Team Lead

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Position Title : Team Lead (TL)

Department : Residence Life (Student Health, Wellness, and Support; Student Affairs)
Term of Position :       August 14, 2026 – May 3, 2027

Remuneration : $437/month, paid in equal installments bi-monthly, plus $85.68 per semester for general expenses, plus a room in residence as a taxable benefit. Note: Employees who work during the holiday period (the two weeks in December/January when the rest of the University is closed) will be paid an hourly wage of $20,73/hr.

Job Reports to : Lead Coordinator, Residence Life

Purpose of a Team Lead (TL)

This is a live-in position and requires the individual to be on campus to attend on-site training, meetings and provide in-person support to students living in a University Residence environment. All live-in members of the Residence Life team are leaders in their communities, maintain an important presence in residence, and are available to support and engage with students in residence at all hours of the day. Therefore, individuals should have strong organizational, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills, as well as integrity and flexibility.

The role of a Team Lead (TL) is to create the best student experience for members of the University of Ottawa community living in Residence. This is completed through various strategies to build community and uphold safety in residence. TLs lead teams of Community Advisors (CA) and CAs in a Living Learning Community (LLC), where applicable. Any further mention of "CAs" in this job description should be understood to include CAs and LLC-CAs unless otherwise specified. TLs support their team of CAs through mentoring, coordination, and as a resource to support as needed. Duties include supporting their team with challenging student cases, providing mentoring around aspects of their role and responsibilities, managing the schedule for coverage and time off, being a resource for and coordinator of the team's programming requirements, and being available to help when circumstances require more support.

A TL is an individual who is well equipped to create a safe community in which residents of all origins and orientations may thrive while they embark on their academic and personal development. TLs support the wellness and safety of students with regular rounds, conflict resolution, report facilities-related issues, and emergency management with the support of a peer-team and Lead Coordinators, Residence Life. They may respond to highly sensitive situations therefore, a respect for confidentiality and good stress management skills are essential. 

As a unionized position, all TLs are expected to be familiar with their Collective Agreement (CUPE

Time Commitment and Training

• Total of 555 hours to be worked, based on 37-week academic year (mid-August to April, inclusively). An average of 15 hours/week, including early mornings, evenings, weekends and holiday periods.
• Available to work evenings, including on-call on a rotating basis, and during the weekends.
• Mandatory training sessions in-person and online, offered throughout employment:
  • Mandatory Online Training as determined by Residence Life and the University.
  • Start of Contract Training: Two weeks in August preceding the start of the Fall semester, or period in January preceding the start of the Winter semester if hired for the Winter semester.
  • Ongoing Training: One (1) five-hour ongoing training commitment once a semester, includes a lunch break.

Student Interactions

• TLs should become acquainted with each CA in their team on an individual basis. They should foster an inclusive and cohesive team environment by taking a proactive approach in helping to resolve any conflicts. TLs should be alert to the various conflicting relationships that may arise on their team or that their CAs are helping to manage among their communities. TLs may be asked to facilitate mediations when necessary. They should document and inform their supervisor of any situations or conflicts they are aware of, and, when appropriate, work in collaboration to address them.
• TLs are expected to support CAs in their efforts to support community members in completing Roommate Agreements with help from tools like the Shared Living Guide.
• TLs are responsible for monthly individual in-person interactions with the members of their CA team as well as monthly in-person programming for large sized group events ("building-wide events") to foster a strong sense of community and to engage students living in residence at the University.
• TLs assist in peer and professional staff led events, projects, and initiatives in residence. This may include, but is not limited to Move-In, Open House, Study Fest, Carousel interviews, Move-Out, etc.
• TLs contribute to efforts for campus-wide knowledge sharing.
• TLs are expected to contribute to Residence Life Education, Training, and Hiring projects. This may include, but is not limited to attending meetings with designated Lead Coordinators, facilitating and/or assisting with the development of training opportunities for other staff, etc.
• TLs are expected to support communities of residents and fulfill tasks related to the CA role to respond to operational needs as necessary.

Community Development Requirements

• TLs are expected to prepare their communities to welcome residents at the start of each semester to provide information and contribute to the sense of community and belonging within their residence building. This may include, but is not limited to, door tags, welcome boards, and staff information boards (as well as their related documentation).
• Once a month, except for December and April (final exam periods), TLs are expected to update the passive programming board in their designated community informed by observed trends and reflecting the learning outcomes of the residence curriculum.
• Once a month, except for December and April (final exam periods), TLs are expected to review and offer feedback relating to the community events the CAs on their team are planning. This feedback should include recommendations to best incorporate the residence curriculum.
• Once a month, except for December and April (final exam periods), TLs are expected to organize and facilitate/host a community event ("building-wide event") for their designated residence (large sized group). TLs are to coordinate the schedule of the CA team for building-wide events. This event is to be informed by observed trends and respect the available and allocated budget.
• TLs are expected to regularly organize and lead events and programming targeting other members of the Residence Life student staff team each semester.
• TLs may be required to support alternative programming initiatives, each informed by a harm reduction approach, during key periods of the year to meet the needs of the service and community living in residence. These key periods may include but are not limited to Fall Welcome Week, Panda Game Day, Halloween, Winter Welcome Week, Saint-Patrick's day, etc.
• At the end of their employment contract period, TLs are expected to remove all posters and passive programming from their communities.

Resident Conduct and Care Support

• TLs are expected to support students with conduct and care peer conversations and follow-up in residence as informed by their training. Although they will be primarily responsible for peer conversations and follow-up concerning residents in their designated communities, TLs may be called to support these needs throughout the entire residence community.
• Conduct support may include roommate mediations and upholding the Residence Agreement, Code of Conduct and Disciplinary Procedure. This includes having proactive and preventative conversations with students about the rules in residences.
• Care support involves the ability to recognize, respond and refer students in distress to the appropriate resources.
• TLs will support the CAs in their residence who require assistance in managing conduct or care situations or will escalate to their supervisor as needed.

Administrative Duties

• Must use the software system eRezLife to document significant observations, interactions with residents, community development efforts, duty shifts (as needed), and all other required reports. The inbox associated with their eRezLife