Community Life Coordinator for Returning Student Communities

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and one year of experience.
• Experience working in college or university residential life or student affairs (student or professional).
• Demonstrated commitment to equitable experiences for our residential students.
• Strong communication skills and ability to support students through conflict, transition, and community expectations.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic, student-centered environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs, Counseling, or a related field.
• One or more years of full-time professional experience in residential life or related student support areas.
• Experience supervising student employees.
• Experience with student conduct processes, conflict resolution, or educational interventions.
• Familiarity with housing management systems (e.g., eRezLife).
• Experience with program design and implementation, budget management, or assessment.

This position works in-person in Rochester, MN. This role is not eligible for H-1B or Green Card sponsorship. This position is contingent upon confirmed student enrollment for the upcoming term.

The Community Life Coordinator (CLC) for Returning Student Communities is a full-time, live‑in professional responsible for cultivating supportive, inclusive, and developmentally focused residential communities for second‑year and upper‑division students at the University of Minnesota Rochester (UMR). The CLC is a key member of the Residential Life team within the Student Life unit and which includes the Senior Director, Assistant Director, the Community Life Coordinator for First‑Year Students, and the Living Learning Communities (LLC) Coordinator to promote well‑being, belonging, and academic success across the residential experience.

This role supports upper‑division community development, student staff supervision, and operational processes while contributing to a coordinated, collaborative approach across the residential system. The CLC also leads the design, implementation, and assessment of the Second‑Year Residential Experience, a signature initiative focused on retention, academic momentum, and student engagement.

The position reports to the Assistant Director of Residential Life & Academic Initiatives.

Location and Work Environment

• This position is based in-person on the UMR campus in downtown Rochester. As a student-facing and community-centered role, high visibility within the residence halls is required.

Work Conditions

• Urban Campus: Work occurs across multiple residence hall buildings in the downtown area. The position requires frequent movement between facilities, including responding to calls during evening/on-call hours.
• Flexibility: This is primarily an in-person role, with occasional opportunities for remote
  administrative work during administrative periods. Live-In Benefits & Arrangements:
• Housing: An on-campus apartment is provided as a condition of employment.
• Family & Partners: A partner/spouse and/or minor children are permitted to reside with the CLC, subject to a background check and university occupancy policies.
• Pet Policy: This is a pet-friendly position (subject to approval and university policy).
• Amenities: The package includes one parking space and a meal plan, intended to support
  community engagement and dining feedback.

Work Schedule

• Full-time, exempt, 12-month role (40 hours/week).
• Requires evening and weekend work to support programming, community needs, and student concerns.
• Participates in the Professional Staff On-Call rotation, including some holiday and university break coverage.
• Must be available for after-hours, in-person response to situations when on call.

Expected Contributions

Expected Contributions to the Student Life Area

• Interpersonal Skills and Competencies – Active Participation in campus experiences helps students build healthy, respectful relationships that support personal growth and wellbeing.
  • Enhance upper-division student well-being and academic momentum by designing
    residential experiences tailored to independent living and the Second-Year Experience.
  • Develop and implement training for RAs and DAs focused on supporting the complex needs, career readiness, and advanced social dynamics of returning students.
• Community Integration and Campus Engagement – Students develop personal identity, a positive self-view and a sense of responsibility for how their actions and words shape a safe, equitable, and thriving community.
  • Cultivate mature, equitable residential communities where returning students take ownership of their living spaces and mentor peers.
  • Support student safety by serving in the Professional Staff on-call rotation and managing upper-division student concerns and conduct with a focus on accountability and community impact.
• Personal Development – Reflected in how students connect across differences, pursue meaningful experiences both in and outside of the classroom, cultivate purpose, practice well-being and take ownership of their learning.
  • Contribute to student development by connecting returning residents with resources that
    foster career exploration, deeper academic engagement, and life-skills preparation.
  • Collect qualitative and quantitative feedback on the upper-division experience to inform
    housing strategies that drive retention beyond the first year.

Expected Contributions to Campus Priorities

• Students at the Center: Develop returning student residential systems that prioritize independent living, continued belonging, and targeted support for the "sophomore slump."
• Research Informs Practice: Use housing management data (eRezLife) and student feedback to refine apartment-style living operations and upper-division community standards.
• Partners Make It Possible: Collaborate with campus partners (Career Services, Success Coaches, property management) to support the specific holistic needs of returning students.
• Support for Campus Expansion & Student Growth: Scale operations, facility management, and room selection processes to accommodate the growing demand for upper-division housing.
• Contribution to Emerging Academic and Career Pipelines: Cultivate a residential environment that offers the stability and focus required for students to deeply engage in their declared academic pathways and clinical/career preparation.

Primary Responsibilities

35% — Residential Community Management & Operations

Community Presence and Student Support

• Maintain a strong, visible presence in assigned upper‑division residential communities through regular walkthroughs, intentional interactions, and relationship‑building with second‑year and upper‑division residents.
• Respond to student concerns—including roommate conflicts, well‑being needs, and community expectations—using an educational, student‑development approach grounded in care and skill‑building.
• Collaborate closely with the CLC for First‑Year Students to ensure consistency in community standards, support practices, and communication across residential communities.
• Provide responsive guidance to residents as they navigate the personal and social challenges of the residential experience, connecting them with the appropriate campus resources for broader academic or institutional needs.

Operations & Facilities Management

• Manage daily operations of assigned upper‑division residential communities, ensuring that facilities, common spaces, and administrative processes support student well‑being and independence.
• Oversee and support desk operations within assigned buildings, including mail/package processes, service protocols, and supervises student desk assistants of the building(s).
• Partner with Facilities, Operations, and property management to identify, communicate, and follow up on maintenance concerns, facility needs, and safety issues.
• Support occupancy processes—including move‑in, move‑out, room changes, cancellations, and summer housing—in collaboration with the Assistant Director, Senior Director, and Residential Life team.

