the McMASTER STUDENTS UNION
PART-TIME
MANAGER JOB APPLICATIONS EFRT Director Advocacy Coordinator Maroons Coordinator QSCC Coordinator Spark Coordinator SCSN Director SWHAT Coordinator TAC Coordinator WGEN Coordinator PSL Coordinator SHEC Coordinator Shinerama-Terry Fox Coordinator
JOBS CLOSING JAN 10
Part-Time Managers are MSU staff whose primary responsibility is to manage an MSU Service. PTMs are paid for anywhere between 8-16 hours per week, depending on the job, and also do some paid summer preparation before the school year begins. They train and manage their volunteers, manage the service budget, report to their supervisors, and most importantly, oversee the operation of their service as per their operating policy.
Dear potential applicant, Hello and thank you for your interest in our Part Time Manager (PTM) positions within the MSU. Each The PTM is ultimately responsible for overseeing and setting the vision for an MSU service. However, there are also common elements that can be found within the core responsibilities of a PTM that are relatively consistent across services. PTM position has its own unique challenges and areas for growth that are dependent on the specific goals of the service. All PTM’s are responsible for managing an executive team, overseeing a budget, and setting the year-long vision for the service. Part Time Managers are also responsible for all of the administrative tasks that are associated with the service. Most importantly, the PTM opportunities allow students to develop a number of soft skills that they can carry forward into their future pursuits, such as conflict resolution, stress and time management, and budgeting skills, amongst others. Giuliana Guarna Vice President (Administration) & CAO | McMaster Students Union H.BSc Biology | McMaster University P: 905 525 9140 x23250 F: 905 529 3208
deadlines Date
Position
Jan 5
Chief Returning Officer Diversity Services Director Mac Breadbin Director EFRT Director Jan 10 Advocacy Coordinator Maroons Coordinator QSCC Coordinator Spark Coordinator SCSN Director SWHAT Coordinator TAC Coordinator WGEN Coordinator PSL Coordinator SHEC Coordinator Shinerama-Terry Fox Coordinator Diversity Services Assistant Director Jan 31 Mac Breadbin Assistant Director Deputy Returning Officer Farmstand Director November CLAY Coordinator* Horizons Coordinator* Early Jan Maccess Coordinator*
msumcmaster.ca/jobs * = currently not hiring
Advocacy
Christine Yachouh, Coordinator Role Summary: The Advocacy Coordinator will help in the on-campus coordination of all campaigns related to education and the undergraduate experience. Campaigns can be run by (but not limited to) the Vice-President (Education), Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA), and/or the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA). In addition, the Advocacy Coordinator will assist in raising the profile of advocacy initiatives within the MSU and the surrounding community including, but not limited to, municipal, provincial, and federal elections. Hours: 12 hours/week (academic), variable capped (summer) Job Application Deadline: January 10, 2016 Email: advocacy@msu.mcmaster.ca
The responsibilities of the Advocacy Coordinator include weekly meetings with the executive team, facilitating multiple regular meetings with the Advocacy Street Team, connecting with the Education Team headed up by the Vice President (Education), and preparing for campaigns related to postsecondary education. You will work closely with the University Affairs Committee, External Affairs Committee, the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance and more. Experiences that are valuable for the role of Advocacy Coordina tor primarily include event planning, a strong understanding of post-secondary education issues, promotional skills and time management – considering the sometimes frequent succession of campaigns that are planned by the Education Team. The most rewarding parts of my job involve meeting with university administration and Hamilton community stakeholders, designing campaigns, working with the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance, and most importantly, helping to make a difference on campus. Some challenging parts of the job surround keeping volun teers engaged, and sometimes making campaigns interesting and engaging for students. Campaigns vary in topic, and it is impossible for the Advocacy Coordinator to be an expert on everything. Know that it is okay to ask for help in these areas, and that you have a team to support that. The role of the Advocacy Coordinator is very different from other Part-Time Manager roles, as you work very closely to the Vice-President (Education) and the Education Team.
