Senior Resident Assistant

This position is a part of the Non-Academic Staff Association (NASA).

Term length: August 1, 2022 - May 1, 2023.

Hours of work will vary. Approximately 14 hours per week. Note that training weeks will be full-time weeks of approximately 40 hours each, and Orientation will require availability above this average. *Will include evening and weekend work, including a combination of scheduled and flexible/self-scheduled hours*.

Location - Position 1: Work primarily takes place at North Campus Edmonton. This role is in-person.

Location - Position 2: Work primarily takes place at Campus Saint-Jean Edmonton. This role is in-person. 

Working for the University of Alberta 

The University of Alberta acknowledges that we are located on Treaty 6 territory, and respects the histories, languages and cultures of First Nations, Métis, Inuit and all First Peoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community.

The University of Alberta is teeming with change makers, community builders, and world shapers who lead with purpose each and every day. We are home to more than 40,000 students in 200+ undergraduate and 500+ graduate programs, over 13,000 faculty and staff, 260,000 alumni worldwide. We have been recognized as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers for over a decade.

Your work will have a meaningful influence on a fascinating cross section of people—from our students and stakeholders, to our renowned researchers and innovators who are quite literally curing diseases, making discoveries and generating solutions that make the world healthier, safer, stronger, and more just.

Positions Available

This posting is for SRAs in all North Campus (Lister Centre and East Campus) residence communities and Résidence Saint-Jean for the 2023-24 Academic Year, including positions for Spring/Summer 2023 and Fall/Winter 2023-24. Applicants will be asked to indicate the communities in which they are willing to work on the application form.

• 2 positions available at North Campus for Spring/Summer 2023
• 17 positions available at North Campus in Fall/Winter 2023-24
• 1 position available at Résidence Saint-Jean for Fall/Winter 2023-24

Applicants will be asked to indicate whether they are interested in working Spring/Summer, Fall/Winter or both terms on the application form. If you are interested in being considered for a Resident Assistant (RA) position in the event you are unsuccessful in the SRA competition, you only need to submit an SRA application. You will be asked to indicate your interest in being an RA on your SRA application form.

Department/Faculty Summary

The University of Alberta residence life program is centred on a constant process of inclusive community building. We strive to maintain an environment that supports, emphasizes and inspires academic learning and personal growth.

Position Summary

Within this context, the Senior Resident Assistant (SRA) is a part-time, paid, student leadership position for full-time students at the University of Alberta to work for Residence Services while living in residence. Reporting to the Coordinator, Residence Community Life for their residence area, the SRA is chiefly responsible for the provision of coaching and leadership to a team of Resident Assistants (RAs) in a specific residence building or area in residence. SRAs also liaise between the RAs and the Coordinator, Residence Community Life for the residence in addition to providing administrative support to the Coordinator for their residence area in overseeing their team and their residence area.

SRAs as student leaders act as team leaders, role models, community builders, and peer supporters who embody the residence community’s values of dignity, respect, safety, equity, learning and community. The University of Alberta Residences provides housing to students of diverse race, gender, sexuality, ability, nationality, and religion; and SRAs are trained to provide inclusive, quality support to all members of the community in which they live, and the team members they supervise.

We are currently hiring SRAs for all residence communities for the 2022-23 Academic Year. Applicants will be asked to indicate their community preferences on the application form.

Note: SRAs are expected to live on-campus in the community assigned for the duration of employment. All residents, including RAs, are responsible for the associated costs of their community (i.e. rent, and where appropriate, a meal plan).

