Residence Life Coordinator

Who We Are

Seattle Pacific University is a Christian university fully committed to engaging the culture and changing the world by graduating people of competence and character, becoming people of wisdom, and modeling grace-filled community.

Student Life at SPU is committed to fostering student learning and development through residential living, leadership opportunities, and intentional programming. Within this context, the Residence Life staff serve as educators, creating environments that support student growth, academic success, and meaningful engagement in a Christ-centered community.

What We Need

The Residence Life Coordinator (RLC) is a professional live-in educator responsible for creating a safe, inclusive, fun, and transformative residential learning environment for undergraduate students at Seattle Pacific University.

Along with a vibrant Christian faith, the RLC has an enthusiasm for developing college students and plays a central role in teaching, mentoring, and supporting undergraduate students while also contributing to co-curricular programming and student engagement initiatives.

The RLC position supports Seattle Pacific University’s mission by contributing to a Christ‑centered learning and working community committed to academic excellence, service, and engagement with the world. In this role, the employee brings their skills, gifts, and professional expertise to work that matters—serving students, colleagues, and the broader University community in ways that reflect SPU’s values and purpose. To that end, all University employees are required to be aligned with and supportive of SPU's Statement of Faith and its derivative policies and lifestyle expectations.

What You’ll Do

Student Staff Leadership & Development

• Supervise, teach, train, and evaluate approximately 11–12 undergraduate Resident Advisors within a residential community.
• Partner with another professional staff member to support leadership development for student staff.
• Participate in recruitment and selection of Resident Advisors, graduate assistants, and Residence Life staff.
• Contribute to the overall teaching and training of the RA Advisor and Area Council staff, including team-teaching leadership courses such as the fall RA class and staff in-services.

Student Learning & Mentorship

• Develop meaningful mentoring relationships with students and maintain visibility in the residential community.
• Leadership and community development
• Faith formation and Christian service
• Cultural understanding and engagement
• Vocation and calling
• Wellness and academic success
• Provide guidance through mediation, student conduct processes, and wellness support.

Community Development

• Foster a Christ-centered residential community that supports safety, belonging, and personal growth.
• Advise an Area Council student leadership group and encourage student-led programs that build community.

Residence Hall Administration

• Oversee residence hall operations including openings, closings, room changes, and inventory inspections.
• Support the university’s housing selection process.
• Supervise student staff at the residence hall front desk.
• Collaborate with campus partners including Housing, Facilities & Project Management, and Dining Services.

Safety & Emergency Response

• Participate in an on-call duty rotation to respond to residential incidents and emergencies.
• Serve as a Building Emergency Coordinator for the assigned residence area.

Collaboration & Professional Engagement

• Work collaboratively with Residence Life colleagues and campus partners as a team, to promote a community of trust, humility, and respect that uses solution-focused strategies and constructive feedback in making departmental/team decisions.
• Serve on Residence Life and University committees.
Participate in ongoing professional development and training

What You Bring

Education

Bachelor’s degree required; training in student development, counseling, or related fields preferred.

Experience

1–2 years of graduate or professional experience working directly with college students.

Student Development Perspective

Demonstrated ability to mentor and support college students in a residential learning environment.

Commitment to Student Success

Experience engaging students across diverse backgrounds and supporting student success in a predominantly white institution.

Mission Alignment

A personal commitment to Christian faith; enthusiasm for supporting SPU’s mission ; alignment with the University’s Statement of Faith ; and willingness to uphold the lifestyle standards of our Christian community.

Other Essentials

• Ability to mentor, teach, and supervise student leaders.
• Strong interpersonal, conflict mediation, and community-building skills.
• Ability to respond effectively to student needs and crisis situations.
• Comfort working in a collaborative team environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and willingness to learn housing and campus systems such as StarRez, Banner, and Confluence.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration, Student Affairs, Developmental Psychology, Education, or related field.
2–3 years of professional experience working with college students in a higher education setting

Salary & Benefits

• This position offers a salary range of $42,000 – $43,940 annually (DOE) and includes a comprehensive benefits package for full-time employees, including:
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Retirement plan with university contribution
• Paid holidays
• Tuition assistance for employees and eligible dependents
• Professional development opportunities

This is a live-in position as part of the Residence Life professional staff. Annual RLC appointments begin in mid August and conclude mid-June each academic year.

Additional Information

How to Apply: Apply online through the internal Seattle Pacific University Careers website. Applicants should be prepared to submit both a resume and cover letter describing their interest in the role and personal connection to SPU’s mission.

We look forward to hearing about how your unique gifts and talents can contribute to the lives of our amazing students and the SPU community!