Job title:Residences Life Coordinator

Reports to:Student Liaison Manager

Department:Accommodation & Hospitality Services

Location:Phoenix halls of residence

Grade:4

Purpose of the role:

To work closely with the Student Liaison Manager,the Residences Life Coordinator will be responsible for the day to day operations of the Residences Life Scheme in university halls of residence and in particular focussing on assisting a team of student volunteers with organising and delivering social events across a range of locations.

The aim of the Residences Life scheme, which is delivered through volunteer Student Residential Advisers (SRA’s), is to:

  • Build a peer to peer support network with friendship and mentoring as key aspects.
  • Encourage a sense of community and enhance the student experience.
  • Work with students to create a cooperative living environment and to resolve issues within the student community where possible.
  • Encourage student leadership and engagement.
  • Develop and encourage a sense of self responsibility within the resident student community.
  • Organise and lead events for students.
  • Improve student touchpoints, sign posting and referrals.

The university’s volunteers,Student Residential Advisors, live in the halls and are recruitedon an annual basis. Each SRA will have approximately 60 students to mentor.

Line management responsibility for:Post holder will have no line management responsibility, however, the role will involve supervising and supporting student volunteers (the SRA team).

Main areas of responsibility:

  • To assist with planning and delivering student events in the halls of residence to bring students together, assist with the transition from home to student life and help enhance the student experience.
  • To supervise and co-ordinate the SRA’s to ensure they are carrying out their role in engaging student residents, staff reception, attend regular meetings with the SRA.
  • To provide a range of support to the SRA’s – ensuring they know how to access support within the university and where to signpost their peers.
  • To manage the administration of Residence Life. For example, ensuring accurate records are kept of events/expenditure.
  • To assist with the recruitment and training of the Student Residential Advisers to ensure they have the knowledge and guidance to do their roles.
  • To be an initial point of contact to support students who are experiencing minor problems/issues and need support/signposting and ensure that serious incidents/issues are escalated quickly to the Student Liaison Manager or to another senior member of the team.
  • To assist the halls managers and SRA's to follow up minor discipline and welfare matters, and recognising when to refer issues to the Student Liaison Manager or another senior member of the department.
  • To contribute to regular reviews of the successes/outcomes of the scheme reporting back to the departmental management team with recommendations for future improvements.
  • To attend departmental and external meetings as/ when required to share knowledge.

General responsibilities:

These are standard to all University of Brighton job descriptions.

  • To undertake other duties appropriate to the grade and character of work as may be reasonably required, including specific duties of a similar or lesser grade.
  • To adhere to the University’s Equality and Diversity Policy in all activities, and to actively promote equality of opportunity wherever possible.
  • To be responsible for your own health and safety and that of your colleagues, in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act.
  • To work in accordance with the Data Protection Act.

The person specification focuses on the knowledge, qualifications, experience and skills (both general and technical) required to undertake the role effectively. Please ensure that your application demonstrates how you meet the essential criteria. You will be assessed by your completed application form (A), at interview (I) and in some instances through an exercise (E).

Essential criteria / A, I, E
Knowledge /
  • Understanding of welfare and diversity issues facing students in Higher Education.
  • Able to cooperate with and build effective working relationships with others.
  • Experience of supervising or mentoring individuals and/or a team on a day to day basis.
  • Able to motivate a team and encourage team spirit.
  • Listening skills, with an ability to empathise with and be sensitive to the needs of others.
  • Able to understand boundaries and when to escalate matters to senior colleagues.
  • Organisational skills to be able to organise events
  • Pro-active, with a flexible, collaborative approach to working in a team.
  • Effective written and verbal communication skills with an ability to present to groups of students.
  • Possess an ability to negotiate and mediate where there are minor issues.
  • Knowledge of relevant legislation including Health and Safety, Equality and Diversity, and Data Protection regulations.
  • Administrative skills to be able to plan and prioritise work effectively and maintain accurate records.
/ A, I
A, I
A,I
A, I
A, I
A, I
A, I
A, I
A, I
A, I
A, I
Qualifications /
  • No specific qualifications are required.

Experience /
  • Experience of having worked in a similar environment.
/ A,I
A, I
Managing people
Technical/work based skills /
  • Competency in using social media tools – for example, Facebook, twitter, and webpages.
  • Ability to use Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
/ A, I, E
A, E
General requirements /
  • The role will require regular inter-site travel between halls of residence and campus areas.
  • DBS check will be required as the post holder will be working with vulnerable adults and students under the age of 18.
  • Willing to work occasional weekends and unsocial hours.
/ I
A,I
A,I
Desirable /
  • Driving licence, car user.
  • Experience of planning and managing small events.
/ A
  • Salary range: £21,843 to £24,565. The appointment is generally made at the bottom of the range dependent upon experience and previous salary.
  • The annual leave entitlement is 25 days per annum, plus public holidays and University closure days. Annual leave, including public holidays and closure days, is pro-rated for part-time staff.
  • Monday to Friday 12pm to 20.00pm.
  • More information about the department can be found here:
  • The University has an attractive range of benefits and you can find more information about them on our website.

01 October 2018