Emergency First Response Team Sachin Doshi, Director
Role Summary: The EFRT Director is responsible for the day-to-day operations and supervision of all aspects of the Emergency First Response Team (EFRT). Hours: 12 hours/week Job Application Deadline: January 10, 2016 Email: efrt@msu.mcmaster.ca
Being Program Director of the EFRT is a multifaceted role that involves working with and motivating the team, making training resources available, accounting & budgeting and overseeing first aid courses. There is no common day in the life for this position, rather it is a combination of responsibilities that change in accordance with different focuses throughout the year. Time commitment for the EFRT is quite high, especially at times of recruitment and training. You must be willing to compromise in other areas such as extracurricular activities and academics. In this role, being a strong, experienced responder with the EFRT is necessary especially because of the high learning curve. In addition, you must be able to connect with the team in order to motivate your peers. The most rewarding in part of this job is the experiences you make from managing a team and working so closely with a group of highly motivated and capable students. The experiences you obtain from this role cannot be provided through structured academics, yet is just as valuable - if not more. You learn a lot about human resource management, conflict resolution, and how to be an effective leader in a number of different situations. The most challenging part of this job is maintaining team morale. All responders are highly motivated and extremely helpful. However, there are high expectations for responders and showing appreciation while maintaining morale and the standard operations of the team is a difficult balance to strike.
Maroons
Nicole Van Den Heuvel, Coordinator Role Summary: The Marooons Coordinator is responsible for ensuring the activities of the Maroons are executed. Known as “The Spirit Squad� on campus, the Maroons Coordinator is responsible for fostering an active and engaging community of reps and promoting different aspects of the McMaster Students Union and McMaster University as a whole. Hours: 12 hours/week (academic), 20 hours/week (summer) Job Application Deadline: January 10, 2016 Email: maroons@msu.mcmaster.ca
Working as the MSU Maroons Coordinator has been the most rewarding and amazing experiences I have had. A typical week consists of 5 office hours, executive meetings, committee meetings, sports, helping out/planning Maroons events and assisting with other service events. Additionally, this year we have initiated First Year Friday’s where there are designated office hours for first years to get involved and engaged within the MSU. I think what makes the job so enjoyable is the passion that I have for the service which would be an asset for anyone interested in the role. Having leadership, communication and organization and time management skills are very important. It is also good to be levelled out within the team as you are the Coordinator but also a representative of the service. Working with incredible students would be my favourite part but can aalso be a difficult aspect of the job. As someone who cares deeply for my representatives and for students, it is wonderful to see them feel empowered within the roles and grow during the term, but being stern at times to your friends is sometimes difficult. Ultimately, this job is the best because I love doing what I do and would be the Coordinator voluntarily if it was a volunteer position.
Peer Support Line
Geneva Neal, Coordinator Role Summary: The Peer Support Line Coordinator is reponsible for the day-to-day operations and supervision of all administrative aspects of the Peer Support Line. Hours: 12 hours/week (academic), variable capped (summer) Job Application Deadline: January 10, 2016 Email: psl@msu.mcmaster.ca
The role of coordinator for the Peer Support Line is very dynamic, the types of tasks can change from week-to-week. Generally, it breaks down into a few broad categories: • Supervising volunteers. This can include responding to questions, being available to talk to volunteers about their experiences on the line, managing scheduling issues with the volunteer coordinator, organizing volunteer appreciation events and filling in last minute for volunteer shifts. • Administrative tasks. This includes responding to emails, attending meetings with community stakeholders, writing reports for the executive board of the MSU, and managing the Peer Support Line budget. • Coordinating training. This takes place mostly over the summer where the coordinator reviews last year’s training materials, researches new topics, and creates the new training curriculum. There are lots of logistics like ordering catering and booking rooms. • Promoting the line and outreach with other campus groups. The coordinator works with the promotions coordinator and Underground to create new promotions materials, events, and campaigns. Also includes reaching out to campus groups who may be interested in promoting our service. • I have enjoyed being able to contribute to improvements to the service and volunteer experience as the Peer Support Line continues to grow. For me, the most challenging part of the job is that I have to be available to respond to any issues that may arise at all times. The responsibilities of the Peer Support Line (PSL) Coordinator fall primarily within supervision of regular operations of the Peer Support Line. The PSL Coordinator hosts executive meetings, chairs the PSL Advisory Committee, hosts monthly team meetings for all volunteers, and ensures the confidentiality of the service. As crisis reports may be logged through the Peer Support Line, the PSL Coordinator is responsible for helping debrief volunteers, and follow up with McMaster Security Services and the Student Wellness Centre.
