additional Responsibilities of the Residence Life Coordinator

• Assists in overall administration of the Department of Residence Life and Housing. Assists in development and evaluation of departmental policies, procedures, and goals.
• Contributes to department operations by staffing the Housing Operations office as directed.
• Develops and presents student staff training sessions and other developmental meetings for student staff.
• Assists in the overall administration of the Division of Student Affairs as assigned. Supports the execution of university programs and events.
• Orient incoming Willamette students to the residential community and to campus. Provides programs and activities which support student transition to campus.
• Educates staff and residents on safety and security concerns and emergency response procedures.
• Reports unsafe conditions, damage and other facilities issues to appropriate University staff.
• Represents Residence Life and Housing on University committees as needed. Provides leadership for committees and/or special projects as determined.
• Assumes other duties as assigned by their supervisor and the Director of Residence Life and Housing.

Minimum Qualifications

• A Bachelor's degree.
• One year of residential staff experience (professional full time experience or two years as an undergraduate student).

Preferred Qualifications

• A Master's degree in Student Personnel or related discipline.
• Two years residential staff experience.
• Desirable training in any specialized areas pertinent to higher education (e.g. leadership development, alcohol education, multicultural education, community service, counseling, etc.).
• Possess a sound background in student/human development theory. Ability to articulate philosophy of residence life programs. Committed to expanding knowledge and understanding of student development and social awareness issues (e.g. alcohol and other drugs, sexual harassment and assault, gender issues, international and multicultural issues, eating disorders, mental health, etc.).
• Demonstrate a commitment to social justice, inclusion and equity with experience in providing support and advocacy for diverse communities (including but not limited to race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, ability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, and socioeconomic status.)
• Ability to communicate effectively in English. Ability to articulate ideas clearly and concisely. Ability to model open, direct, and honest communication. Possess well-developed assertion and confrontation skills.
• Possess interpersonal and counseling skills. Possess excellent basic helping skills and display empathy and regard for others concerns. Ability to demonstrate sensitively to the diversity of individuals' needs, backgrounds, life and work styles. Ability to practice a developmental approach to behavioral problems. Ability to develop strong rapport.
• Ability to successfully facilitate student groups of various sizes. Teach students and staff skills necessary to be effective leaders. Provide guidance to group leaders and coordinate efforts of group's members. Generate enthusiasm and motivate members to achieve group goals. Encourage and consider different points of view.
• Ability to develop and maintain a staff team. Ability to coordinate staff efforts so that departmental goals are met efficiently. Ability to motivate staff members to excel in their job responsibilities. Ability to provide support while holding staff accountable.
• Ability to function competently under pressure and effectively to diffuse crisis situations. Ability to demonstrate sound judgment.
• Ability to manage time and tasks to accomplish responsibilities in a timely manner. Ability to work independently while accepting direction.
• Ability to pay attention to details and to track operational processes key to Residence Life and Housing on a university campus, including but not limited to, facility and maintenance issues, contractual language, and administrative processes.
• Ability to advise students in programming and present needed recreational, social or educational programs. Ability to be an effective designer and presenter of programs.

Typical Work Schedule

Monday - Friday with availability on weekends and evenings as needed.

Physical Demands & Working Conditions

Typical work is performed indoors in a normal office environment. Some Intermittent physical effort may be required.

Salary and Additional Benefits

• $41,626 annually
• Residence in on-campus apartment is required
• Academic year meal plan (Valued at up to $8,200 per academic year)
• University parking pass

You will need to upload the following documents as part of your application materials in the "My Experience" section labeled Resume:

• Cover letter addressing the required/desired qualifications and presenting any other applicant characteristics which deserve emphasis.
• Current Resume

Initial application review will being October 13, 2025. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

BACKGROUND CHECK REQUIREMENT:
All University positions require that candidates submit to a criminal conviction record check prior to hire. Conviction does not automatically preclude candidates from being hired. Nature of conviction will be considered relative to the duties of the position.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS STATEMENT:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLICANTS:

Please read the following carefully before beginning the online application process. To be considered for employment at Willamette University, please complete our online employment application. Your application and all required attachments -- listed at the bottom of the page -- must be submitted for each individual job post that you are interested in applying. Once you submit your application you will not be able to edit your application.

Apply online at https://willamette.wd501.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/willametteuniversityjobs/job/Salem-Campus/Residence-Life-Coordinator_R0006766

Believing that diversity contributes to academic excellence and to rich and rewarding communities, WU is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse faculty, staff and student body. We seek candidates, particularly those from historically under-represented groups, whose work furthers diversity and who bring to campus varied experiences, perspectives and backgrounds.