Part-time Housing Assistant

Housing and Conference Services (HCS) directly supports the University’s goal of advancing human and societal wellbeing and McMaster’s overriding vision of ‘educating for capability’. We provide a distinctive living and learning experience for students focused on key educational priorities including community development, personal growth and wellness, academic excellence, and inclusion.

HCS concurrently drives a positive McMaster experience for guests, alumni, staff, faculty and student by providing accommodation and event coordination, which meet the highest standards of service excellence. HCS is a proud and significant ancillary contributor to the financial health of the University and the core academic and research mission of McMaster.

HCS is poised to expand our capacity by 66% over the next 5 years. Moving from 4000 to 6500 bed spaces across 15 buildings. This expansion will diversify the housing operation dramatically, from a traditional focus on the housing needs of first year undergraduate students, to the introduction of upper year, graduate, and family housing, in addition to a constantly diversifying internal and external client base.
The annual budget for HCS is currently (pre-expansion) approximately $31 million and we employ 125 full-time and 250 part-time staff. HCS reports directly to both the divisions of Student Affairs and Administration.

The Housing Assistant must have excellent interpersonal and communication skills and be willing to commit their efforts to delivering an outstanding experience for all guests at McMaster University. This position requires an individual who is self-motivated, takes intiative and is capable of functioning both independently and in a team setting. The Housing Assistant is professional, communicates effectively with others, and has a positive attitude. They are organized, detail oriented, and demonstrative creativity and sound problem solving skills.

This role acts as a support to residents, hotel & conference guests as well as our many partners on campus. An understanding of privacy and security are a necessity of the position.

**Job Summary**:
Performs a range of administrative duties and acts as primary contact for Housing and Conference Services. Responds to inquiries and provides information to students, parents and guests, or refers them to appropriate departments.

**Purpose and Key Functions**:

- Receive and resolve student and guest concerns.
- Provide information to students and guests on filling out various forms and sign-in sheets.
- Gather and compile support materials for residence students and guests.
- Assemble and prepare outgoing mailings and packages.
- Write a variety of documents such as correspondence, guides, directions and instructions.
- Gather information and input data regarding requests for maintenance, repairs, and cleaning for residence facilities.
- Issue security access cards and keys to appropriate users based on established safety and security requirements.
- Monitor inventory of access cards and keys and references moving records to confirm accuracy.
- Deactivate reported lost or stolen cards.
- Monitor alarms and contact security services to report issues.
- Monitor and reconcile cash transactions and prepare daily fund deposits.
- Calculate fees for guests and students attending conferences and staying in residence accommodations.
- Attend and participate in a variety of meetings.
- Inspect student rooms for damages. Track student damage charges.
- Use a voice recorder to transcribe information.
- Maintain filing systems, both electronic and hard copy.
- Conduct web searches for information on travel, entertainment, and other visitor inquiries.
- Update, maintain, and verify information in a variety of databases and spreadsheets.
- Contact security to report issues.
- Sort incoming mail.
- Maintain confidentiality of residence information.

**Requirements**:
Secondary School diploma. Requires 18 months of relevant experience.

**Assets**:

- Hamilton tourism and attraction knowledge
- Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Publisher)
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to embrace new technology and software
- Possess a G class driving license
- Previous hospitality experience preferred

**Additional Information**:
To deliver exceptional customer service, the Housing Assistant will need to be available for shift work Sunday to Saturday including overnights and holidays.

**Employment Equity Statement**

McMaster University is located on the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee and Mississauga Nations and within the lands protected by the “Dish With One Spoon” wampum agreement.

The diversity of our workforce is at the core of our innovation and creativity and strengthens our research and teaching excellence. In keeping with its Statement on Building an Inclusive Community with a Shared Purpose, McMaster University strives to embody the values o