Position Overview
The Community Development Assistant position at Northern Illinois University works with members of the Northern View Community to identify and resolve conflict and to provide for members' involvement in and ownership of the community. Community Development Assistants are members of the Northern View Community staff. Community Development Assistants work with the NVC staff to provide programs and services to residents of the Northern View Community.
Qualifications Required:
- NIU full-time student with a 2.3 cumulative and semester GPA and a minimum of one (1) semester of living experience in the residence halls or equivalent time in another community living environment
- Candidates must have the ability to clear schedule for 2 weeks in August for purposes of training
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to work with diverse student groups
- Organizational and time management skills
- This is a live-in position that requires staff to work twenty (20) hours each week
Preference given to candidates who:
- Are NIU Students enrolled in a Master’s degree-granting program in Higher Education, Social Work, Counseling, or related field; being an upper class student is also preferred
- Are applicants with a 2.75 cumulative and semester GPA and a minimum of two (2) semesters of living experience in the residence halls
- Have experience in problem resolution and conflict management
- Possess strong administrative and leadership skills
- Have an interest in working with persons from diverse backgrounds to include graduate and undergraduate students, faculty, spouses, partners, and children
- Have proficiency using Microsoft Office
- Have prior leadership or employment experience
Primary Responsibilities
Community Development Assistants are primarily responsible for conducting and coordinating problem resolution and conflict management initiatives, providing programs for residents, and assisting with the orientation of new residents. Additionally, they are on-call an average of one day each week, one weekend each month, and some time over break periods to assist with emergency situations and provide resource information to residents. They are also responsible for managing facilities that are used by residents for various functions.
Successful Community Development Assistants will possess integrity, creativity, maturity, energy, sensitivity, a sense of humor, and a commitment to diversity and to building community. Community Development Assistants must live in a designated unit of the Northern View Community while holding the position, and must vacate this unit upon leaving the position.
Leadership and Community Development
- Serve as a referral and resource person to students while actively building an engaged community
- Conceptualizing and implementing educational, recreational, and social programs to meet the needs and interests of students in the Northern View Community throughout the calendar year
- Assist the Community Director in assessing resident problems and strategizing the appropriate response level and interventions
- Assist the Community Director in conducting interventions, mediations and confrontations of serious problems
- Respond to crisis and emergency situations and communicate necessary information appropriately. Respond to emergencies and problems (including maintenance) on a 24-hour live-in basis
- Log, track, and report facilities concerns and behavior concerns to appropriate staff
- Assist the Community Director in managing individual and community crises
- Participate in Northern View Community staff meetings, Community Council meetings, departmental meetings and professional development opportunities
- Maintain records of all initiatives, log events onto appropriate forms/web sites, coordinate marketing efforts, and complete other administrative responsibilities as assigned
- Work with students and staff to build a healthy, engaged community
- Submits emergency work orders to the Heating Plant following assessment of emergency nature of an issue. Informs Community Director and Facilities Office of all emergency work orders submitted
- Maintain appropriate lines of communication with Housing and Dining staff, NIU Police, Physical Plant, and other campus partners
- Maintain records of all activities, and document events, incidents and actions
Administration
- Open and close Community Center for resident bookings; be part of a facility supervision duty schedule, a minimum of six (6) hours per week
- Supervise and monitor resident events in Community Center
- Assist in oversight of the maintenance for the Community Center
- Report damages to University property and/or violations of booking regulations in Community Center to supervisor
- Participate in on-call duty rotation including weeknights, weekends, and break periods. Respond to emergencies and problems (including maintenance) and verify at least once each night that exterior building doors are locked
- Assist in conducting health and safety inspections of all apartments
- Participate in the selection and training of new Northern View Community staff as assigned
- Keep supervisor informed of problems/concerns and updates regarding program initiatives
- Submit program information and complete administrative tasks by deadlines
- Collaborate with Northern View Community staff to address problems, services, etc.
- Carry out responsibilities and other duties as needed and assigned, for example administration of surveys, committee assignments, assisting with special programs, newsletter articles, and information dispersal
- Represent Northern View Community as assigned; serve as liaison to specific offices and agencies as assigned
Supervision Received
Community Development Assistants report to and are supervised by the Community Director. Community Development Assistants are expected to keep their supervisor regularly informed of activities and issues. Regular frequent verbal contact is expected. Weekly written reports and other reports concerning specific situations may be required. Periodic evaluation is conducted throughout the year.
Benefits and Position
Details
- Community Development Assistants are compensated with a reduced cost (50%) two-bedroom apartment in the Northern View Community at Northern Illinois University.
- Community Development Assistants also receive free on-campus calls, cable, and a Titanium Meal Plan ($100 per week). Any hours worked as a Desk Assistant beyond the 6 hours included as a Community Development Assistant will be compensated at the regular hourly rate.
- Appointments are for one (1) year.
- Renewal of the contract is based on job performance.
This is a security sensitive position as defined by the Illinois Campus Security Act. Before employment begins, the university will conduct a pre-employment background investigation, which includes a criminal background check. Employment is contingent upon receiving a clear background investigation.
If hired, you will sign a contract between yourself and the Division of Student Affairs, Housing & Dining. For your reference, you can view the contract ahead of time if you wish.
Should
you have any further questions about becoming a Community Advisor or Community
Development Assistant, contact Debbie Gettemy at 815-753-1963 or communityadvisor@niu.edu