Job Summary

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