Duties

• Supervise a team of Resident Assistants (RAs) by playing a leadership role during training, facilitating team-building and team socials, conducting regular one-on-one coaching and support meetings with RAs they supervise, and chairing regular team staff meetings.
• Support their Coordinator, Residence Community Life in evaluating their RA’s performance, and addressing performance concerns.
• Ensures implementation of their community’s Community Development Plan. The Community Development Plan is a document utilized by student staff that outlines monthly responsibilities, guide programming and ensures the needs of the residents in their community are being met.
• Organize community programs to support and encourage community development, and social interaction, and address the needs of the community as needed.
• Work regular Community Support Shifts (CSS) in their residence area (evenings and weekends). During these shifts SRAs will:
• Respond to escalation calls from the RAs on-shift—with the support of the Residence Coordinator On-Call and provided training.
• Provide coaching and additional support to RAs on-shift in responding to student issues and safety concerns including (but not limited to): facility issues, life emergencies, disruptive community behaviour, lockouts and lost keys, first aid, and mental health concerns
• Develop and manage the RA Community Support Shift schedule.
• Assist with residence move-in and move-out events.
• Plays a key role in the delivery of Residence Orientation (BaseCamp and Ascent) to their community.
• Assist the Coordinator, Residence Community Management with resident behaviour investigations, input and manage information concerning student conduct issues into the Residence Services’ information management system, and Advocate, and coach RAs on facilitating community resolutions.
• Collaborate and communicate with the area Residence Association where applicable. The area’s Residence Association is a university student group responsible for advocating to the University on issues and concerns important to students in residence and providing programming.
• Attend regular meetings and maintain open communication with supervisor and peer SRAs.
• Write and submit objective reports to the supervisor as required, including but not limited to community resolutions, incident reports and programming logs.
• Address student and student staff behaviour by responding to, documenting, and--where possible, resolving incidents of negative, impactful, disruptive or inappropriate behaviour in residence, by following reporting procedures for student and staff conduct.
• Assist with the recruitment and hiring of future residence staff as needed.
• Administer first aid to students in residence as required according to Standard First Aid (CPR Level C) training.
• Identify and report health and safety issues in residence facilities based on training received.
• Demonstrate positive role modelling in academics and all aspects of community living (as outlined in the Residence Community Standards ), and strive to establish and maintain positive relationships with the students in the community.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Full-time student status at the University of Alberta in Fall 2023 and Winter 2024.
• Cumulative GPA of 2.3 in the 2022-23 Fall/Winter semesters.
• Interpersonal and communication (verbal and written) skills, and ability to demonstrate professionalism.
• SRAs for Résidence St. Jean must be able to communicate in both English and French (verbal and written).
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.
• Ability to self-manage, and work independently with low supervision.
• Time management and organizational skills, and ability to prioritize work effectively.
• Strong problem solving and critical thinking skills, and professionalism to facilitate conflict resolution, and handle confidential matters.
• Demonstrated understanding of the importance of residence communities and creating inclusive spaces.
• Ability to lead a community and provide equitable support to any student irrespective of race, gender, sexuality, ability, nationality, and religion.
• Have or be willing to obtain Standard First Aid with CPR Level C certification or recertification from the Canadian Red Cross Society or St. John Ambulance before your term of employment begins. (You will be reimbursed up to $160 of that cost by Residence Services once you begin your employment.)

Preferred Qualifications

• Residence Life work experience is an asset but not required.
• Experience living in residence is an asset but not required.
• Event planning or programming experience is an asset but not required.

Expectations in the Role

The successful candidate will:

• Must live on-campus in the community assigned for the duration of employment.
• Care for one’s own health and wellness, and be open to continued learning and development.
• Maintain full-time student status at the University of Alberta in Fall 2023 and Winter 2024 with a minimum 2.3 GPA.
• Agree to behave according to the expectations listed above, the Community Standards , the Residence Agreement , the House Rules , and the Code of Student Behaviour. Failure to do so will result in the possible termination of the role.
• Not engage in any behaviour or activity while living in a residence that damages the reputation of the residence community, Residence Services or the University of Alberta.
• Be available for dates of employment, including Residence Orientation, move-in/move-out events, and attending training sessions.
• Abstain from student teaching or participating in co-op work terms that take place outside of Edmonton city limits and/or that reduce availability for responsibilities.
• Must maintain valid Standard First Aid with CPR Level C certification for the term of employment.
• Maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information

How to Apply: Please submit your resume by clicking the "Apply Online" button below, AND complete this Google Form application form.

Note: Online applications are accepted until midnight Mountain Standard Time of the closing date.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those individuals selected for an interview will be contacted.