College Community Assistants

Undergraduate and Postgraduate Colleges are now looking to appoint College Community Assistants for the 2025/26 academic year. 

The Role: 

All colleges have three postgraduate Community Assistants that work together to help deliver the Lancaster experience as part of the wider college team. You can expect to work an average of ten hours per week across the year from mid-September to mid-July. It’s varied work that includes preparing for Arrivals Day and helping out on Graduation Day; planning and assisting with social events, upholding the rules and ensuring compliance for the benefit of everyone, attending college meetings, engaging with the student population and helping them to get the most out of their time here. 

Requirements: 

Applications are welcomed from current postgraduates and final year undergraduates who are intending to commence full time postgraduate study at Lancaster University in October 2025. There is a requirement for successful candidates to be on campus from 10th September 2025 for a training induction. 

Candidates must be a full time Postgraduate student for the full year they are in post and should not be away from the University on substantial placement during the year. Unfortunately, we are unable to accept applications from students who are on 4-year integrated masters and have an Undergraduate status. 

Hours of work and rewards:  

Hours of work: 10 hours per week paid via ERS timesheets
(NB: for Tier 4 international students these 10 hours contributes to the 20 hours of work permitted whilst in the UK).  

College Community Assistants are required to reside on campus, predominantly within townhouse accommodation. Exceptions to room type may be made for successful candidates with specific requirements.  

For more information, you can talk to your College and Accommodation Managers, or any of the current Community Assistants.  

Alternatively, you can email us here: [email protected]

To work with College Teams delivering inclusive College communities and excellent student experience by:

• Assisting with a range of College activities throughout the year e.g. Arrivals and Welcome Week, Graduation, departures/key return & community building social events.
• Identifying opportunities for new projects, events and social interaction opportunities.
• Delivering events and inclusive social interaction opportunities throughout the academic year to support health, wellbeing, sustainability and College communities.
• Supporting College members to abide by the Student Discipline Regulations, the College Rules and the Terms and Conditions of Residence. This will include checking for breaches of rules such as noise and tampering with safety equipment, rubbish and recycling build up within College and accommodation spaces, in order to help maintain an environment suitable for effective study.
• Getting to know College community, e.g. visiting accommodation areas and social hubs and supporting/delivering events to engage with students and, through this knowledge, recognising and reporting emerging issues to college staff. 
• Providing basic advice, support and information to residents; signposting as appropriate to further support networks eg College Advisory Teams, LUSU Helpdesk.
• Supporting students in residence to resolve / de-escalate minor conflict e.g. holding flat meetings, mediating minor disagreements, in line with the requirements of the UUK Code of Practice.
• Liaising regularly with college staff, attending College meetings and being present within college at designated hours/times when required.
• Supporting marketing events such as Offer Holder Days and Open Days
• Accurate and timely recording of incidents involving student behaviour and/or welfare.
• Assisting with in-year and end of year room checking programme.
• Assist with educating and supporting residents to live sustainably eg promoting recycling / upcycling and supporting end of year ‘Don’t Ditch it’ project.
• Respecting confidentiality and working within Data Protection legislation.
• Helping to ensure the safety and wellbeing of students, residents, staff and visitors to the College/Accommodation e.g., identifying and reporting risks and hazards.
• Recognising and acknowledging the limits of personal pastoral abilities and therefore acting as a listener and mediator rather than as an advisor.
• Successfully completing mandatory training and actively seeking out personal development opportunities pertinent to the role.
• Abiding by the Terms and Conditions of Residence as well as the College Rules and Student Discipline Regulations at all times. As both employees of the University and students with an extended set of responsibilities, a high level of discipline and behaviour is essential for College Community Assistants.
• Any other duties as deemed necessary by College and Accommodation management team

College Community Assistant – All Colleges

The successful candidates should be able to demonstrate the following:

Essential Criteria:

• To convey an appropriate rationale and clear interest in applying for this role - Covering Letter
• Energy and enthusiasm for creating and supporting inclusive social activities contributing to a positive College community - Covering Letter / Interview
• Ability and confidence to work with minimal supervision using own initiative - Interview
• Excellent written and oral communication skills - Covering Letter / Interview
• Excellent customer / people skills; able to deal with difficult situations - Covering Letter / Interview
• Ability to work collaboratively within and across teams, have a flexible approach to work and dedication to duties - Interview
• Enrolled / applying for full time postgraduate study at Lancaster University - Covering Letter
• Willingness to live on campus in designated College Community Assistant accommodation (postgraduates only) - Covering Letter
• Awareness of and an ability to deal sensitively with cross-cultural issues in a diverse student environment - Interview
• Ability to deal with all students, staff and visitors courteously and professionally - Interview
• All financial accounts with the University up to date - Covering Letter
• Ability to remain on campus during term time throughout contract - i.e. not required to attend extended placements off site as part of studies - Covering Letter
• Ability to attend compulsory training course September 2025 (dates to be confirmed) - Interview  

Covering Letter: applicants are asked to submit a well written Covering Letter clearly demonstrating how you meet the criteria. The response will be assessed as part of the shortlisting process.  

Interview: assessed during the interview process by either competency based interview questions, tests, presentation etc. 

You are required to submit a cover letter to support your application. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered. Click here for help to write your cover letter.

Please note: Unless specified otherwise in the advert wording, this role is only open to individuals living in the UK.

Under the terms of this work, we endeavour to provide the advertised number of hours however, hours are not guaranteed and that work may cease if there is a fall in demand. 

Adverts that display a closing date should be treated as a guide. We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so we advise you to submit your application as early as possible to prevent disappointment.