Queer Students Community Centre Emily Smith, Coordinator
Role Summary: The QSCC Coordinator is responsible for overseeing the operation of the Queer Students Community Centre, its Executive, and its volunteers as well as implementing new initiatives and serving as the cheif advocate on behalf of the QSCC. Hours: 12 hours/week (academic), variable capped (summer) Job Application Deadline: January 10, 2016 Email: qscc@msu.mcmaster.ca
The Coordinator position is a weekly 12 hour commitment from September to April. During the summer, there is an opportunity for another 100 capped hours of work from May to August. In November, the QSCC is at it’s busiest where the Coordinator can expect a commitment of 30 hours a week, particularly during MacPride and the weeks leading up to it. Previous experience with leadership, conflict resolution, group facilitation and community outreach are an asset to the position but will be developed throughout the year. The most enjoyable parts of the job have been connecting with the McMaster and Hamilton communities, and planning collaborative events with other McMaster services. The most challenging part of the position has been working with such a diverse population with so many different needs and identities. (not sure if you want to include this) Reaching out to the McMaster community for help with trainings, event planning and conflict resolution has been one of the most vital pieces of my experience thus far. This position is one that requires support from many McMaster sources to be successful and rewarding.
Shinerama & Terry Fox Campaigns Riley Armstrong, Coordinator
Role Summary: The Shinerama/Terry Fox Campaign Coordinator is responsible for planning, promoting and executing the McMaster Shinerama and Terry Fox campaigns, including but not limited to summer fundraising events, Welcome Week Shinerama fundraising, and the Terry Fox Run. Hours: 5 hours/week (September 1 - October 31), 20 hours/week (summer) Job Application Deadline: January 10, 2016 Email: shinerama@msu.mcmaster.ca terryfox@msu.mcmaster.ca
The time commitment of this job is completely manageable if you plan accordingly and keep the motivation to get things done. Since both campaigns run over the course of only 4 months, the work is highly intensive. It is imperative that you keep on top of things or else you might miss out on opportunities. This job is one that is relatively flexible in terms of new ideas. Each and every event is open to interpretation and adding new events and fundraisers is encouraged. Having experience in fundraising and event planning is an asset. One of the major aspects of the role is sponsorship. We run several events/ fundraisers throughout the campaigns that require some sort of raffle table or silent auction. Having experience with sponsorship works to your advantage. This role gets very stressful at some points. From my experience on the team for the past two years, I have found that a coordinator who has good delegation, communication and organization skills will over succeed the demands of the role. Having a coordinator who is a good delegator, communicator and is organized will benefit the entire team when it comes to planning and executing events. I loved having the opportunity to help families that really need it. It is a different type of position from all the others because it directly affects millions of people all over Canada. Being part of a group of people who are so dedicated to raising money and awareness to help others is such a great feeling. I was involved with the 2014 campaigns prior to my role as the coordinator in 2015 and I was still incredibly nervous and excited. It is okay to be nervous and excited because that just shows how much you care about what you are about to do. It is one of the most fun and most rewarding roles you can fulfill in the MSU. You have an amazing support network behind you throughout this role so do with it what you will. Don’t afraid to be adventurous! If you are passionate about raising money and awareness for an amazing cause, this is the right job for you, no doubt. Good luck!
