Area Coordinator, Residence Life
Austin Peay State University
Clarksville, TN, USA
The Area Coordinator is a full-time, 12-month, live-in professional staff member within the Housing and Residence Life office at Austin Peay State University. The Area Coordinator reports directly to the Assistant Director of Residence Life and is responsible for the supervision and leadership of residential communities and student staff within assigned housing areas, supporting the development of environments that promote student learning, community development and overall student well-being.
As a member of the Division of Student Affairs, the Area Coordinator collaborates in a cross-Divisional and cross-institutional approach to support a vibrant residential and campus environment that fosters student engagement, connection, and belonging. The Area Coordinator serves as a student-centered leader who contributes to a supportive living-learning experience for residential students through community development, engagement initiatives and intentional support of student success.
This position provides oversight for the day-to-day operations of residential facilities housing approximately 550–700 students and is responsible for the supervision of Resident Assistants, with the potential to assist in the supervision and development of Residence Hall Directors. This position works closely with student staff, campus partners and residential students in a fast-paced and dynamic environment, supporting operational excellence and contributing to the overall mission and strategic goals of Housing and Residence Life and the Division of Student Affairs.
Characteristics of a successful candidate:
Integrity, kindness, creativity, and decisiveness, along with the capacity to inspire others.
Motivation to create a thriving, engaged, and safe student experience.
Ability to serve with agility; important to lead, listen, and serve with a high level of energy.
A commitment to practicing open communication and inspiring trust.
Desire to collaborate with colleagues and create a culture that rewards teamwork.
Demonstrated sincere enjoyment from working with students.
Responsibilities include:
Supervisory Leadership
Directly supervise undergraduate Resident Assistants and provide guidance to student staff working within assigned residential areas.
Assist in the recruitment, selection, training, and supervision of Residence Hall Directors, and Resident Assistants.
Work with student staff and residents to design programs and initiatives that strengthen the residential experience.
Provide ongoing mentorship, coaching, and performance feedback to student staff to support leadership development.
Facilitate regular staff meetings and training initiatives to support effective residential community leadership.
Operations and Administrative Management
Provide overall leadership and management for a residential area housing approximately 550–700 students.
Support the development of inclusive residential communities that promote student engagement, connection, and belonging.
Maintain community standards through policy education, student support, and appropriate conduct processes.
Manage the day-to-day operations of assigned residence halls or residential areas.
Support administrative functions including facility concerns, maintenance requests, key management, security processes, and room changes.
Conduct routine safety and security checks of residential facilities.
Maintain accurate records and documentation related to residential operations and student concerns.
Crisis Response and Student Support
Provide support and intervention for students experiencing personal, academic, or community concerns.
Participate in an on-call duty rotation and respond to emergencies and student concerns within residential communities.
Provide timely and appropriate responses to crisis situations and collaborate with campus partners when necessary.
Intervene and support residential students identified as academically or personally at risk.
Department and Division Leadership
Maintain open communications with the Assistant Director of Residence Life to share information and engage in issue-spotting and creative problem-solving to benefit the residential community.
Serve on Division and University committees as assigned.
Collaborate with campus departments and student support services to enhance the residential student experience.
Provide leadership or support for functional areas within Residence Life, such as staff development, training, recruitment, marketing and communications, or Residence Hall Association initiatives.
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Perform additional duties as assigned.
Required Skills and Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree.
Professional experience in residence life, student engagement, leadership development, or a related area.
Demonstrated commitment to student development and the creation of positive residential learning environments.
Strong interpersonal, organizational, and written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to build and maintain effective relationships with students, student staff, and campus partners.
Ability to manage multiple responsibilities in a dynamic environment while maintaining a supportive and responsive presence for students.
Demonstrated ability to respond to student concerns and crisis situations with professionalism, care, and sound judgment.
Ability to live on campus and work evenings and weekends as required.
Commitment to mentoring and developing student leaders and fostering a culture of accountability and growth among student staff.
Preferred Skills and Qualifications
Master’s degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs, Counseling, or a related field.
Experience supervising and developing student staff within a residential life or student engagement environment.
Experience supporting student leadership development, co-curricular programming, or residential community initiatives.
Physical Requirements
Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.
Austin Peay State University is a four-year public, doctoral-level university, with six colleges and four Chairs of Excellence. The University has an enrollment of over 11,000 students and is located in Clarksville, Tennessee, a community of an estimated 150,287 people located approximately 40 miles northwest of Nashville, TN.
Austin Peay State University is a proud supporter of hiring veterans. We hire veterans with equivalent experiences and pay grades from their military service, rather than requiring or preferring only college degrees. Please visit our website for more information on how veterans can qualify for additional employment opportunities at APSU: https://www.apsu.edu/human-resources/hiring-veterans/.
Austin Peay State University (APSU) prohibits discrimination in all employment, programs, and activities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy), disability, age, veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status. For Title IX inquiries or complaints, contact: Chief of Institutional Culture & Title IX Coordinator, LaNeeça R. Williams at williamslr@apsu.edu | 931-221-7690, Browning Building, Room 140, Clarksville, TN 37044. For other non-discrimination concerns, contact: Director of Institutional Culture & Title VI & Title VII Coordinator, Dr. Jo Baldwin at baldwinjapsu.edu | 931-221-7178 or Associate Director of Accessibility Compliance & ADA/504 Coordinator, Jayme Glover at gloverj@apsu.edu | 931-221-7160. View APSU’s full nondiscrimination policy at Policy 6:001.
The Area Coordinator is a full-time, 12-month, live-in professional staff member within the Housing and Residence Life office at Austin Peay State University. The Area Coordinator reports directly to the Assistant Director of Residence Life and is responsible for the supervision and leadership of residential communities and student staff within assigned housing areas, supporting the development of environments that promote student learning, community development and overall student well-being.