Residence Life Coordinator: Leadership and Operations en Willamette

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, [email protected] or call us at 503-370-6210.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Residence Life Coordinator: Leadership and Operations will be responsible for the operation and advising of student leadership initiatives within Residence Life and significantly contributes to the Housing Operations functional area. With these responsibilities, the Residence Life Coordinator will develop 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

Leadership Development

• Develops leadership opportunities for students which: support students' personal, academic, and social development; respect the rights of others and promote multicultural understanding; and promote responsible community engagement and leadership development.

• Maintains visibility in the community by regularly interacting with residents, attending events, and eating meals in the campus dining facility, etc.

• Advises the Willamette Residence Hall Association and coordinates support for the residence hall councils. Provides leadership development programs to aid students in their personal leadership development as well as capacity building for self-governance and community participation. 

• Responsible for coordinating the selection, training, and evaluation processes of Resident Advisors.

• Coordinate with divisional staff and Student Engagement and Leadership to enact the student leadership education plan for all Willamette Students.

• Meets regularly with student leaders.

Supervision

• Co-supervises two to six Office Assistants and indirectly assists in supervising other student leaders. Meets regularly 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. Promotes positive staff relations.

• Addresses behaviors not congruent with expectations or position descriptions.

Housing Operations

• Staffs the Housing Operations office up to 20 hours per week, responding to stakeholder emails, phone calls, and walk-ins. 

• Coordinates Housing Operations processes as assigned, which may include the Early Arrival/Late Check Out process, Break Housing, room assignments or changes. 

• Review and upkeep database records ensuring accuracy and completeness.

• Review and follow up on facility service requests, providing information to area Residence Life staff. 

• Prepare housing assignments for new and returning students across two campuses covering various aspects such as marketing, selection, assignments, email correspondence, roommate matching, accommodations compliance, billing, key distribution, special requests, medical considerations, over-assignments, cancellations, and distribution of rosters.

• Evaluates and records requests for residency requirement waiver applications, and emotional support animals; tracks and reviews information received.

• Update key management records in the housing database.

• Collect, audit, and distribute keys to students and staff as necessary.

• Manage meal plan changes, notifying Student Accounts and Dining Services.

• Manage department social media in accordance with the university Social Media Policy.

Learning Approach

• Develops and implements regular educational, social, and recreational programs and activities tied to student affairs divisional goals. Coordinates an educational learning centered approach within the advising and operations processes. 

• Supports staff in educational strategy 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.

• Serves as a conduct hearing officer. Includes facilitating conduct conferences and writing student conduct related letters and correspondence.

General Program Administration

• Keeps the supervisor informed regarding student concerns and keeps accurate records as requested. Refers student issues related to resident safety and building maintenance to the 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 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 the 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 private information and materials.

Additional Responsibilities of the Residence Life Coordinator: Leadership and Operations 

• Assists in overall administration of the Department of Residence Life and Housing. Assists in development and evaluation of departmental policies, procedures, and goals.

• Develops and presents student staff training sessions and other 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 as well as emergency 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 is preferred.

• Two years residential staff experience is preferred.  

• Experience with residential housing selection, social media administration, or office management is preferred.

• 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 (includes but not limited to race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, ability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, religion, 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 other's 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 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 as well as accept 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 begin November 3, 2025. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Incomplete applications will not be considered. 

Typical work schedule

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.