2202030

UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO
Te Whare Wānanga o Otāgo

JOB DESCRIPTION

ROLE TITLE: Assistant Warden

DEPARTMENT: Residential College - Various

SCHOOL/DIVISION: Campus & Collegiate Life Services Division - Operations Group

REPORTS TO: College Warden

DIRECT REPORTS (FTE): Nil

INDIRECT REPORTS (FTE): Nil

1. PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE ROLE:

To undertake pastoral care, resident welfare, academic, evening or weekend duty shifts and College
activities duties as part of a deployable College Management Team. Supporting the College Warden
in order to provide an effective and efficient provision of a collegiate experience for the residents in
Otago University owned Residential Colleges.

Core to this is the oversight of academic and student experience support. From time to time the
Assistant Warden will be assigned and deployed to different colleges to suit the operational needs of
the Senior Warden. The needs can vary but include assisting with duty shifts for conference and
sundry income support; covering short, medium- or longer-term vacancies/leave coverage in the
Residential Colleges (or UniFlats); pandemic or epidemic placements, etc.

Generally during the academic year hours of work will be evenings and weekends, however outside
the academic year this can revert to day shifts if required.

2. ACCOUNTABILITIES:

General duties include:

• Providing duty shift coverage in the residential college deemed as their assigned college. These
assignments may rotate (either periodically or at short notice) to cover other needs.
• Assisting the College Warden in the development of an atmosphere of academic excellence in the
College in a safe and effective environment.
• Assisting in the provision of academic and pastoral advice and mentoring to a specified group of
residents as assigned by the College Warden.
• Supporting the culture and values of the University in reference to Residential Collegiate life.
• Recording, and documenting, all relevant, or significant, interactions with residents in StarRez (this
would include escalation to the College Warden, as appropriate).

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• Being assigned project specific tasks by the Senior Warden or Director of CaCLS from time to time.
• Having a key role in the planning, and implementation, of teams into the Intercollegiate Cultural,
Gaming and Sports programme.
• Assisting in the co-ordination and development of their assigned College’s academic, pastoral care
and events programmes.
• Assist in tutorial and mentoring programs at their assigned College or assisting/collaborating other
Colleges.
• Assisting with the selection, housing, safety and support of their assigned College residents and
guests.
• Maximising technology opportunities to meet their assigned College’s needs.
• Adhering to all legislative requirements, including but not limited to Health and Safety and privacy
legislation, Pastoral Care Act, etc.
• Assisting with supervision of the Sub Warden team in their assigned College.

3. KEY RELATIONSHIPS:

Internal
• Warden of Assigned College
• Deputy Warden of Assigned College
• Senior Warden of Colleges
• Senior Managers of the Campus and Collegiate Life Services Division
• Managers of Student Services
• Client Services staff
• College kitchen/catering/domestic/maintenance staff
• Sub-Wardens
• Student staff
• Residents
• College Fellows
• Offices of Risk, Assurance and Compliance, Sustainability and Health and Safety Compliance.
• Senior University management
• Divisional Human Resource Manager and other HR staff
• College Alumni and former residents.

External
• Otago University Students’ Association
• Local Social Agencies
• Emergency Services
• Local Health Agencies
• Resident family and Whanau
• Contractors and suppliers.

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4. QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE:

Essential
• A relevant degree-level tertiary qualification, or suitable relevant experience.
• Experience working in the tertiary sector and/or familiarity with a University education
environment.
• Experience providing support to young adults in an academic/learning environment.

Preferred
• Experience working with young adults in a leadership role.
• Experience with young adults in a tertiary education setting.
• Experience working with young adults in a number of complex social situations including mental
health, harassment and behavioural issues.

5. TECHNICAL SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE:

• An understanding, or an ability to, quickly develop an understanding of the residential collegiate

life and the University environment and its culture.
• Ability to quickly adapt to different college environments.
• Effective leadership of young academics in a scholastic living environment.
• Well-developed pastoral care skills particularly in the areas of young people living away from home
for the first time.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills with people at all levels within the organisation
and externally.
• Ability to perform effectively and professionally in a complex and challenging environment
including mental health and resident wellbeing related incidents.
• Empathy with, and understanding of, the needs of residents in a tertiary setting.
• Ability to liaise constructively with a wide range of academics.
• Ability to perform a range of tasks under competing demands, meeting the agreed end result
within quality parameters and time frame.

6. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to undertake evening and weekend duty shifts.

• Have a clean current full driver’s license.
• From time to time the Assistant Warden might be asked to stay overnight in their assigned College
to provide onsite coverage or during exceptional circumstances.

7. DIRECT BUDGET ACCOUNTABILITY:

PCard use as delegated.

8. STRATEGIC FRAMEWORKS:

Act in a manner consistent with the principles and implications, as well as the University’s
commitment, to the Māori Strategic Framework and the Pacific Strategic Framework.

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9. HEALTH & SAFETY:

Act and work in a manner compliant with current health and safety at work legislation and University
procedures, frameworks and guidelines. Role model safe behaviour and practices, share the
responsibility to prevent harm and contribute to a safe campus and work environment, including
raising workplace health and safety concerns for self, students, visitors and other staff.

10. SUSTAINABILITY:

Act in a manner consistent with the University’s sustainability commitments; role-modelling

sustainable practices, with a particular emphasis on minimising the environmental impact of day-to-
day activities.

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