Manager, Residence Conduct and Support - Queens University

Queen’s Residence Life and Services is committed to providing an experience aimed at fostering the educational and personal growth of its residents. The Queen’s Residence Life and Services staff team is dedicated to the development of the whole student, promoting diversity, accountability, independence and success in a broader learning environment.

Reporting to the Director, Residence Life and Services, the Manager, Residence Conduct and Support is responsible for overseeing the Residence Student Conduct System. Working from the guiding principles of natural justice, the Manager is responsible for the behaviour management and conduct practices of Queen’s residence communities. Residence Life and Services encourages the personal development of students by holding individuals accountable for violations of residence behavioural expectations.

The Manager, Residence Conduct and Support ensures that conduct-related decision making is of the highest ethical quality in situations requiring due process.

As part of the Residence Life and Services Leadership Team, the Manager, Residence Conduct and Support is knowledgeable in student development theory, and is an advocate for student learning and development to ensure a holistic student experience. The Manager, Residence Conduct and Support contributes to the university's work to set, and address, behavioural expectations for good citizenship, civility and personal conduct among students. This position helps guide education for students aimed at fostering a living and learning environment that celebrates diversity, maintains mutual respect for the dignity, rights and well-being of others, promotes positive student engagement, and is safe - mentally, emotionally and physically - for all.

The Manager, Residence Conduct and Support serves as a member of the Housing and Ancillary Services senior leadership team. The incumbent participates in a rotational week-long on-call system.

Note: The schedule for this position requires the incumbent to work frequent evenings and weekends

To view the full job description, please visit our Careers page. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead the planning and execution of strategic plans, goals, and priorities for residence conduct, in collaboration with the Director, Residence Life and Services.
• Operationalize the strategic direction of behaviour management by setting expectations for staff and providing leadership and guidance in implementation.
• Provide leadership and direction to staff in their execution of investigations into conduct violations, ensuring that all processes are conducted without bias and in accordance with university non-academic misconduct procedures and the administrative tenets of procedural fairness.
• Identify when a residence student’s behaviour intersects with Queen’s University’s Student Code of Conduct and Non-Academic Misconduct processes, or federal or provincial legislation (ie. Canadian Human Rights Act) and may require a coordinated campus response.
• Address student behaviour; including investigating, assessing, decision making and sanctioning. Manage cases in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct, the Consolidated Residence Contract and Community Standards, the Policy on Sexual Violence Involving Queen’s University Students procedures (which includes the informal and formal resolution process) and the Harassment and Discrimination Policy and Procedures.
• Responds to and directs staff support and follow up for students requiring professional staff intervention (ie. mental health concern, incident of sexual violence, harassment and/or discrimination).
• Facilitate informal resolution and restorative approaches.
• Advise students on their rights and options within the system and related processes.
• Establish, maintain and grow collaborative partnerships and positive working relationships with others areas of Student Affairs and other campus departments (ie. Student Conduct Office, Student Wellness Services, Campus Security and Emergency Services, Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office) to support growth and development for students in residence.
• Maintain current knowledge of emerging and diverse student needs and issues as well as best practices in student behaviour management.
• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement; recommends changes to policy and/or procedures. Develop and implement changes to support successful programming.
• Identify key performance metrics, aligned across initiatives to evaluate programming and inform recommendations for new or improved programs or service delivery.
• Produce reports, documents and presentations for decision-making, planning and communication purposes.
• Maintain accurate records and analyse data as required.
• Liaise to identify, build, and maintain relationships with internal and external partners in order to support effective responses.
• Provide and/or facilitate crisis and disaster response often in conjunction with other University and Residence senior staff.
• Participate in a rotational week-long on-call system, with the Residence Life Leadership Team to maintain a 24-hour response mechanism.
• Support students and the community by responding to difficult issues and situations that arise in residences, related to issues such as gender, mental health, misbehavior, transitional and financial.
• Represent Residence Life and Services as required on committees and working groups within Residences and Student Affairs.
• Plan, prioritize and manage the work of employees, providing strategic and tactical advice, guidance and coaching. Identify the need for staff resources, participate on staffing committees, and make effective recommendations regarding employee selection.
• Manage performance by establishing performance standards, reviewing and evaluating performance and conducting formal performance reviews on an ongoing basis.
• Assess staff training and development needs, and ensure that employees receive training required to improve and sustain successful performance.
• Investigate, address and resolve employee/labour relations issues, including making decisions regarding disciplinary and discharge matters.
• Refer students to appropriate resources as required.
• Undertake other duties and special projects, as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Undergraduate degree required. Relevant graduate degree (Education, Law, Counselling) would be an asset.
• Minimum 5 years relevant experience
• Demonstrated managerial experience and ability to coach professional and student staff to successful outcomes, preferably in a unionized environment
• Familiarity with the tenets of natural justice and due process.
• Demonstrated experience in the development, and execution of educational programs for young adults. Student Affairs/residence experience would be considered an asset.
• Demonstrated aptitude and experience working with people with diverse perspectives and backgrounds, upholding the principles of equity, inclusion and healthy communities.
• Experience conducting evaluation and assessment; skills in strategic analysis
• Demonstrated experience managing and responding to crisis/emergency situations.
• Satisfactory Criminal Records Check and Vulnerable Sector Screening required.
• Consideration may be given to an equivalent combination of education and experience.