Spark
Michael Gill, Coordinator Role Summary: The Spark Coordinator will be responsible for planning and implementing Spark, the MSU’s first year success program. The job responsibilities are diverse, including consulting and then planning the topics and activities for weekly sessions, allocating and accounting for a moderately sized budget, doing outreach to recruit upper-year volunteers and first-year students, and managing a team of student volunteers throughout the year. This position requires a well-rounded individual with a demonstrated passion for first year success. Strong organizatoin, creativity, and leadership are some key skills that are required for this position. Hours: 12 hours/week (academic), variable capped (summer) Job Application Deadline: January 10, 2016 Email: spark@msu.mcmaster.ca
Each week the Spark Part-Time Manager will prepare session materials, check-in on a handful of Team Leaders, host one-onone meetings with each executive, chair an executive meeting, help facilitate weekly training for the Team Leaders, and the support the work of individual executive members. At key times of the year a large amount of time will be invested into booking/arranging space, planning and executing Team Leader hiring, planning and executing Team Leader training, promoting registration in the program, overseeing the logistics of the sessions program, and building relationships with other campus partners. Throughout the summer, I worked roughly 10 hours each week, during September and January you are likely to work over 20 hours each week, and throughout the rest of the term you will work roughly 12 hours each week. It would be valuable to have an understanding of the way sessions are run through Spark, CLAY, Horizons, or other Leadership conferences. I would also hope that whoever takes over the service next year has an understanding or a deep belief in the value of mentorship – as Spark at its core is a mentorship service. My favourite part of the job is the fact that Spark makes a visible impact on almost everyone who engages with it. Students build comfort, Team Leaders build confidence and skills, and the executive team gets to shape a service into what they want. I would say the biggest challenge associated with the service is that it doesn’t ever really stop. Five days of the week you will need to be actively thinking about and working on the service. The other two you will probably still be thinking about it. Beyond that, it can be challenging to effectively split your time between managing the broader Team Leader squad, and managing the Executive team. Thinking about next year, Spark is still relatively new and unpolished – so it will be important to consider the details and how to get those right.
Student Community Support Network Daymon Oliveros, Director
Role Summary: The SCSN Director is responsible for managing all activities of the Student Community Support Network as well as working towards building positive relations between students and the wider community. Hours: 12 hours/week (academic), 20 hours per week (summer) Job Application Deadline: January 10, 2016 Email: scsn@msu.mcmaster.ca
The role of SCSN Director varies from week to week. The 12 hours a week outlined in the job description is very realistic during the school year, although it sometimes exceeds 12 during weeks of important meetings and programming we’re running or planning - for instance, our annual Pumpkin Hike or Discover Your City week. In terms of experience relevant to the role, being part of the SCSN helps of course - but anything related to municipal advocacy or working with stakeholders in the City of Hamilton is relevant. The SCSN needs a decent grasp on how McMaster fits within the City of Hamilton, and how we can work with them to enhance the student experience in the city. Being SCSN Director a great job, and I really enjoy being part of discussions with external stakeholders about topics that affect Hamiltonians, and McMaster students alike (although obviously, some people fall under both categories)! It’s really interesting to hear the needs and concerns of students and permanent residents, and then figuring out a way to shape programming or how we communicate certain pieces of information. I do find it challenging to figure out what direction the SCSN should move, however. The municipal landscape has changed greatly from year to year, and the role the SCSN plays continues to change based on various factors such as: increased enrollment, new concerns brought up by permanent residents in Ainslie Wood & Westdale, as well as how our VP Education wants to tackle our municipal agenda. If you’re looking to apply to this role, do it! Just make sure you have a passion for the City of Hamilton and are willing to be an advocate.
