Swarthmore College is a highly selective liberal arts college located in the suburbs of Philadelphia, whose mission combines academic rigor with social responsibility. Swarthmore has a strong institutional commitment to inclusive excellence and nondiscrimination in its educational program and employment practices and encourages candidates who will further advance the goal of fostering a diverse and inclusive community. As one of the nation’s finest institutions of higher learning, Swarthmore College is global in outlook and draws students from around the nation and world. The 425‐acre campus is a designated arboretum, complete with gardens, rolling lawns, a creek, wooded hills, and hiking trails in the Crum Woods.

Who We Are:

As a residential college with over 96% of its students living in campus-owned housing, the Office of Student Engagement (OSE) supports the mission of Swarthmore College by fostering living environments that value shared responsibility, consensus decision making, and personal accountability. The Office of Student Engagement aspires to create and support an engaged, evolving, and inclusive campus community by fostering holistic student development and success. Combining the Office of Residential Life with the Student Activities & Leadership office in 2014, the Office of Student Engagement aims to link learning inside the classroom with learning outside of the classroom. The OSE expects that students will actively participate in their residential co-curricular experience and will take ownership for creating the communities in which they want to live.

The opportunity:

The Area Coordinator (AC) will work with the Office of Student Engagement (OSE) to supervise the residential community, which includes student staff supervision and training, crisis response, and community development. The AC role focuses on developing skills and knowledge within four key competency areas: Community Development, Health/Life/Safety of students, Leadership, and Administrative skills. As a member of the Office of Student Engagement, ACs commit to developing student leaders who are ready to engage in a diverse, global world. The AC will also provide substantial support to Student Activities programming through a collateral assignment and programming support.

The AC is a 12-month live-in position that collaborates with students, faculty, and staff in developing residential experiences that foster a sense of community and opportunities for the personal growth of community members. This full-time, year-round (12 months) position is a three year limited term appointment.

The AC position reports to the Director of Residential Communities. The Area Coordinator position will receive support and advisement from the Director of Student Activities position for aspects related to student activities and the Associate Dean and Director of Student Conduct for matters pertaining to student conduct.

The AC will serve in many capacities, including: student supervisor, community builder, educator, event programmer, minor misconduct hearing officer, collaborator, and crisis responder. In these roles, the AC helps shape the quality of the co-curricular experience for all students.

Essential Responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

Staff Supervision

• Supervise, train, and develop a team of Resident Assistants in accordance with the Office of Student Engagement guidelines.
• Actively participate in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of departmental initiatives, including student staff selection, training and development, and community building.
• Oversight of residential and campus programming efforts by Resident Assistants, including planning, budgeting/ purchasing, implementation, and evaluation
• Monitor work performance for accuracy and completeness in accordance with OSE goals and guidelines.
• Assess the performance of Resident Assistants staff members on a regular basis and formally once a semester in a departmental evaluation.
• Advise students and staff on proper procedures and policies, in order to ensure appropriate requirements are met.

Community Development

• Promote leadership development, self-governance opportunities, as well as civic engagement through resident involvement.
• Serve as a support resource for staff and students in dealing with specific residence hall problems, including roommate conflicts, personal and emotional problems, diversity issues, and other developmental concerns.
• Maintain regular office hours and visible presence within the assigned residential community.
• Meet weekly with directors to receive guidance feedback and discuss pertinent issues pertaining to the residential communities and/or student activities.
• Oversee residential conflict mediations.
• Participate in the creation and implementation of a residential curricular model for community development.

Emergency Response and Case Management

• Serve in an on-call rotation of live-in/live-on Student Life staff. Respond in person to support students in need. Primarily serve in Tier 1 capacity but provide Tier 2 assistance as staffing requires.
• Provide leadership and manage emergency and crisis situations involving students and/or residential facilities. Serve as essential staff during campus emergencies and participate in the College’s Emergency Response Team.
• Problem-solve interpersonal, operational, and other issues with all students as needed.
• Provides annual review and updates to Student Life policies and procedures.
• Implement and manage College emergency and risk management procedures by ensuring all professional and student staff and building tenants are trained in emergency protocol.

