Residence Life Coordinator

Highlands College • Birmingham, AL

97d

About The Position

The Residence Life Coordinator is a professional responsible for cultivating a Christ centered, community-focused residential experience for Highlands College students. This role provides direct oversight and strategic leadership of student development, spiritual formation, and community standards in the residence halls. The coordinator exercises independent judgment in crisis response, student accountability, and RA leadership development. Working collaboratively with the Residence Life and Housing Operations teams, the Coordinator also ensures effective operational systems are in place to support the student experience. As a pastoral presence on campus, this role is instrumental in shaping a high-expectation, high-support environment that aligns with the mission and values of Character Formation. Because this position involves living among female students in a residential setting, and in alignment with Highlands College’s sincerely held religious beliefs and gender-specific ministry practices, the College is seeking a female candidate for this role. This requirement is based on our theological commitment to offering gender-appropriate support and maintaining residential environments that respect privacy, uphold integrity, and support spiritual formation.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s in Higher Education, Student Development, Counseling, or related field preferred.
• 1-3 years of professional or paraprofessional experience in residence life, student leadership, or ministry.
• Experiencing supervising, managing conflict, and facilitating student engagement programs.
• Crisis management & problem-solving.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and conflict-resolution skills.
• Demonstrated leadership capacity and ability to mentor and motivate students.
• Spiritually mature, emotionally intelligent, and deeply relational.
• Proficient in administrative systems, email, and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Able to manage multiple tasks and priorities in a dynamic environment.
• Ability to work evenings and weekends as needed.

Nice To Haves

• Models Christlike character and provides spiritual support to students and RAs.
• Communicates clearly and consistently with students, staff, and leadership.
• Resolves conflicts and upholds accountability with grace and professionalism.
• Understands housing operations and supports administrative processes as needed.
• Collaborates with campus partners to enhance the student experience.
• Responds to crises with sound judgment and timely decision-making.
• Takes initiative to improve systems, programs, and student support.
• Maintains visibility and engagement within the residence hall and campus life.

Responsibilities

• Maintain high visibility and relational presence in the residence halls, providing mentorship and daily interaction with students.
• Serve as a pastoral presence and resource for spiritual, academic, emotional, or behavioral challenges.
• Lead restorative conversations and facilitate accountability plans for students in response to behavioral concerns.
• Exercise independent judgment during on-call shifts, making real-time decisions regarding student welfare, emergencies, and RA direction.
• Document and follow up on patterns of student behavior; coordinate care with the Student Development team when necessary.
• Uphold and model the values of integrity, discipline, service, and excellence in every interaction.
• Recruit, interview, and select Resident Assistants in partnership with the Residence Life Team.
• Design and lead RA training sessions, contributing to curriculum development, scheduling, and facilitation.
• Set expectations for RAs, deliver ongoing performance feedback, and conduct formal evaluations.
• Track and mentor RA spiritual growth, leadership development, and overall performance.
• Make recommendations and decisions regarding RA discipline, accountability measures, or dismissal.
• Provide spiritual and pastoral guidance for RAs, serving as their first line of support and formation.
• Manage a designated RA programming and training budget with discretion.
• Guide RA-led initiatives and creativity (bulletin boards, door decs, events), ensuring alignment with college values.
• Develop and oversee a residence hall programming calendar that aligns with student needs and Character Formation priorities.
• Evaluate participation trends and feedback to adapt and improve programming initiatives.
• Steward and manage programming budgets for events, traditions, and initiatives that promote community, health, and formation.
• Support RA planning and execution of student engagement events, serving as both guide and collaborator.
• Lead community-building efforts that reflect a high-support, high-expectation culture.
• Partner with Housing Operations to coordinate move-ins, move-outs, room checks, maintenance follow-ups, and student transitions.
• Maintain and improve systems of documentation for RA scheduling, incident reporting, and accountability tracking.
• Identify trends in student conduct, housing culture, or community needs; propose operational or cultural adjustments to Res Life Team.
• Represent Residence Life at Orientation, Admissions events, and other collegewide gatherings.
• Collaborate cross-functionally on RA recruitment, student care coordination, and co-curricular planning.
• Contribute to Character Formation planning meetings, trainings, and cross-team initiatives.
• Ensure clear, consistent communication across student leader teams and departmental leadership.
• Participate in ministry at Church of the Highlands and Highlands College by leading small groups.
• Affirm and uphold the Statement of Faith and the Core Values and DNA of the College, exemplifying all by word and lifestyle.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree