Area Coordinator

PCN 10

Position Overview

To oversee a residential area of residence halls and provide oversight to both the Graduate Resident Director(s) and student Resident Advisor staff, and provide support to the resident population in the area.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Provide leadership of a residential area, including supervision and evaluation of up to 25 resident advisors and 1-2 Graduate Resident Directors.

• Advise & mentor individual students, provide support to students of concern, and conduct mediations between residents.

• Coordinate the development of programs and activities within the residential area ; work with the Resident Advisor staff to develop a program vision, implement quality programs, and track programmatic efforts including managing a programming budget.

• Manage oversight of a residential area and its operations, including assisting students with room changes and tracking vacancies, managing facilities concerns, checking conditions of rooms and common spaces and billing students for damages.

• Oversee a secondary assignment within the office as determined by the needs of the office (i.e. Community Engagement & Programming, Student Leadership (Residence Hall Association), Staff Selection & Housing Operations, and Staff Trainings).

• Assist the central office with tasks such as the housing selection process, RA selection, and RA training.

• Participate as part of the on-call duty rotation, including weekends and holidays, and respond to crisis and emergency situations when the college is closed.

• Work collaboratively with the Merrimack College Police Department, Facilities and other offices.

• Serve as a hearing officer for student conduct cases.

• Attend weekly departmental and RA staff meetings, and individual meetings with supervisor, and all staff trainings.

• Assist with college and divisional initiatives such as Orientation, Commencement, and various events during the academic year.

• Maintain familiarity with current trends in Student Affairs.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Minimum requirements of education, knowledge, previous experience, or equivalent required to perform the duties of this position at an acceptable level.

• Master’s Degree preferred.

• A commitment to community development and programming.

• Understanding of student leadership in a college/university residence life setting.

• Computer Skills (Microsoft Office).

• Strong interpersonal skills.

• 2-3 years experience preferred in a residence life position in a college/university setting.

Application Materials Should Include:

• Cover letter stating motivation and interest in the position, citing experience relevant to the qualifications and including experience with, and commitment to, our Catholic Augustinian mission, our values, and our desire to be a more diverse, equitable and inclusive institution of higher learning.

• Resume

This position is subject to the successful completion of a criminal background check.

Vaccinations and Work Location 

This is an on-campus position as employees are essential in order to provide a fully on-campus, residential college experience for our students and the community.

The COVID-19 vaccine and booster for which an individual may be eligible are highly recommended for students, faculty and staff. Merrimack College does not require proof of COVID vaccination for enrollment, employment or to be a guest on our campus. 

Statement on Our Mission

Merrimack College is a Catholic Augustinian institution of higher education committed to building a culturally and racially diverse community. Our mission is to enlighten minds, engage hearts and empower lives and is inspired by our Catholic faith and the Augustinian tradition of seeking truth through inquiry and dialogue.

Merrimack College seeks candidates who understand, respect and can contribute to Merrimack’s Catholic and Augustinian mission and values and advance our work in the area of diversity, equity and inclusion. We strongly encourage applications from members of underrepresented groups. All candidates should describe in their application previous experience related to equity, diversity, and inclusion, as well as how they will engage in fostering a culture that supports our Catholic and Augustinian mission and our values of diversity, equity and inclusion.

About Merrimack College

The only Catholic, Augustinian institution of higher education in New England, Merrimack College is a private, independent, coeducational institution with more than 4,000 undergraduate and 1,700 graduate students from 43 states and 42 countries. The College features more than 160 career-focused undergraduate, professional and graduate programs, all taught by exceptional faculty who are passionate about their subject and student success. The College has five schools: arts and sciences, engineering and computational sciences, nursing and health sciences, education and social policy and the Girard school of business. The College’s suburban 220-acre campus is just north of Boston in North Andover, Massachusetts. Merrimack is a Master’s Colleges and Universities/Larger Programs (M1) institution in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Merrimack is one of the fastest growing educational institutions in the country and has steadily climbed up in the U.S. News & World Report’s ranking of Best Colleges, ranking 37th in the Regional Universities North category in 2025. Merrimack is a NCAA Division I athletic institution.

Merrimack College is an Equal Opportunity Employer.