Area Coordinator for Training and Development

University of Akron • Akron, OH

23h • Onsite

About The Position

The Area Coordinator is a full-time, 12-month, live-in professional responsible for supporting the daily management of a residential area and contributing to a safe, welcoming, and engaging living environment. The Department of Residence Life and Housing fosters community development through visible presence and relationship-building; creates opportunities for student leadership and involvement; provides individualized support to students navigating challenges; and helps shape meaningful engagement within the halls. This position supervises student staff, supports building operations, responds to student concerns, and collaborates closely with campus partners to promote student wellbeing and success. This position participates in a 24/7/365 on-call rotation and requires evening, weekend, and holiday responsibilities as needed. Additionally, this role provides leadership for student staff training and development, creating learning experiences that strengthen RA effectiveness, promote community engagement, and support student success across the residential environment.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 1 year of experience required working in residence life, student affairs, or a related student-support role (graduate assistantships accepted).
• Demonstrated ability to support college students and engage in community-building practices.
• Strong administrative, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• Ability to maintain documentation and utilize systems such as Maxient, StarRez, or other housing/case platforms.
• Ability to serve in an on-call rotation, including evenings and weekends.
• Ability to live on campus.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs, Counseling, or related field strongly preferred.
• Two or more years of related experience.
• Experience supervising student staff.
• Experience with crisis response, student support, conduct, or behavioral intervention.
• Experience developing and assessing student programs.
• Training in mediation, conflict resolution, or trauma-informed practices.
• Experience designing RA or student-leader training.
• Experience creating training modules or instructional materials.
• Knowledge of curriculum development and competency-based training.

Responsibilities

• Student & Community Development Build positive, welcoming, and supportive residential communities through visibility, relationship-building, and intentional engagement.
• Hold 1:1 conversations with students to address concerns, interpersonal conflicts, and referrals to appropriate campus resources.
• Foster a welcoming residential environment that supports all residential students.
• Promote community standards, positive peer interactions, and opportunities for student leadership and involvement.
• Support community-based initiatives, hall government, student leadership groups, and programs tied to student success.
• Incorporate a variety of engagement strategies into staff practices and community programming.
• Crisis Response & Student Support Participate in the on-call rotation and respond to after-hours emergencies.
• Provide trauma-informed, student-centered support and make referrals to academic, wellness, or success offices.
• Serve as a Campus Security Authority and mandated reporter under Clery and Title IX.
• Support response protocols in accordance with the University’s Emergency Operations Plan (EOP).
• Conduct & Accountability Serve as a hearing officer for low- to mid-level conduct cases.
• Support compliance with community standards and educational follow-up.
• Operations & Facilities Assist with opening/closing processes, occupancy management, and room changes.
• Complete routine building checks, health & safety inspections, and work-order follow-up.
• Support front-desk operations and coordination with facilities partners.
• Supervision & Staff Development Hire, train, supervise, and evaluate Resident Assistants.
• Conduct weekly staff meetings and regular 1:1 supervision conversations.
• Provide coaching, accountability, and ongoing support for programming and duty responsibilities.
• Collaboration & Administrative Responsibilities Partner with campus offices including Residence Life and Housing, Counseling, ZipAssist, Conduct, and academic support units.
• Support departmental assessment, documentation, and reporting expectations.
• Assist with summer operations including training, onboarding, and community development support.
• Provide support for New Student Orientation (NSO) and admissions activities as assigned.
• Community Development & Student Support Foster a welcoming residential environment that supports students of varying backgrounds and lived experiences.
• Promote community standards, positive peer interactions, and student leadership development.
• Promote practices and programming that uphold equal opportunity, respect for all individuals, and compliance with applicable state and federal nondiscrimination laws
• Training & Development Lead the planning and execution of Fall, Spring, and mid-year RA training programs.
• Develop, maintain, and update training manuals, handbooks, curriculum materials, and competency frameworks.
• Coordinate ongoing in-service workshops throughout the academic year in topics such as student support, conflict management, academic success strategies, and community engagement.
• Assess the effectiveness of training initiatives and revise content based on feedback and evaluation data.
• Serve as a departmental resource on student staff development and learning strategies.
• Partner with campus offices and guest facilitators to enhance training content and delivery.

Benefits

• The University of Akron offers a competitive total compensation package comprised of a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits for eligible employees including medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, life insurance, and paid leave of absences including time off for illness, vacation, and maternity or paternity leave.
• In addition, eligible employees and their dependents are provided tuition remission.
• All staff and eligible non-bargaining unit faculty have the option to request a Flexible Work Arrangement (FWA).
• The University of Akron participates in state retirement systems and offers alternative retirement options with competitive employer contributions.
• Optional investment opportunities are available including deferred compensation programs (403(b) and 457(b)).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level