Student Health Education Centre Emma Mitchell, Coordinator
Role Summary: The SHEC Coordinator is responsible for overseeing the operations of SHEC, its Executive, and its volunteers. Also responsible for making all budgetary decisions, all operating policy, overseeing committee work and new initiatives, and acting as the prime contact with the Student Wellness Centre Director. Hours: 12 hours/week (academic), variable capped (summer) Job Application Deadline: January 10, 2016 Email: shec@msu.mcmaster.ca
A week to week outline is a bit difficult to map out because certain times of the year are busier than others. The weeks of 1st year hiring and leading up to September training are extra demanding. The weeks you’ll be running and planning for Stress Busters are also filled with extra work. The average week isn’t too bad. You will be putting in the 12 hours outlined in the job description. Weeks where SHEC has more than one event or leading up to big events, you will likely be putting in more than the 12 hours. Having been on SHEC and/or having been an executive member of the team are certainly an asset. Understanding how SHEC functions and why we do all the things we do is definitely beneficial to running SHEC, helping it progress and grow as a service, and keeping its integrity. Any experience working with groups of people, especially managing groups of people will definitely help. Experience running and planning events is also an asset. I love hearing about a student having a positive and successful visit to SHEC. I love it when you really get a chance to help someone or to hear that a volunteer had a good experience. It can be sometime difficult to feel valued when people don’t come during your volunteer shift or after a particularly difficult peer support session where you feel as though you couldn’t help. So it’s nice to have those moments where you know you’re making a difference. Secondly, I love getting to know the volunteers. SHEC brings together so many individuals from many different faculties that you might not get a chance to meet otherwise. The SHEC volunteers are so open and welcoming that it would be hard not to make friends. As well, the conversations you can have with the other volunteers are so interesting and really get you to think. I just love being a part of such a wonderful environment. I would say the most challenging part of this job is getting the word out to students. It’s always disheartening to see how hard volunteers work on events and then have low turn out. Promotion and getting people out to events is what I find the most challenging. The exec team and volunteers are constantly trying to adapt and revamp events and the way we promote to help bring people out. SHEC is a really great service that offers so much to students and that has so much potential for growth. I love being a part of SHEC. It has given me so many opportunities for personal and professional growth and a platform to explore what makes me passionate. Really understanding SHEC’s objective, it’s history, and why we do all the things we do is truly an important aspect of running this service.
Student Walk Home Attendant Team Serena Arora, Coordinator
Role Summary: The SWHAT Coordinator is responsible for all aspects of the peration of the Student Walk Home Attendant Team. This includes setting hours of operation, ensuring shifts are scheduled, promotion of service, and ensuring finances are in order. Hours: 12 hours/week (academic), variable capped (summer) Job Application Deadline: January 10, 2016 Email: swhat@msu.mcmaster.ca
The SWHAT Part-Time Manager is both a challenging and rewarding role! The role consists of two main functions – managing the executive team and overseeing daily operations. Daily operations includes handling volunteer applications, budgeting, and collaborating with other MSU services/roles. As the PTM, you host bi-weekly executive meetings, supervise and support your executives in planning their initiatives. You are also responsible for covering four to five (6 hour) SWHAT shifts a month. One amazing aspect of the job is working with the executive team! You really have the opportunity to develop your own leadership skills and help others grow as leaders as well. Since you oversee the different functions, you feel very connected to the different parts of the service. One of the biggest challenges is managing an extremely large volunteer base as it can be difficult at times. It is tough to keep 70+ volunteers accountable and motivated, but your executive team can work together to set those expectations. This job requires strong leadership and communication skills, experience managing both large and small groups, as well as a good understanding of how the service operates. Although challenging at times, the role of the SWHAT PTM plays an important part of keeping our campus safe!
