Area Coordinator for Residence Life

Founded in 1891, North Park University is a Christian university affiliated with the Evangelical Covenant Church of over 3,200 students from around the country and the world.

North Park University is located in the Albany Park neighborhood of Chicago, one of the most ethnically diverse zip codes in the United States. It is nine miles from downtown Chicago. The North Park campus has often been referred to as an oasis in the heart of the city – a place where students from urban, rural, and suburban backgrounds alike can call home. And all of this within the major metropolitan backdrop of Chicago: one of the world’s largest and most diversified economies, renowned for its museums and music, and voted best large city in the U.S. for four years in a row by Condé Nast Traveler.

Mission

The mission of North Park University is to prepare students for lives of significance and service through education in the liberal arts, professional studies, and theology.

Vision

Building on our core institutional identity—Christian, city-centered, intercultural—our vision is to create a university of uncommon character and enduring excellence, where faith, learning, and service meet.

Position Summary

The Area Coordinator is responsible for developing and maintaining a healthy and positive community that addresses the academic, emotional, physical, psychological, social, and spiritual facets of the students in the living area. In this role, the Area Coordinator strives to foster a sense of community through the intentional development of appropriate mentoring relationships with residents; through the initiation, direction, implementation, and evaluation of living area programs and operations; and through the supervision of Resident Assistants and Desk staff. The Area Coordinator position is an 11-month, live-in position.

Responsibilities:

• Train, supervise, advise, and evaluate a team of Resident Assistants and the Desk Staff (Desk Attendants and a Desk Manager).
• Maintain accurate resident lists and key inventories by directing and coordinating the opening and closing procedures for the living area at the beginning and end of each semester and during holiday break periods.
• Facilitate move-in and move-out procedures, student moves, and room changes throughout the year in conjunction with the Director of Residence Life and Housing.
• Direct the overall administration of the living area by monitoring and coordinating daily operations, residence life issues, and appropriate policies and procedures.
• Make referrals for students facing academic, personal, medical, and/or spiritual concerns to Student Engagement, Counseling Support Services, Health Services, University Ministries, etc.
• Facilitate the student conduct process for residents in the living area.
• Assist in crisis management and emergency response by being available to students and staff and serving in the “On Duty” rotation with the other Area Coordinators. Included in this but not exclusive is support for public health policies and crises.
• Serve as a lead on projects regarding Residence Life such as Residential Curriculum, Resident Assistant engagement and development, or residence hall desk operations.
• Supervise Summer Resident Assistants and summer programming initiatives, and coordinate move-in and move outs during summer terms.
• Propose and implement improvements on Residence Life projects and operations during the summer.
• Work occasional evenings and weekends for programming, operations, and busy periods, such as closing of each semester.
• Serve a collateral assignment in another office in the Center for Student Engagement (e.g. Student Activities, Student Success, Office of Diversity and Intercultural Life, and Career Development Office, etc.).
• Attend and participate in key North Park University events such as, Gathering Days, Faculty/Staff Development Day, sporting and musical events, etc.
• Effectively communicate the mission and purpose of North Park University, the Division of Student Engagement, and the Office of Residence Life and Housing.
• Support the mission and goals of the University, the division of Student Development, and the Office of Residence Life and Housing by assuming other responsibilities as assigned by the University President, the Vice President for Student Engagement, the Dean of Students, or the Director of Residence Life and Housing.

• A bachelor’s degree from a 4-year university or college.
• Sensitivity to and support for multicultural issues and populations and diversity education.
• A developmental understanding of college students and a desire to facilitate and encourage their development in a supportive and service-oriented environment.
• Have good attention to detail and excellent organizational and planning skills.
• Ability to traverse stairs in/out of living areas, Campus Safety Center, and Dining Hall.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in writing and orally.
• Agility and familiarity with latest software, database systems, computer literacy.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Suite: Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, etc.
• Committed to and an articulate supporter of the university’s mission, identity, and Christian faith commitment.
• Personal commitment to North Park’s mission of Christian higher education.

Preferred:

• A master’s degree in student development, counseling, higher education administration, or human services field.
• Previous residence life experience.
• A strong understanding of what it means to live in an urban environment.
• CPR/First Aid certification.
• Valid driver’s license.

An unfurnished apartment (utilities included); meals while the University is in session; and other benefits extended to full-time employees. In addition:

• Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Prescription Plan
• Flexible Spending Account
• Commuter Benefit
• Life Insurance
• Disability Insurance
• Retirement Plan
• Tuition Remission
• Helwig Recreation Center