Facilities Management

• Provide leadership and direction for a residential area and collaborate with maintenance, custodial, dining, and administrative staff.
• Carry-out move-in and move-out procedures.
• Communicate and follow-up on facilities related concerns in residence halls.
• Conduct weekly building walkthroughs and inspections and assist in monitoring and completing individual Facilities and Maintenance requests and overall building management.
• The AC will be considered essential personnel and may be required to help carry-out the College’s emergency preparedness plans.
• Coordinates student support with the Deans Staff.
• Provide event programming in their residential community that is open and welcoming to the entire campus.

Office of Student Engagement Support

• Support and attend campus-wide OSE and Division of Student Affairs programming initiatives, with particular attention given to Student Life all-campus events, including Orientation, Welcome Weekend, Winter Formal, Halloween Large Scale Event, Worthstock, Senior Week, and Commencement.
• Maintain a collateral assignment within the Student Activities and Leadership Office, in order to support divisional programming and departmental initiatives across campus and within the residential community clusters.
• Provide administrative, purchasing, and budget reconciliation assistance to Student Organizations, Student Government, and the Student Budget Committee.
• Serve as a mandated reporter for Title IX issues and Clery Act violations.

Who you are:

• Demonstrated commitment to personal and departmental development, professionalism, diversity, equity, and inclusion education, creativity, collaboration, and initiative.
• Discretion and sound judgment are required in dealing with confidential and sensitive student issues and communication with all campus constituencies and outside constituencies (including parents).
• Strong attention to detail; strong organizational skills; ability to handle multiple tasks, often under deadlines; ability to work as a team member to build strong working relationships within the OSE and greater the Dean’s division, across campus and in the broader community; ability to write clearly and concisely with great attention to detail.

What you bring:

Required Qualifications

• Master’s Degree
• Preference will be given to individuals with previous demonstrated student leadership experience within a college liberal arts setting, training in intergroup dialogue, and/or conflict mediation.
• Minimum one (1) year of at least graduate level work in the areas of housing, residence life, student activities, and/or student conduct.

Preferred Qualifications

• A degree in counseling services, higher education administration, social work, or a related field is very strongly preferred.
• At least two (2) years of experience in residential life or managing residential spaces or with student development in a college/university setting, with a preference for a liberal arts setting.
• Experience working in an on-call rotation.
• Familiarity with software programs such as Maxient, THD, Banner, and Workday.
• Familiarity with implementation of residential curriculums.
• Familiarity with student leaders working under an organized union.

Physical Demands

• Frequently required to move about inside the office and throughout residence halls.
• Must be able to sit for extended periods of time and work in a standard office environment.
• Must be able to occasionally lift, move, or transport objects weighing up to 20 pounds.

Working Conditions

• 12 month live-in position.
  • Successful candidates are required to live on campus in campus provided housing.

What You Will Get:

You’ll work at one of the world's most renowned liberal arts Colleges, with incredible benefits, a stunning 420-acre campus, and a collaborative work environment. Join a team of passionate, creative people who work hard and have fun supporting the College students, faculty, and staff.

We want to hear from you if you are excited about this role! For full consideration and priority review, submit applications with pay expectations, including a resume and cover letter, and the application materials will be reviewed immediately and on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

We expect the person starting this position to begin by mid-July. However, the successful candidate may be able to start earlier, subject to the interview process and availability.

The market salary for this position is $57,000, which represents the College’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range at the time of posting. The salary offered is determined based on factors including, but not limited to, experience and education of the final selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information.

PA Criminal Clearance Required

Swarthmore College requires a PA Criminal background check for all staff positions prior to the start of employment.

Education Verification Required by Position

An education verification is required for this position because a college degree is a required qualification for this position.

Preview our Benefits Flyer. We offer benefit plans starting at zero cost! Upon benefit eligibility, the College contributes 10% of an employee’s salary to their retirement account. Employees are 100% vested in their accounts on the date participation begins.

2026 Swarthmore Benefits Guidebook

Retirement Plans

Tuition Grant Program

Tuition Reimbursement Program

Paid Time Off (Staff)

Holiday Schedule

Swarthmore College is committed to creating a culture of respect and inclusion so that every member of our community feels a sense of belonging. We actively seek and welcome candidates with diverse perspectives and experiences, exceptional qualifications, and a demonstrable commitment to a more inclusive society and world. Swarthmore College is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate based on any identity or characteristic protected by law or College Policy.