Conduct, Safety, and Crisis Response

• Serve as a Professional Staff member within the on-call rotation, responding to crises, incidents, and student concerns after hours, including in-person response when needed.
• Provide follow-up care and educational conversations with residents after incidents to reinforce learning and community expectations.
• Serve on the Residence Life Student Conduct Team, addressing low-level conduct concerns through developmental and educational approaches in alignment with university standards.
• Work closely with campus partners—including Student Success Coaches, Campus Safety, Disability Resources and Student Life colleagues—to support student needs and ensure timely interventions.

Administrative Systems & Processes

• Utilize the residential life management system to support operational workflows, including room processes, student records, communication templates, incident documentation, and occupancy data.
• Identify system needs, data accuracy issues, or workflow inefficiencies and collaborate with the Residential Life team to support improvements.

30% — Community Engagement & Programming

• Lead the design, implementation, and assessment of the Second‑Year Residential Experience, emphasizing belonging, well‑being, and community engagement, and creating pathways for residents to connect with campus experts for academic momentum and career readiness.
• Assess second‑year and upper‑division student needs and interests to guide community-building programs and engagement initiatives.
• Support RAs in implementing programs that enhance belonging, well‑being, academic engagement, and cultural awareness for returning students.
• Manage assigned programming budgets, including purchasing responsibilities and ensuring responsible, transparent spending.
• Collaborate with Student Life team members and campus partners (e.g., advising, career education, faculty partners) to create opportunities that benefit second‑year and upper‑division students.
• Ensure community spaces and bulletin boards feature inclusive, informative, and engaging content.

25% — Student Staff Supervision, Training & Development

Ongoing Supervision, Training, and Development

• Supervise up to nine (9) Resident Assistants (RAs) and four to six (4-6) Desk Assistants (DAs) for designated upper‑division building(s), providing regular one‑on‑one check-ins, team meetings, coaching, and performance evaluation.
• Supervise Summer Assistants (SAs) assigned to residential communities; summer staffing supervision may shift between CLCs based on departmental needs.
• Provide day‑to‑day guidance, developmental feedback, and support to student staff, fostering a team culture grounded in care, professionalism, accountability, and continuous learning.
• Collaborate with the CLC for First‑Year Students and the LLC Coordinator to maintain cohesive expectations, communication, and shared approaches to student staff support.

Recruitment, Selection, and Onboarding

• Collaborate in the coordination of recruitment and selection processes for RAs, DAs, Summer Assistants, and Community Mentors (CMs), including shared application review, interviewing, and selection activities.
• Partner with the Residential Life hiring team to ensure equitable and consistent hiring processes across all student staff roles.
• Develop and implement onboarding processes for student staff in assigned buildings, ensuring clarity of role expectations and successful transitions into their positions.

Student Staff Training (August Training & Ongoing Development)

• Collaborate in the coordination and logistical preparation of August student staff training, contributing to scheduling, materials, and day‑of support as part of a coordinated team approach.
• Partner with the Senior Director, Assistant Director, CLC for First‑Year Students, and LLC Coordinator to plan, design, and deliver training content grounded in student development and UMR’s residential learning goals.
• Serve as a facilitator during August training and throughout the academic year, delivering sessions related to community development, conflict coaching, and the needs of second‑year and upper‑division students.
• Contribute to ongoing in-service and semester-long training opportunities for student staff in collaboration with Residential Life colleagues.

10% — Departmental Leadership, Administrative Service & Professional Development

• Serve on departmental or campus committees as assigned to represent Residential Life and support university priorities. Examples include but are not limited to: Raptor Eats, UMR Housing & Dining, Campus Wide Student Conduct Team, Raptor Ready Week (Orientation), Retention, or Campus Safety.
• Participate in Student Life and Residential Life team meetings, divisional initiatives, and ongoing professional development.
• Engage in training related to student development, conflict resolution, inclusion, especially as it relates to the needs of second‑year and upper‑division students.
• Complete administrative responsibilities, including communication, documentation, budget tracking, and assessment tasks as needed.

The University of Minnesota Rochester (UMR), located in downtown Rochester, serves nearly 1,200 students and recently welcomed its largest class ever in fall 2025. Faculty and staff are dedicated to innovative education, student development and applying research to enhance learning every day. With a strong focus on health sciences and student-centered learning, UMR partners closely with Mayo Clinic and emphasizes research-driven teaching to meet the evolving demands of the health care industry.

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

This position will remain open until filled.

Please include a resume and cover letter for a complete application.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

The University of Minnesota Rochester (UMR)

At the University of Minnesota Rochester, our vision is to transform higher education through innovations that empower graduates to solve the grand health challenges of the twenty-first century. UMR prepares students for a broad spectrum of career pathways including pre-med and patient care; psychology and mental health; business and leadership; health technology; public policy and global health; and research, discovery, and cures.

The campus community serves almost 1,000 undergraduate and graduate students in the heart of downtown Rochester and continues to grow in size and influence through creative partnerships. At UMR, relationships and research drive student success. Learn more about UMR.

The University of Minnesota is proud to be recognized by the Star Tribune as a Top Workplace for 2021, as well as by Forbes as Best Employers for Women and one of America’s Best Employers (2015, 2018, 2019, 2023), Best Employer for Diversity (2019, 2020), Best Employer for New Grads (2018, 2019), and Best Employer by State (2019, 2022–24).