Application Open:
Full-Time
Job Purpose:
The Graduate Housing Specialist enhances student life at MBZUAI by fostering leadership, teamwork, and community through sports, fitness, and recreational programs. This role oversees signature events, student societies, and sports teams while ensuring inclusive participation. Key responsibilities include managing campus activities, collaborating with UAE universities for intercollegiate sports, and optimizing MBZUAI’s gym and recreational facilities. The specialist also ensures accessibility for students of determination, maintains compliance with health and safety standards, and oversees vendor partnerships and budgets. By driving student engagement and wellbeing, this role contributes to a dynamic and inclusive university experience.
Key Responsibilities:
Accommodation Advisory Services:
- Provide guidance to prospective and current MBZUAI graduate students on accommodation options, application procedures, policies, legal requirements, and best practices for both on-campus and off-campus housing.
- Promote MBZUAI campus housing through various channels, including the university website, social media, and webinars, in coordination with Student Recruitment and MarComms.
Campus Housing Operations:
- Develop and update policies, procedures, and the residents’ handbook to ensure smooth housing operations, compliance with regulations, and resident awareness of available services, rights, and responsibilities.
- Manage accommodation allocation, issuing offers and contracts in line with MBZUAI policies while considering special requests, preferences, and gender policies.
- Coordinate with General Services to develop personal evacuation plans for students of determination and ensure emergency preparedness.
- Oversee room key issuance, student check-in procedures, and dormitory inspections to maintain cleanliness, safety, and compliance with residence rules.
- Liaise with General Services to address maintenance needs, resolve safety concerns, and facilitate prompt service requests.
- Ensure campus housing security through access control, fire drills, security personnel, and emergency response planning.
- Facilitate check-out procedures, final room inspections, and coordination with Finance and the Registrar’s Office regarding security deposit returns.
- Manage contracts with external housing providers, including room allocation and student welfare oversight, when applicable.
On-Campus Residential Life:
- Provide mentorship and support to student residents, assisting with personal and community living adjustments while referring to university support services as needed.
- Recruit, train, and oversee Resident Life Assistants (RLAs) to enhance pastoral support and residential engagement.
- Maintain on-call hours for after-hours student support and guidance.
- Collaborate with the Campus Life team and RLAs to develop residential programs, events, and initiatives that foster student engagement, community building, and inclusivity.
- Encourage and support student-led social events to sustain an inclusive and welcoming residential atmosphere.
- Mediate interpersonal conflicts among residents and facilitate open communication to maintain a positive living environment.
- Manage crises and emergencies within the residential community, providing immediate assistance and referrals to relevant MBZUAI support services.
- Ensure resident compliance with MBZUAI accommodation policies, offering guidance and clarification as needed.
Off-Campus Housing Support:
- Establish and maintain relationships with ethical landlords and agents, creating a database of suitable off-campus housing options for students.
- Assist students with housing searches, lease negotiations, and contract reviews, advocating for fair terms when appropriate.
- Develop a financial support scheme for housing deposits.
- Maintain administrative records related to off-campus student housing, including housing allowances and deposit support.
Documentation and Reporting:
- Maintain accurate records of all residential services data while ensuring compliance with MBZUAI information security policies.
- Document and report inspection findings, identifying issues and recommending service improvements.
- Prepare incident reports for emergency situations in accordance with university protocols.
- Gather and analyze student feedback on housing services to inform continuous improvement initiatives.
Other Duties:
- Contribute to university-wide programs, including orientation, wellbeing initiatives, global observances, leadership development, and personal growth activities.
- Perform all other duties as reasonably directed by the line manager that are commensurate with these functional objectives.
Academic Qualification:
- A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Education, Hospitality Management, Social Work, or similar qualification.
Professional Experience:
Essential
- At least six years’ increasingly responsible levels of experience working in relevant fields including¾for example¾in hospitality, property management, facilities management, or university accommodation services.
- At least two years’ experience working in university accommodation services including a large-scale residential property in a university.
- Demonstrable knowledge of best practices in the provision of residential life services to graduate students.
- Willingness and ability to live on campus in MBZUAI accommodation.
- Flexibility and adaptability to work irregular hours to provide out-of-hours pastoral support to residents.
- Proven experience effectively managing residential operations, including accommodation applications, property/room assignments, inspections, and resolving maintenance issues.
- Exceptional interpersonal skills with proven ability to provide a warm and nurturing residential environment for students including effective pastoral guidance and crisis intervention.
- Proven ability to handle confidential information with discretion.
- Strong leadership abilities that demonstrate the capability to lead, motivate, and support a team of resident assistants to provide pastoral support and foster a positive community environment.
- Familiarity with software systems and database management for effective residence operations.
- Demonstrable proficiency in problem-solving and conflict resolution.
- Excellent organizational abilities to manage schedules and administrative tasks efficiently.
Preferred
- Experience working in the UAE.
- Experience providing support and guidance to international students.
- Professional credentialing in a relevant discipline such as coaching or counseling.
- First aid certification.
- Experience managing a budget.
- Exposure to and understanding of Middle Eastern business and cultural practices.