Teaching Awards Committee Alex Wilson, Coordinator
Role Summary: The Teaching Awards Committee Coordinator is responsible for recognizing and encouraging excellence in teaching at McMaster University through organizing and presenting MSU Teaching Awards to professors and teaching assistants on behalf og the MSU. This involves collecting nominations from students, evaluating professors and teaching assistants through student surveys in class, highlighting the work of the nominees and organizing an Awards ceremony. Hours: 8 hours/week (academic), variable capped (summer) Job Application Deadline: January 10, 2016 Email: tac@msu.mcmaster.ca
The role of TAC coordinator is centered on planning ahead. TAC has three major periods of activity one in October/ November, for Fall Nominations and Evaluations, one in February for Winter Nominations and Evaluations, and one in March for the ceremony. As such, the weekly commitment is extremely variable. There is always something to do so weekly commitment can range from 6 hours to 18 hours. The TAC coordinator is most occupied during these three periods and Nominations Period weeks will often be 12 hours or more. During this time, you would be working closely with your promotions executive to ensure effective promotion of the Nominations Period and with your Assistant Campaign Coordinator to ensure volunteer shifts are being filled and inperson nominations are being transcribed correctly. Outside of these weeks commitment focuses around planning for the ceremony in March and improving the promotion of TAC itself. Going to weekly Academic Affairs Committee meetings and biweekly Education Team meetings, serves to improve working relationships with other education focused partners and can allow you to partner on any advocacy projects. Unlike other MSU services, part of your committee is appointed by the SRA and not hired meaning that early team building experiences are central to success.
Women and Gender Equity Network Hayley Regis, Coordinator
Role Summary: The Women and Gender Equity Network (WGEN) Coordinator is responsible for the creation and delivery of programming and awareness events and campaigns about gender equity issues on campus. They will operate within an Anti-Racist and Anti-Oppressive Framework, and create a safe space in the Network’s associated spaces for women, trans students, survivors of sexual assault and their supporters to come and feel welcome and secure. Hours: 12 hours/week (academic), variable capped (summer) Job Application Deadline: January 10, 2016 Email: wgen@msu.mcmaster.ca
The WGEN Coordinator has the opportunity to provide support in a lot of ways, working with the administration of the university and the MSU to advocate for change, building programming with your executive team while supporting them in their endeavours, supporting the volunteers that help us create the safe(r) space that is so needed, and getting to participate in building a community that is rad as heck in ways I never dreamed possible. The hours I work per week fluctuate between 10-30 hours depending on an average week is around 15, but as we go towards hiring, training, and events and campaigns, it runs a lot closer to 30. I find my time is split fairly evenly between administrative work (emails, paperwork), and meetings (exec, volunteer, partners). My average week can look a bit like like running our exec meeting, ordering some materials for the space, overseeing some upcoming promo for our zine or an event, emailing some of our off-campus partners. This job requires solid organizational skills so you can balance the various aspects of the job, but if you’re at all nervous you have four months over the summer to adjust. Team management and event planning skills are a definite plus for coordinator and exec positions. Most important to me is someone coming into the role with a passion for the communities they’ll be supporting, as well as a deep understanding of feminism, its flaws, and the really good things about it as well. My favourite parts of my job are getting to work with a lot of cool groups on and off campus, there are a bunch of other services I’m lucky to work with, I get to work with amazing community partners like SACHA, and I get to work with a team I love on a level that probably resembles sister/mom/cool aunt. The most challenging part of my job is dealing with ‘the haters’. Participating in activism provides sick opportunities, but comes with some weird backlash, every now and again I deal with complaints rightfully lodged by volunteers and community members, and those made by people who truly and sadly don’t understand why spaces like ours are necessary. This job has been absolutely amazing, a way to funnel everything I’m passionate about into a position that allows me to change stuff for now and for when I don’t even go here anymore. I feel like as much as I’ve given to this job it has given back to me, if you have any questions at all about this position or my previous involvement with the service hit me up