Area Coordinator

Location: Hickory, North Carolina

Position Summary

The Area Coordinator (AC) is a 12-month, live-in professional staff member within the Office of Residence Life at Lenoir-Rhyne University. The AC is an integral member of the Residence Life team, providing direct support to students through community engagement, programming, crisis response and individualized outreach.

As part of a collaborative and student-centered Student Life team, the AC contributes to fostering a safe, inclusive and vibrant residential environment. The AC is responsible for the day-to-day management of a residential area housing approximately 400+ students, including training and supervising a team of Resident Assistants. The AC also serves in an on-call rotation to provide crisis intervention and emergency response support.

To support on-call responsibilities and integration within the residential community, the AC is provided a private, fully furnished apartment in a residence hall. This includes a full kitchen, utilities, cable and internet—offered as part of the overall compensation package.

Responsibilities 

Supervision   

• Train, supervise and evaluate a team of undergraduate and graduate Resident Assistants, ensuring strong performance, leadership development and support of departmental goals.

Community Development

• Promote individual and community growth through one-on-one and group advising, staff development, intentional role modeling and collaborative programming.
• Collaborate with campus partners to enhance community engagement, share resources and increase visibility of residence hall events and initiatives.
  In collaboration with other area coordinators and the director of residence life, be responsible for the overall coordination of the student development and housing component of assigned residence halls. 

Administrative Duties

•  In collaboration with the director of residence life and student conduct, oversee the student development and housing operations of assigned residence halls.
• Coordinate and support check-in/check-out procedures and related housing logistics.
• Develop and implement programs—independently and in partnership with staff and students—that foster inclusive communities and meet the educational, cultural, recreational and social needs of residents.
• Serve as a lead on one or more departmental collateral areas (e.g., RA recruitment and selection, RA training and development, housing operations, facilities, assessment) based on departmental needs, individual strengths and professional growth goals.
• Assist with student retention initiatives as needed.
• Serve as a hearing officer for student conduct matters, providing fair and educational processes that support student growth and uphold community standards.
• Provide occasional support to the Office of Student Support and Outreach, contributing to broader student well-being efforts.

Crisis Management

• Respond to emergencies efficiently and compassionately to ensure the safety and well-being of residents.
• Participate in a rotating on-call schedule with other Residence Life staff, providing 24-hour emergency response, including support for medical incidents and hospital visits when necessary.

Other Responsibilities

• Assist the director of residence life and student conduct in reviewing and developing residential policies and procedures.
• Build and maintain collaborative partnerships with campus stakeholders across all university locations.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Education, Skills and Abilities

• Bachelor’s degree completed.
• Experience using social media platforms for communication or engagement.
• Prior experience in residence life or a related student affairs area.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to manage sensitive and confidential situations with professionalism, tact and diplomacy; able to effectively interact with individuals at all levels of the institution.
• Exceptional time management and organizational abilities, with strong attention to detail.
• Well-developed analytical, problem-solving and conflict resolution skills.

Preferred Education, Skills and Abilities

• Master’s degree in higher education, student affairs, counseling or a related field.
• Experience in planning and implementing residence hall programming.
• Experience supervising student staff or peer leaders.
• Familiarity with assessment and program evaluation.
• Experience using residential software (e.g., eRezLife).
• Training in crisis intervention, de-escalation or related response techniques.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite or similar software tools.

Reporting

• Reports to the director of residence life and student conduct in the Office of Student Life.

Compensation

• Compensation includes salary, benefits, a private one- or two-bedroom apartment in student housing (with bathroom, utilities, cable, internet), free parking and a limited meal plan.

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Ability to lift up to 30 pounds.
• Ability to attend and preside over events, lectures and meetings.
• Ability to travel with students, faculty and staff both on and off campus as needed.
• Valid driver’s license required.

Work Schedule

• Standard office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with rotational and occasional evening and weekend responsibilities.
• Eleven-month, non-leave-earning position, with four weeks of available vacation.
• Participation in an on-call rotation is required.
• Schedule is subject to change based on university needs, the academic calendar and institutional growth.

About Lenoir-Rhyne University

Lenoir-Rhyne University is a coeducational, private, comprehensive liberal arts institution founded in 1891, with its traditional campus in Hickory, North Carolina—a city of more than 40,000. The university also has graduate centers in Asheville, N.C., and Columbia, S.C.

Situated in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Hickory is less than an hour from Charlotte. The Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area has a population of approximately 365,000. The university offers more than 45 undergraduate and 20 graduate degree programs to approximately 2,400 students.

Affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), Lenoir-Rhyne welcomes students of all religious and nonreligious backgrounds and is committed to developing students’ minds, bodies and spirits for lives of purpose and service.

Non-Discrimination and Equal Opportunity Policy

Lenoir-Rhyne University is committed to providing a workplace and educational environment, as well as other benefits, programs and activities, that are free from discrimination, harassment and retaliation.

LR is committed to creating a safe campus environment for all members of the community, including those who identify as transgender and gender nonconforming. To that end, LR does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex (including sex stereotypes and sex characteristics), ethnicity, national origin, physical or mental disability, age, marital status, pregnancy or related conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran or military status or any other characteristic protected by law.

To ensure compliance with federal and state civil rights laws and regulations—and to affirm its commitment to promoting fairness and equity—LR has developed policies and procedures that provide a prompt, fair and impartial process for those involved in allegations of discrimination, harassment or retaliation.

LR values and upholds the equal dignity of all members of its community and strives to balance the rights of all parties during these processes.

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