Area Coordinator

Department: Residential Experience
Salary/Grade: EXS/6

Northwestern University's Residential Services helps build a community environment for students through housing-related services, intentional learning opportunities and residential settings that include residence halls, residential communities, and residential colleges. Learn more about the Residential Services department and the Residential Community and Support team here: https://www.northwestern.edu/living/index.html

Job Summary:

The Area Coordinator (AC) is a part of the Office of Residential Community and Support and collaborates with the broader Residential Services team to foster an inclusive residential environment that fulfills the mission, vision, and goals of Residential Services and the Division of Student Affairs. The AC provides leadership and overall management for two residential areas equating up to 2,500 residents by supervising four full-time, Resident Directors, ensuring implementation of the Residential Experience, and leading committees to develop the student and staff experience. The AC is a 12-month, full-time, master's-required position. The AC reports to an Assistant Director in Residential Community and Support. This position includes working with students, staff, and faculty in a competitive academic environment.

Pay: The pay range for the Area Coordinator position is $60,000-62,000, depending on experience, skills, and internal equity.

Principal Accountabilities:

(45%) Directly supervise, evaluate, develop, and provide leadership for 4 full-time Resident Directors (RDs), indirectly supervise 4 Assistant Resident Directors (ARDs - graduate students), and indirectly supervise up to 70 Resident Assistants (RAs).

• Meet regularly with RDs to provide on-going coaching, feedback and conduct annual performance evaluations.
• Work with the RD to promote student wellbeing, accountability, community satisfaction, and community engagement
• Work with and support RDs as they respond to crisis/emergency situations and follow up with students who need additional assistance.
• Guide RDs in individual and group development.
• Participate in selection and training processes for all positions.

(25%) Ensure the successful implementation of the Residential Experience through the RD/ARD/Faculty and RA roles.

• Provide leadership within residential areas including developing and assessing community development initiatives.
• Provide leadership in Area Leadership Teams for two areas by assisting in administration of meetings, manage budgets & reconciliations, identify community specific topics and provide supervision to RCS staff in meetings.
• Aid in information flow between Resident Directors, Faculty-in-Residence, and Residential Experience staff members.
• Supervise RDs and indirectly supervise ARDs & RAs in successfully implementing all aspects of Community Development including implementation of Residential Experience Plans.

(10%) Chair, Advise and/or serve on a Residential Experience and Residential Community and Support committees. 2025-2026 committees include:

• Residential Experience:
• Staff Development
• Student Recognition
• Committee for Belonging & Community
• Residential Community & Support
• Hall Staff Training & Recruitment
• RA Selection & Training
• Staff Recognition & Development

(10%) Develop meaningful relationships with students by providing opportunities for growth and development. This will be achieved through:

• Participating in community standards processes
• Meeting regularly with ARDs and RAs to provide and receive feedback
• Providing support and well-being interventions as needed
• Serving as an active presence in the community

(5%) Assist with the operational functioning of two residential areas housing up to 2,500 total students

• Managing facilities, including opening and closing.
• Managing occupancy and assisting with access control.
• Ensuring good stewardship of finances.
• Utilizing technology, including but not limited to: Maxient, eRezLife, When to Work, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft 365, StarRez, and KeyTrak.

(5%) Participate in an on-call rotation, serving 5,000 residential students, and perform student support responsibilities 24/7/365

• Serve in a duty rotation to provide 24-7 emergency assistance to staff living on campus and carry a cell phone at all times (unless on vacation)
• Respond, in coordination with other professional Residential Services staff members, to critical incidents occurring on campus
• Ensure appropriate follow up on student wellness and crisis concerns by RDs and ARDs

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Higher Education or similar program
• Must possess excellent interpersonal communication, organization, administration skills and experience as well as a commitment to student wellbeing/belonging and student development
• A minimum of 2 years full time post-masters experience in residential life, housing, student activities, or student affairs
• Experience supervising paraprofessional staff in residential life, housing, student activities, or student affairs

Minimum Competencies:

• Intermediate knowledge or work processing, spreadsheets, email, and database software programs.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience supervising professional and/or graduate-level staff
• Prior work experience working closely with faculty members in a residential setting

Preferred Competencies:

• Strong problem-solving and prioritization skills
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, complex organization
• Ability to engage in critical thinking and intentional decision making
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent mediation and conflict resolution skills
• Experience working with individuals from a variety of different backgrounds
• Ability to work both independently and in a team environment
• Strong customer service skills

Benefits: At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html tolearn more.

Work-Life and Wellness: Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles. We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth and Development: Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. View Northwestern's non-discrimination statement. Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View additional information on the accommodations process.