Family
& Graduate Housing
Neighborhood
Assistant Job Description
University Housing is committed to creating opportunities
and experiences that allow each resident to engage as members of an inclusive
community. Neighborhood Assistants (NAs) are supervised by the Complex
Coordinator for University Apartments. A NA is a student employee leadership
role that actively engages with residents in the community. The NA role is critical to bringing
University Housing’s educational priority to life.
Neighborhood Assistants develop and maintain a positive
community-learning environment within the apartment communities. NAs serve as
role models and resource persons in assisting residents in their engagement,
personal growth, and sense of belonging in the apartment communities at the
University of Illinois.
Graduate and undergraduate students are eligible for this
position. The work is approximately 15-20 hours per week, but hours fluctuate based
on time of year and the needs of the community. NAs are provided an apartment
and are required to live in a specific neighborhood. The role incudes a monthly
stipend and apartment including utilities. Apartment type is contingent on the
apartment complex and availability. NAs may not be employed in assistantships,
internship, or student teaching responsibilities. This position does not
provide include any type of tuition waivers.
Neighborhood Assistants specific job duties include:
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
·
Welcome new residents and conduct an initial
meeting to help connect them to resources.
·
Develop and implement neighborhood programs or
events for their residents.
·
Engage in community building strategies designed
to connect residents with one another and with the larger campus and community.
·
Plan, attend, and provide support for large
scale programs and events.
·
Be available, engaged, and attentive to
residents in their neighborhood.
INCLUSIVITY & BELONGING
·
Serve as an advocate and ally for residents in
the community and identify, confront and report acts of intolerance or bias
within the community.
·
Review and have working knowledge of the
University Housing Inclusiveness Statement.
·
Demonstrate self-awareness of own social
identities, privilege, and biases while actively engaging in learning about
other cultures, viewpoints, and traditions to serve a diverse population.
RESIDENT SUPPORT
·
Develop positive relationships with residents in
their neighborhood.
·
Provide continued follow-up, support, and
additional referrals for residents following resident incidents.
·
Facilitate initial mediation and problem solving
for low level resident disputes.
·
Establish and maintain effective communication
with residents and provide timely response to their concerns.
SAFETY & SECURITY
·
Serve on an after-hours on-call rotation including
but not limited weekdays, weekends, and holidays when the Family & Graduate
Housing office is closed. On-call responsibilities include responding in person
to address resident lockouts, after-hours check-ins, and answer resident
questions or direct the resident to the appropriate resource.
·
Serve on a rotation to check on public
reservable spaces after reservations within the community.
·
Abide by and uphold University Housing policies
and procedures including submitting written reports of policy violations.
·
Confront and report individuals with concerning
behaviors or actions in the community.
·
Walk through one’s neighborhood bi-weekly to
observe and report facilities concerns through the work request website and
report leasing violations to the complex coordinator.
·
Respond to resident emergency situations when
they observe them and when it is safe to do so.
·
Maintain confidentiality and comply with policies
related to resident information.
ADMINISTRATIVE TASKS
·
Distribute information to residents and post
flyers or other approved advertisements in the community.
·
Attend weekly staff development meetings every
Wednesday night from 7 p.m. - 9p.m. and periodic one on one meetings with the
complex coordinator.
·
Provide assistance in the apartment leasing
office at Orchard Downs when scheduled, including check-in shifts during the
apartment move-in weeks in July and August and during operational hours.
·
Email residents in the neighborhood about
community information.
·
Facilitate resident discussions and follow-up
through the lease renewal period in April.
·
Assist with neighborhood coverage when there is
a staff vacancy or temporary leave.
ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIP
·
The work performed by the individual in this
position is supervised by the Complex Coordinator for University Apartments who
reports to the Assistant Director for Residential Experience who reports to the
Director of Family & Graduate Housing who reports directly to the Executive
Director of University Housing.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
·
This position requires the ability to
communicate, multi-task, and move around the apartment communities effectively
in a busy and unpredictable environment.
·
This position may require individuals to walk up
flights of stairs to apartments without access to an elevator.
WORKING ENVIRONMENT
·
Work will take place in office and apartment
community environments, including external spaces during all seasons of the
year.
·
Working environment may be publicly visible and
work may involve regular interruptions.
QUALIFICATIONS
·
Appreciation of cultural diversity and ability
to work with people from different backgrounds.
·
Effective interpersonal communication skills and
abilities to work in a highly collaborative environment.
·
Strong organization and time management skills.
Previous residence hall or university community
living, and programming experience are preferred.