Coordinator, Off-Campus Housing

Duties:
VIU is seeking a talented, student-centered, and experienced post-secondary professional whose commitment to student success is evident. Your skill set includes a deep knowledge of the local housing sector, several years' experience working with a diverse student population, and an ability to foster meaningful relationships with internal and community stakeholders.
The Off-Campus Housing (OCH) Coordinator is situated within Student Affairs and is chiefly responsible for contributing to a positive student experience by providing supports and services related to off-campus accommodation.
Reporting to the Director of Student Services, the OCH Coordinator is responsible for connecting students across the university with the tools and resources to assist them with finding suitable housing. This is achieved by:

• providing direct and indirect support to students both in-person and virtually
• remaining current on available housing stock
• promoting the off-campus housing service and maintaining the web site
• developing internal stakeholder relationships with areas such as Student Residence, Students' Union, VIU International and Student Affairs
• building external stakeholder relationships with the City of Nanaimo, neighbourhood communities, local developers, and non-governmental organizations to name a few
• keeping abreast of the BC Residential Tenancy Act and FIPPA legislation
• tracking relevant data for reporting purposes including student enquiries and student needs
• making recommendations to the Director on how to improve students' off-campus housing experience
• connecting with sector colleagues in the off-campus housing arena at the local, provincial, and national levels

Required Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree from an accredited university with a minimum of three years' related experience in a multicultural environment, demonstrating the ability to understand and empathize with people of many cultures. Minimum two years' related experience with, for example, residence life leadership or university-based housing initiatives, in a post-secondary setting with exposure to student life perspective. A combination of education and experience may be considered

• strong understanding of the post-secondary environment and the student experience
• excellent written and oral English is essential, as is the capacity to communicate in any modality with people having little English language ability
• professional manner, tact, diplomacy and discretion in dealing with colleagues and the public
• demonstrated strengths in interpersonal skills and cross-cultural sensitivity
• working understanding of the BC Residential Tenancy Act
• training related to landlord, tenant, or off-campus housing support, such as Renting-it-Right, Landlord BC Training, or equivalent
• familiarity with privacy legislation (FIPPA)
• strengths in the facilitation and presentation of workshops and information sessions
• demonstrated ability to implement change to improve the student experience
• ability to work independently and with a team
• excellent organizational skills
• superior problem solving
• effective analytical and research skills balanced with innovative thinking
• proficiency in the MS Office suite of programs, particularly in Outlook, Word, MS Teams and other on-line communication tools

Given the nature of the role, the incumbent will have assigned hours outside the Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm work week, including evenings and some weekends.
Preferred Qualifications:

• proficiency in a language other than English
• knowledge of the City of Nanaimo and housing resources
• experience living in other cultures for extended periods
• marketing and current social media skills

VIU is pleased to offer eligible employees a comprehensive benefit plan; ample paid holiday time; professional development opportunities and a desirable pension plan. As part of the VIU campus community, our employees work with supportive colleagues within an encouraging environment and are provided with the tools and training that promote learning and development. The perks of VIU employment are multiple, and include well-being initiatives and services, strategic discounts, and flexible work opportunities.
Note:

• Short-listed candidates must provide original transcripts, or applicable original certifications at time of interview.
• All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.
• Vancouver Island University (VIU) is collectively committed to building and sustaining a diverse and inclusive working and learning environment for faculty, staff, and students. In our journey towards greater diversity, we invite applications from members of equity-seeking communities including women, racialized and Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, persons of all gender identities and sexual orientations who bring value to the VIU community through their lived experiences. We encourage members of all equity-seeking groups to self-identify within their application cover letter. When a candidate voluntarily discloses this information in their cover letter, the information will be used only for the fulfillment of the career opportunity. Disclosure and/or self-identification with an equity-seeking group will not lead to advantageous treatment of a candidate who is not qualified.