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Job Description / Duties

I. JOB PURPOSE:

In advancing the Division of Students’ vision as ‘Partners in Student Success’, and reporting to the Director, Student Engagement, the Assistant Director of Residence Life (ADRL) has primary responsibility for the leadership and management of the residence life program. The Assistant Director will develop curriculum that focuses on developing the whole person through the application of student development theory. They will oversee a team of residence life professionals and live-in student staff who work closely with students to develop a sense of community, within a living-learning environment. University and Divisional goals will guide the Assistant Director development of plans, programming, training, policies and procedures to provide a seamless learning environment for students in residence while managing the daily operations and the team. This Assistant Director collaborates with colleagues across the campus proactively to interface with key institutional partners (e.g., Housing & Conference Services, Student Community Relations, Security Services, Well-being, College Heads) to ensure the student’s residence life stay enhances their overall University experience.


2. MAJOR DUTIES:

Residence Strategic Planning and Policy Development:
• Develops plans, annual goals and objectives for the residence life team, with a focus on and evidence-based programming that meets the needs of a diverse student population to enhance the academic and social experience.
• Develops a balanced and comprehensive residence curriculum that addresses the physical, emotional, social, occupational, intellectual and ethical dimensions of student development.
• Leads review of residence life policies, procedures, guidelines and communications to ensure consistent practices, standardization of roles and responsibilities across the residences.
• Develops, implements and maintains policies on residence life to ensure residences provide a safe and clean environment for students to pursue their academic goals; collaborates and consults with relevant stakeholders e.g. Office of Student Community Relations, Community Safety, Director Student Affairs (Glendon), Residence Life Coordinators (RLC), Residence Life Manager (RLM), Student Engagement, and Housing & Conference Services.
• Collaborates closely with Division of Students & Ancillary Services staff on planning and policy issues on residence modeling and allocations allocation.
• Evaluates the success of residence programming and provides reports with recommendations and suggested improvements for programming in future years.
• Implements the residence life communication strategy works collaboratively with residence life staff and Student Engagement to develop content for a web presence.
• Researches and keeps abreast of trends in community living and residence life programming.
• Actively participates in York University Orientation Director’s Association (YODA) and in residence-specific Orientation planning group.

Campus Residence Management:
• Researches content and prepares procedures and training for Dons, RLCs and RLM in conjunction with staff on an annual basis.
• Oversees the compilation of residence handbook applicable to all residence students.
• Prepares residence porter procedures and training for all undergraduate residences.
• Works with the residence life team to develop staffing information, work schedules, resources for Dons, Porters, work-study, and residence councils
• Participates in project committees for consideration of new residence buildings and renovations.
• Ensure the RLC team establish and maintain a Residence Life Council with representation from every residence.
• Supports and provides guidance on the overall programming strategies for the residence council(s).
• Has responsibility for managing student behaviour through implementation of educative and disciplinary processes and sanctions in residence.
• Actively engages Housing & Conference Services to review building needs and maintenance. Advises on safety and security matters and takes immediate and appropriate action to mitigate against or respond to such risks.
• Plans, coordinates and chairs meetings of the Residence Student Advisory Group.
• Coordinates student residence life in accordance with the mission and policies of the University.
• Facilitates and responds to emergency disciplinary situations as required in collaboration with Residence Dons, RLCs, RLM, Director Student Services (Glendon), York Security, Student Counselling, Health & Well-being, and external emergency services.
• Responds to serious after-hours residence emergencies (for all residences). Initiates appropriate response to emergencies in accordance with University procedures.
• Participates in meetings of the Sexual Violence Response Team.

Financial and Human Resources Management:
• Develops and manages the operating and payroll budget for residence life. Monitors expenditures prepares annual reports on disbursement of monies for accountability purposes.
• Prepares budget forecasts and financial reports for reconciliation and planning.
• Works collaboratively with the RLCs and RLM, to develop and implement a annual recruitment process for selection of student staff.
• Supports the planning and delivery of training including training to respond to immeidate issues for all residence life staff including the annual Don, RLC and RLM training and first aid training.
• Conducts regular meetings with the RLC and RLM team to review goals, objectives. Manages the performance development program.
• Evaluates the existing Don, RLC and RLM performance evaluation system to continually improve and enhance the system. Works with the RLCs, RLM and senior management to implement the Don, RLC and RLM evaluation system in undergraduate residence buildings.
• Responsible for hiring, discipline, termination and direction of staff.
• Participates in grievances/arbitrations when required.

Health and Safety:
• Responsible for familiarity with the Occupation Health and Safety (OHS) Act and Regulations and University health and safety procedures as they apply to the workplace and their responsibilities as a supervisor.
• Ensures that safety workplace procedures required by the university and OHS Act are in place, understood by staff and are adhered to.
• Inspects work areas for actual or potential hazards on a regular basis and advises staff about these hazards.
• Ensures that any protective devices assigned to staff are properly used and maintained, and that only authorized and qualified staff operate equipment.

Qualifications / Required Skills

QUALIFICATIONS:

A. Educational Requirements:
A graduate degree with a focus on student affairs, student leadership, student development, education, psychology, social work or related fields, or an equivalent combination of education and experience is required.

Please note: This position requires the candidate to produce a verification of degree(s), credentials(s), or equivalencies from accredited institutions and/or international equivalents at the time of interview.

B. Experience Requirements:
A student affairs professional or related with at least five (5) years of housing/residence experience and a demonstrated record of progressively responsible management level experience in student programming, facilitation of student organizational programs and policy development and implementation. Preference for experience acquired within a post-secondary housing and residence life setting.

C. Skills (Specialized knowledge):
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills to navigate complex/sensitive situations and work with students, parents, senior administration, supporting services etc.
• Ability to anticipate trends in client needs and identify opportunities for proactive initiatives for managing them
• Organizational and time management skills
• Ability to work under pressure both in time and in problem solving
• Strong analytical, judgment and problem solving skills to interpret complex policies and procedures
• Ability to create reports including both quantitative and qualitative data
• Ability to be adapt to change be flexible and take initiative with a focus on continuous improvement
• Ability to work independently and within a team environment
• Knowledge and demonstrated application of student development theories and best practices
• Advanced skills using spreadsheet software (e.g. Excel), word processing software (e.g. Word) and intermediate email/calendaring tools (e.g. Outlook). Exposure to MS Access and financial reporting systems
• Demonstrates, shares and lives our divisional values: Respect, Excellence, Innovation, Collaboration, Accountability, Care and Inclusion.

Additional Information

The University welcomes applications from all qualified individuals, including, but not limited to women, persons with disabilities, visible minorities (racialized), Indigenous Peoples, and persons of any gender identity and sexual orientation. York University is committed to a positive, supportive and inclusive environment.

York University offers accommodation for applicants with disabilities in its recruitment processes. If you are contacted by York University regarding a job opportunity or testing, please advise if you require accommodation.

We are committed to enhancing our environmentally and socially responsible practices for the benefit of all members of the York community. Our long-term perspective recognizes our responsibility to be innovators and to continually work as a community to reduce our ecological impact.

York University employees must apply to jobs through the Employee Career Portal - YU Hire. If you are a current York University employee and/or are using your rights under a collective agreement to view and/or apply to jobs, you MUST log into YU Hire to access the York University Employee Career Portal.

Contact Information

Debbie Hansen - dhansen@yorku.ca

*Interested applicants need to go through York's HR website to apply.