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Housing & Conference Services

Living At McMaster

Community Advisor Job Description

Application Deadlines
New applicants: 11:59 p.m., January 11, 2024

For any questions, please contact applyrls@mcmaster.ca

 

This job is posted on the the Residence Portal (StarRez). Use your McMaster credentials to log in, and click on the Employment tab.

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Job Summary

As an ambassador of the Residence Life Office, the CA will develop a community support system in an assigned area that promotes personal dignity, mutual respect and consideration for others.

Accountabilities

  • Deliver interactive activities to participants.
  • Ensure the physical, mental, and social safety of all participants (Report any issues to Supervisor)
  • Update and maintain a variety of correspondences, documents, and related information.
  • Liaise with a variety of internal stakeholders relating to student services.
  • Conduct rounds of residence buildings throughout coverage shifts
  • Attend all meetings and training sessions required.
  • Seek out assistance and escalate issues, when necessary, based on established departmental guidelines.
  • Assist students in dealing with transitional needs and with the social integration and belonging of residence students.
  • Maintain a strong presence and a high level of visibility and accountability to students and staff within the assigned section.
  • Maintain a high level of confidentiality regarding residents and work-related matters.
  • Manage conflict and resolve community issues by following training and department guidelines.
  • Promote staff engagement by coordinating initiatives that establish positive community standards in their building (i.e. team socials, staff development activities at meetings, etc.).
  • Assist with Residence Life and Housing & Conference Services initiatives and events.
  • Be familiar with and implement the Sexual Violence Response Protocol and other relevant policies.
  • Adhere to Social Media Guidelines and Expectations using Microsoft Teams and other communication platforms.

Qualifications

Education:

  • Full-time student status (full-time undergraduate student is defined as one who is taking courses equivalent to at least 18 units between September and April or is enrolled in a full-time Co-op/outgoing Exchange program) and a minimum sessional (September-December) GPA of 6.0 must be achieved.

Experience:

  • Previous orientation, mentorship, or equivalent experience at McMaster considered an asset.
  • Previous Community Advisor experience (minimum 4 months) or other Housing & Conference Services experience is considered an asset

Assets: 

  • Demonstrated positive attitude and proven initiative.
  • Excellent communication skills: listening, written, verbal, facilitation, negotiation, and presentation.
  • Strong interpersonal skills to effectively support the students within the residence community
  • Demonstrated the ability to identify and manage conflict by acting and communicating with tact and diplomacy Computer skills – proficiency with Microsoft Office (including Word, PowerPoint, Teams, and OneDrive)
  • Demonstrated good judgment, critical thinking, and problem solving skills.
  • Ability to work independently as well as part of a larger team.
  • Demonstrated leadership skills.
  • Demonstrated time management skills through the ability to balance competing priorities and manage multiple deadlines.
  • Demonstrated planning and implementation of large-scale events.
  • Working knowledge and/or experience building consensus within a diverse team of students, student staff and professional staff.

Additional Information

  • The Community Advisor position needs to come before any/all other student leadership roles (I.e. Archway Mentor, MSU Spark Team Leader, etc.)
  • Given the demands of the position during August and Welcome Week, the Community Advisor may not hold another Welcome Week position (I.e. Faculty Rep, Maroons Rep, Residence Orientation Rep, etc.).
  • Abstain from consuming substances (unless prescribed) and alcohol during any job responsibilities.
  • Attend all required training sessions, including (exact dates to be confirmed):
    • Virtual Summer Training Program – beginning in July 30, 2023
    • August Training Program – no earlier than August 19, 2023
    • January Revival Training – Weekend prior to the return to class in January 2024
  • Remain in residence until the day after the last exam in December and in April and be on coverage for two of the last three nights of each term.
  • Community Advisors will be required to move into residence before the start of classes each term (exact dates TBD).
  • This is a live-in position (cost of living is part of the renumeration package), but Community Advisors will be required to purchase a meal plan.

DEPARTMENT AND PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Housing and Conference Services’ mission is to provide distinctive and progressive student and client experiences which enable our community’s health and well-being, and the pursuit of academic and personal goals in a safe, comfortable, inclusive environment which advances learning and service excellence.

Residence Life supports student success by encouraging growth, educating character, and enhancing the university experience.

McMaster Leadership Core Competencies

  • Investing in Relationships
  • Driving Results
  • Communication and Collaboration
  • Taking a Strategic Approach
  • Developing People
  • Championing Change and Innovation

Residence Curriculum Learning Goals

  • Self-Discovery and Learning
  • Inclusive Excellence
  • Sustainability and Wellness

The Community Advisor will be responsible for:

  • Supporting residence students that live within their community and the residence wide system
  • Respond to calls while on coverage, uphold the Code of Student Rights & Responsibilities, the Residence Agreement, and other relevant policies
  • Report directly to the Residence Life Area Coordinator (RLAC) while also taking direction from other members of the Residence Life Management Team (RLMT)
  • Continuously work towards creating a community that promotes a safe space for all students’ well-being
  • Deliver and support engaging experiences in residence, at both the community and building-wide level
  • Facilitate the delivery of the Residence Curriculum through intentional learning opportunities for individual students and communities