Term-Limited Professional/Residence Hall Coordinator

About UMass Amherst

UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.

Job Summary

Under the direction of an Assistant Director, this live-in position oversees the residential education of 275-675 students and management of 1-3 residence halls. Duties include community development and student learning initiatives, frequent and meaningful interactions with residential students, staff supervision, student conduct and incident response, administrative and project management tasks and other general responsibilities within the scope of the position.

This is a term-limited professional position from approximately Sept 2024 to May 2025, which requires some evening and weekend work, plus on-call/call-back duty.

Essential Functions

Community Development and Student Learning

• Provide leadership for student learning within assigned residential communities using the Residential Curriculum framework. Engage in lesson plan design, assessment design and analysis, evidence-based improvement and report authorship for assigned communities.
• Develop an understanding of the needs of students in assigned residential communities (First-year, Multi-year, Transfer, Honors, International, Defined Residential Community, break housing, etc.).
• Contribute to University student success goals by developing a culture of student engagement and learning in the residence halls and on-campus that is inclusive and supports the community needs of all residential students.
• Develop connections with residents, create caring personal and community relationships, be present and available in the halls as the leader of the community, and serve as a positive role model.
• Work effectively with campus partners engaged with the residential community such as course instructors, academic school/college staff, and SACL partners.
• Support and promote student leadership opportunities, advise at least one volunteer leadership group (typically House Council), and contribute to the effectiveness of the Residence Hall Association and National Residence Hall Honorary by attending meetings and programs, submitting award nominations, and encouraging student involvement. Attain knowledge of campus data that informs these efforts.

Staff Leadership and Supervision

• Supervise a team of undergraduate Resident Assistants (RAs) to implement residential curriculum strategies, build relationships with residents, respond to incidents, and fulfill all RA position expectations. May directly supervise an Assistant Residence Director (graduate assistant).
• In first-year communities, provide on-site support to a staff of live-in academic Peer Mentors and work closely with their graduate assistant supervisor.
• Participate in selection and search processes for Residential Life full-time, graduate and undergraduate student positions.
• Facilitate and participate in staff meetings and training programs and provide on-going training for Resident Assistants and Peer Mentors. Facilitate and participate in diversity and inclusion workshops and trainings.
• Attain working knowledge of applicable collective bargaining unit agreements (CBA) for graduate and undergraduate staff.

Community Standards and Incident Response

• Coordinate on-site and front-line response to incidents, including those that are highly complex in nature; e.g., sexual misconduct, alcohol and drug related behavior, mental health concerns, bias incidents, health and safety concerns, and community conflict. Identify critical issues, assess student behavior, and communicate effectively with supervisor and on-call staff to formulate appropriate responses for individual students and the residential community. Follow up with students as outlined by established campus case management, make appropriate referrals, and maintain accurate case management records.
• Perform on-call responsibilities for the residential system on a regularly scheduled rotation during the year, including all University break periods and holidays; including, being accessible by department issued cell phone 24 hours per day and remaining within required radius of campus during periods of on-call responsibility.
• Educate staff and students about University and residence hall policies. Communicate and support residence hall safety and security protocols and systems. Help residents understand their rights and responsibilities as members of the residential community by enforcing policies, conducting educational conduct conferences, facilitating educational sanctions, and maintaining accurate conduct records.
• Understand university emergency preparedness practices and respond effectively and in collaboration with emergency responders. This position is designated as a Title IX Responsible Employee and as a Clery Act Campus Security Authority.

Administrative and Project Management

• Effectively plan work to ensure all responsibilities and projects are completed in a thorough and timely manner including thorough, timely and accurate completion of reports, documentation and other administrative tasks, per departmental standard operating procedures. Utilize electronic systems and databases as expected in completion of work tasks.
• Support Residential Life Operations by reporting maintenance issues, developing working relationships with hall maintenance staff and service desk staff, monitoring and administering resident occupancy processes, participating in residence hall opening and closing processes, and supporting health and safety inspections.

General Responsibilities

• Serve on department and university committees and work groups and participate in department initiatives designed to promote and enhance student learning and development. Participate in university initiatives that support student recruitment, student transition, and student success. Actively engage in staff meetings and required staff training and development initiatives.
• Manage assigned community budget, following all university purchasing policies and procedures.
• Take responsibility for actions and decisions, and maintain appropriate levels of privacy and confidentiality with sensitive information.
• Engage in a range of opportunities to develop as a professional, including campus training opportunities, campus collateral assignments, and professional conferences approved by supervisor. Develop professional goals annually.

Other Functions

• Perform related duties as assigned or required. Understand responsibilities with respect to Title IX, Clery and other compliance requirements.
• Demonstrate capacity, skill, and willingness to engage students and contribute to student success.
• Understand responsibilities with respect to conflicts of interest and behave in ways consistent both with law and with university policy.
• Contribute toward creating a positive and respectful workplace. Use access to sensitive and/or not yet public university-related information only in the performance of the responsibilities of position and exercise care to prevent unnecessary disclosure to others.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Bachelor's Degree.
• Experience as residence hall staff member.
• Demonstrated experience working with diverse student populations and developing inclusive communities.
• Excellent interpersonal skills including, strong ability to relate effectively with highly diverse work force, ability to establish and maintain positive, effective working relationships, commitment to team success, customer service orientation, decision-making and evaluative skills, superior communication (oral and written) and active listening skills.
• Established skills in typical office suite software such as Microsoft Office applications.

Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Master's degree in Student Development, Education, Counseling, or closely related field.
• One academic year post-baccalaureate experience as a live-in staff member.

Additional Details

• Under general supervision, functions independently within the scope of Residence Education and University policy and goals, referring to supervisor issues which have been so designated.
• Supervision Exercised: Directly supervises student staff (approximately 16).

Physical Demands/Working Conditions

Typical office environment.

Work Schedule

• 37.5 hour work week.
• Flexible hours within a Monday - Friday 8:30am-5:00pm, including a minimum of two evenings per week.
• Residence Hall Coordinators are also expected to be on campus for evenings and weekends for significant campus events such as staff training, residence hall move-in, Halloween, Super Bowl, other major campus events, and high activity spring weekends.
• This position is designated as essential personnel and may be expected to work in the event of a university closure.
• This is a term-limited professional position from approximately Sept 2024 to May 2025, which requires some evening and weekend work, plus on-call/call-back duty.

Salary Information

Level 25

PSU Hiring Ranges

Special Instructions to Applicants

Upload your resume and cover letter along with your completed application. Our team will check references at the final stage of the interview process. Please be prepared to provide contact information for at least three (3) professional references. This position will remain open until filled or the advertised closing date, whichever occurs first. Early submissions are recommended.

UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, caste, creed, sex, age, marital status, national origin, disability, political belief or affiliation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related condition(s), veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, natural and protective hairstyle and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University. To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans. It is the policy of UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.