Residence Life Specialist at Loyalist College

About Loyalist

Loyalist College is built upon the lands governed by the Dish with One Spoon wampum agreement. We affirm and thank the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabeg and Huron-Wendat nations for their continued caretaking of the land. At Loyalist, we empower our students with wraparound support services and hands-on training to succeed on any path they choose. Our academic programs are responsive and innovative, designed to solve pressing social and economic challenges and meet the evolving needs of our regional industry and community partners. Our graduates enter the workforce equipped with the knowledge they need to be better global citizens, and with future-focused skills to lead change in their fields. With a presence in Belleville, Bancroft, Port Hope, Tyendinaga and Toronto, we believe our institutional responsibility extends beyond the classroom to seeing the big picture for the communities we serve. Our expertise in applied research and deep connections to local industry support economic development, to the benefit of businesses, entrepreneurs, changemakers and innovators. Our commitment to decolonization, and the pursuit of a more inclusive, equitable world, means we hold ourselves accountable to the diverse perspectives, cultures and experiences that shape our communities.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Director, Residences and Ancillary Services, the Residence Life Specialist is responsible for managing, supporting, and leading student life functions in residence. The RLS directly builds, trains, and supervises the student staff team, providing direction, guidance, support, and follow up to ensure that departmental objectives are reached and both students and student staff have the resources to thrive in residence. The RLS is responsible for planning and execution of community building and student development strategies, including budgetary oversight of student programming fees. The RLS must maintain a visible presence in the community, building accountable and developmental relationships with students through program attendance, student crisis/support conversations, and student conduct and behaviour intervention.

The RLS participates in a manager on-call schedule (approx. 1/3 week rotation), providing 24hr guidance, support, and decision making for student staff and security relating to residence issues.

Hours of work are Monday-Friday 10am-6pm, with some flexibility required to accommodate priority weekend work (ex. large programs, move in/out, open houses).

Duties and Responsibilities

Residence Community and Student Development

• Lead the development and delivery of residence life programming that promotes student engagement, community building, and personal development.
• Support Residence Assistants (RAs) in planning and facilitating programs that align with student needs and institutional goals.
• Foster an inclusive, equitable, and safe residential environment for a diverse student population.
• Manage the Residence+ program, including program planning, budgeting, assessment, and student staff involvement.
• Ensure students have regular opportunities to connect with staff, access resources, and share concerns.
• Collaborate with campus and community partners to enhance the residence experience and support student success.

Student Conduct, Safety, and Behaviour Management

• Administer and investigate residence conduct matters and determine appropriate outcomes in accordance with College policies.
• Respond to and manage student wellness, behavioural, safety, and crisis situations, including conflict resolution and referrals to support services.
• Provide guidance and intervention for ongoing student behaviour concerns, including coaching student staff on appropriate responses.
• Participate in an on-call rotation to provide after-hours emergency and crisis response support.
• Communicate with students, parents, and stakeholders regarding residence-related concerns and outcomes as appropriate.

Supervision of Student Staff

• Recruit, train, supervise, schedule, coach, and evaluate residence student staff.
• Oversee the completion of student staff responsibilities, including programming, student support, operational tasks, and on-call duties.
• Facilitate team meetings and regular one-on-one discussions to support staff development, accountability, and effective communication.
• Mentor Residence Council members and support leadership development, goal setting, and community initiatives.

Administration and Other Duties

• Maintain accurate records and documentation related to student interactions, conduct cases, investigations, and incident response.
• Monitor and manage student staff scheduling and work assignments.
• Prepare and communicate investigation outcomes, residence updates, and community communications.
• Track and reconcile residence programming budgets and expenditures.
• Prepare reports on programming, student behaviour, interventions, and departmental performance.
• Support residence operations and departmental initiatives, including move-in/move-out activities, residence turnover, open houses, committees, and other institutional priorities.

Qualifications

• Completion of a minimum two-year diploma in Social Service Worker (SSW), Recreation and Leisure, Leadership, Social Sciences, Community and Justice Services, Hospitality and Event Management, or a related field.
• Minimum two (2) years of related professional experience; experience in a post-secondary, student-facing environment is preferred.
• Experience working in student housing/residence life is considered an asset.
• Alcohol and Substance Use Training, Conflict Resolution/Crisis Intervention/De-escalation Training, Physical and Mental Health First Aid Training considered an asset
• Ability to build relationships with College students and demonstrated skill in handling a variety of student circumstances including conflict, mental health issues, and behaviour management.
• Experience supportingequity-deserving communities/students considered an asset.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, with the ability to manage sensitive and complex situations with professionalism and empathy.
• Valid Class G driver's licence.
• Satisfactory Vulnerable Sector Check.

Please note

Following an offer of employment, candidates with Canadian credentials will be required to provide official transcripts from the granting educational institution(s); candidates with international credentials must provide World Education Services (WES) www.wes.org/ca evaluation (at their own cost) confirming Canadian equivalency of their credentials.

Loyalist is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive college community. We encourage and welcome applications from marginalized and equity seeking groups. Loyalist College is committed to accommodating applicants with disabilities throughout the hiring process. If you have accommodation needs, please inform us as soon as possible by sending an email to [email protected].

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