Further Information

Resident Assistant

Position Description

The IES Student Residence Hall was created on the philosophy that an international residential environment provides meaningful education for students. In addition to providing housing services, this hall strives to support the IES mission of developing intercultural competency. Resident Assistants (RAs) will be selected to assist in creating opportunities that facilitate international education as well as provide general housing services to students residing in IES housing.

The Resident Assistant assumes an active leadership role in the development of a respectful residence hall community. RAs are expected to demonstrate effective communication skills; leadership potential, an appreciation for differing viewpoints, willingness to accept responsibility and a sincere interest in working with students. The successful candidate will have an interest and ability to work with students from a variety of racial, cultural and lifestyle backgrounds. Sensitivity to student success and developmental needs, as well as creating a respect for this in others, contributes to the creation of a positive living environment for residents.

The primary areas with which RAs will be expected to work are as follows:

❖            safety, security and emergency responsibility
❖            community development
❖            intercultural competency and diversity
❖            student interaction
❖            administration

Though not comprehensive, below is a summary of the responsibilities that Resident Assistants will be expected to uphold.

Safety, Security and Emergency Response

• Support students in the event of emergency situations (personal or facility related) in collaboration with IES administrative staff
• Assist in maintaining a safe and secure environment
• Keep students informed of safety and emergency procedures

 Community Development

• Assess needs of students and provide educational, social, cultural and recreational programs that meet these needs. A small activities budget will be provided for programming events for students
• Confront behavioural incidents and maintain standards of community behaviour
• Distribute building materials (e.g. housing surveys, roommate agreements, information sheets) and ensure students are aware of the policies
• Keep students informed of issues in the community and offer suggestions and resolutions for issues that arise in rooms, kitchens and/or floors. Resolutions may be reached through floor meetings, mediation or other means
• Foster consideration for the rights and freedoms of others and aid students in developing a sense of responsibility for one's actions
• The RA will be based in one residence hall in central London, but will also be expected to work with students based in other IES housing locations to encourage community development across all IES London housing.

Intercultural Competency and Diversity

• Assist in the creation of an environment that enhances student's intercultural growth
• Orient international students to London
• Educate on appreciation of differences
• Provide passive and active opportunities for cultural interaction and advancement

Student Interaction

• Develop positive relationships with students
• Maintain availability to residents on a regular basis via agreed office hours. Additional out of hours support will be required in emergency situations and RAs may be required to serve in an on-call function during scheduled evening and weekend hours on a rota basis
• Encourage interpersonal and group interactions between students
• Identify and offer assistance to students who have personal, academic, health, or other problems
• Refer students to appropriate professionals/agencies/IES staff
• Attend and participate in building sponsored activities across IES housing locations
• RAs may be required to lead up to 1-2 student field trips per semester. Field trip training will be provided
• RAs may be required to take a lead role in the CORE (Comprehensive Orientation & Re-Entry) programme: facilitating and leading small group discussions on cultural shock and adjustment issues. Training will be provided

Administration

• Assist with student arrivals and orientations, welcoming students to IES housing, manning the IES check in desk, distributing welcome packs, leading local area essentials walks, helping students acquire oyster cards and SIM cards, walking students to orientation events and attending IES student welcome events.
• Maintain effective and regular communication with the IES Student Affairs Manager, residence hall managers, and other staff as appropriate.
• Serve on-call functions during scheduled evening and weekend hours.
• Perform tasks associated with facility upkeep including room inventories, room inspections, monitoring completion-of maintenance and cleaning, etc.
• Participate in regular supervisory meetings with the Student Affairs Manager, check-in meetings with building staff and staff training (including mandatory fire safety and first aid training) throughout the academic year.
• Be first aid trained (training will be provided).

Further Information for Candidates on the Terms and Conditions of Service

The position

Resident Assistants (RAs) are to assist in the creation of a living environment conducive to sleep, study, and intercultural development. They will have responsibility to promote community, to effect discipline and pastoral care, and to handle situations of emergency as and when they arise. Resident Assistants may be required to offer pastoral and emergency support to students staying in a different residence to which the RA is residing during the course of their employment.

The RA position is a part-time post in which those appointed will sign a contract upon acceptance to the position. The work will commence on January 6^th, 2020 and end April 26^th, 2020. Depending upon interest and performance, RAs may be given the opportunity to renew their contract for the following semester.

Salary

IES London agrees to provide new Resident Assistants with a rent-free, single en-suite room and a shared kitchen and living space (shared with students), in one of the IES Student Residence Halls located in central London. In addition, RAs will be paid a stipend of £600 per month (pro-rated) over the contracted period. In exchange, the individual agrees to comply with all terms of employment. IES retains the right to move Resident Assistants to a different residence hall location within central London, should the need arise.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the position, all RAs must be available to reside in the IES Student Residence Hall for the academic year as the position requires that they live in the building. Thus, RAs must be a postgraduate student (mature undergraduate student applications may also be considered) at a British University for the academic year. RAs are expected not to take on full-time employment in another role whilst serving as an RA for IES. RAs must have the right to work in the UK without the need for visa sponsorship.  

Hours

The RA can expect to work up to 20 hours in a given week, but this may vary from week to week based on workload;

• Resident Assistants are generally expected to be in the residence throughout the contract period. Outside of the scheduled aspects of the position, when in residence, they are expected to work in an emergency response capacity should something occur during the day or night. This may in some cases require the RA to accompany students to the hospital in the case of medical emergencies;
• RAs are expected to serve their turn on rotas that operate all year (including religious and national holidays);
• RAs are expected to sleep at the residence each night in order to provide emergency support to students, and should request annual leave if they will need to be away from the residence over night;
• RAs are normally expected to remain in residence over the weekends and/or submit to any weekend rota that may exist.

Holidays

RAs will be entitled to 34 hours of annual leave over this contracted period. However, the IES Student Residence Hall is never closed so, in an effort to ensure proper safety and security of the residents, holidays will need to be scheduled in advance with the Student Affairs Manager and around the schedules of other staff members.