SPECIAL SKILLS:

• Managerial, advising, and leadership skills to promote a positive environment
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment
• Expertise in fact-finding and working with students to deduce how events unfolded based in the balance of probabilities and/or the preponderance of evidence;
• Ability to problem-solve, exercise discretion and know when to escalate to senior leadership
• Excellent oral and written communication skills – with staff, student staff, students and parents
• Demonstrated research and/or program assessment and evaluation skills, including the ability to generate analysis and reports;
• Sound judgement, tact, and ability to maintain composure in stressful situations
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• High level of skill in assessing and resolving complex, multi-faceted situations
• A commitment to mentoring and working with student staff and elected student government
• Commitment to diversity and inclusivity; intercultural knowledge and skill to effectively interact and provide leadership in a diverse working environment
• Ability to recognize and handle confidential information in an appropriate manner
• Emergency response and crisis management skills

DECISION MAKING:

• Daily operational decisions based on policies and procedures and aligned to strategic objectives
• Determine content, structure and delivery methods for Residence Life training and programming
• Make decisions relating to the investigation and disposition of cases.
• Make decisions regarding appropriate sanctions for violations of residence standards, including recommendations for relocation, suspension or removal of student from residence.
• Make recommendations to improve and expand the Residence Life Program to meet the changing needs of the community
• Determine when changes need to be made to policies and procedures and amend as appropriate
• Make decisions regarding most appropriate actions during crisis management, resolution of difficult interpersonal conflicts; and judgement as to whether a sensitive situation requires the involvement of the Director, Residence Life and Services
• Determine strategy and methods for maintaining strong and positive working relationships, including identification and engagement of appropriate stakeholders and partners.
• Determine work priorities to meet competing demands on time.
• Assess the nature of questions or problems and determines the best approach to resolve, escalating only the most complex issues
• Determine content and format for communication materials including presentations, reports and correspondence. Decide optimal method for distribution
• Make recommendations regarding the planning, execution and viability of continuing or discontinuing programs based on assessments and evaluation.
• Evaluate job candidates and make effective recommendations on suitable hires.
• Make decisions and/or effective recommendations regarding transfers and promotions.
• Evaluate employee performance and decide on appropriate training or coaching to address lack of proficiency in carrying out responsibilities, or remedial action for staff disciplinary situations.
• Assess investigation outcome of grievances and make effective recommendations on appropriate course of action or next steps on grievances.
• Make effective recommendations on level of discipline up to discharge and probationary termination.

Please apply online at:
https://clients.njoyn.com/CL4/xweb/xweb.asp?clid=74827&page=jobdetails&jobid=J1025-0373&BRID=EX428042&SBDID=21474&LANG=1.