Type of Position: Permanent (part time) (15-20 hours per week)

Start Date: 2023-October-20 or 23
End Date: Permanent
Location: CSU Advocacy Centre – H-222
Salary/Hourly Rate: $22.96/hr (Class 5) (+ annual increase June 1st)

Deadline to apply: 2022-October-16

Description/Scope:

The Concordia Student Union (CSU) is currently seeking to hire undergraduate students to fill the position of Student Advocacy Assistant (Student Advocate) at the CSU Advocacy Centre. Reporting to the Advocacy Centre Manager, the Student Advocate represents students in Academic Code of Conduct and Code of Rights and Responsibilities interviews, meetings and Tribunal Hearings and help students who find themselves in difficult academic related situations by accurately identifying their needs and helping them execute an informed course of action, accompanying them where applicable. The incumbent will be required to deal with individuals under stress and in crisis.

Responsibilities:

To represent students in and prepare students for disciplinary meetings and hearings within the university
To represent students in and prepare students for Code of Rights and Responsibilities complaints
To assist students in understanding complaint procedures, verifying complaint grounds, drafting complaints
To research university procedures, rules, regulations; and to assist and advise students on them
To help identify suitable courses of action for problems affecting individual students’ academics
To review and edit student requests, readmission applications and other clerical duties
To regularly and accurately maintain multiple up-to-date files and respect multiple deadlines per case
To respect and maintain strict confidentiality in all cases
To efficiently analyze and understand new/unfamiliar material
To create accurate and concise written summaries of verbal accounts, meetings, incident timelines and overall case arcs for communication with relevant university administrators and case notes
To identify appropriate channels of communication within the university to help resolve problems and concerns brought by students.
To assist in promoting the services of the Centre to undergraduate students
To contribute to larger projects

Essential Requirement(s):

Must be available to work on Wednesdays, 9am-5pm
Superior communication skills, both written and verbal
Strong active listening
Good judgment, strong reasoning skills and ability to accurately anticipate counter-arguments
Strong analytical and problem solving skills
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to deal sensitively with individuals in distress or in crisis
Ability to exercise judgment in crisis situations
Composure and ability to be a calming influence in a difficult situation
Ability to handle pressure and difficult interpersonal situations
A strong knowledge of Concordia’s Academic Code of Conduct
A strong knowledge of Concordia’s Code of Rights and Responsibilities
A strong ability to maintain a high degree of professionalism and discretion
Ability to research and interpret Concordia’s other regulations and policies
Ability to take initiative and work autonomously
Ability to communicate and respond considerately and compassionately, especially with individuals in difficult or sensitive situations
Ability to work with and represent the full spectrum of diversity within the Concordia community
Ability to work within a team and discuss sensitive issues
Excellent organizational skills
Knowledge of the CSU and its services
Knowledge of the rules of natural law
Computer literate
Comfortable working in person in open-space office, accompanying students, visiting various university personnel at their departments for meetings
Private space to work remotely and virtually speak with students about confidential matters if operations are remote
In order to be eligible, applicants must be full-time students in good standing at Concordia. Applicants who are in failed standing, in conditional standing or on academic probation or who have been sanctioned under the Code of Rights and Responsibilities or the Academic Code of Conduct are not eligible.

Asset(s):

Spoken and/or written French or Mandarin or Persian are primary assets.
Arabic, Hindi/Urdu or other languages also an asset
Ability to understand systems and systems management
Any extra-curricular activities or relevant experience, especially that vary from main academic discipline and that require skills such as:
- meeting strict deadlines
- strong written/verbal communication
- excellent time management and organization under pressure
- institutional engagement and effective negotiation with faculty or senior administration
Any training, certificate, or education related to the requirements of the role
Optional: Approved for Concordia Work Study: https://www.concordia.ca/students/financial-support/work-study.html

*Note- The Work Study program allows full-time Concordia students to work on-campus part-time and is a service supported by Financial Aids and Awards office. Visit the link above for more information on how to apply for a Work Study Authorization. Keep in mind that eligible students must be registered full-time in a program and receiving governmental student aid. International (except U.S.) students are exempt from the latter criteria.

Those hired will also gain useful and transferrable experience in assisting clients under stress and managing their cases through difficult situations, in solving clients’ problems both suitably and favourably through careful reasoning, and informed negotiation by understanding and analysing system procedures and priorities while also maintaining productive and respectful working relations across university departments.

Applications must include:

Cover letter and C.V. stating clearly whether you are an undergraduate student or graduate student applicant
2-3 letters of recommendation, about 1 paragraph in length attesting to how your referee knows you and to why your referee believes you would be suited for this job based on their interactions with you and the job description, signed with a phone number and e-mail address your referee can be reached on
- referees can be students, faculty, Concordia staff, work supervisors, former employers, etc…anyone you deem suitable
Fall 2023 availabilities, must be available to work on Wednesdays, 9am-5pm
If applicable, a copy of the authorisation for Work Study received by e-mail from the Concordia Financial Aid & Awards Office
Optional and helpful : Unofficial Transcript / Student Record; Winter 2024 course schedule

How to Apply:

Send your complete application as a single PDF to jobs@csu.qc.ca . Please title the subject of your email:

Advocate_Summer_2023_(First_name_Last_name)

***Internal candidates shall have preference according to the Collective Agreement.***

IMPORTANT NOTES:

Interviews for internal applicants will likely take place on October 6.
Interviews for external candidates will take place on October 18 and 19. Please include any constraints you have during this week in your application with your Fall 2023 availabilities.
This is a permanent part-time position designed for successful candidates to hold throughout the duration of their studies.
Students applying must be available to work an average of 15-20 hours per week, weekdays between 9am and 5pm, year round excluding holiday closures and annual vacation (exceptions possible during Summer session for leave of absence).
This is an on-campus in-person job position. Training will also be done in-person.
Training will start October 23 (during paid working hours);
Applicants should clearly indicate their Fall availabilities and indisposed dates (vacations, 2nd job or class, etc…) and dates they cannot work in-person.
External applicants selected for an interview will be notified by October 17 at the latest. Internal applicants selected for an interview will be notified by October 4. Only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted for an interview slot.
Incomplete applications shall not be considered
For questions or more information or to request an extension on the letters of recommendation specifically, contact the Advocacy Centre directly at advocacy@csu.qc.ca

To apply for this job email your details to jobs@csu.qc.ca.