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Safety Ambassadors

Safety Ambassador Job Site 2024-2025

This position is continuously hiring throughout the year. Applicants will be reviewed within 2 weeks and an invite to an interview will be scheduled within that time frame. To inquire further about this position, please email the Hiring Coordinator at rlsp.hiring@berkeley.edu.

To Apply

In order to be considered for a Safety Ambassador position, you must:

  • Read this job description and understand the “Terms of Employment” and “Expectations” listed below
  • Submit an application using the Safety Ambassador Application Form

Notes Before Applying

  • We ask that only those seriously interested in the process apply. We also ask that when interviewing you maintain a professional attitude. Be on time, use appropriate language and be respectful.
  • Safety Ambassadors (RSAs) are not placed in the Unit in which they live. This can lead to several conflicts of interest and is something the Safety Coordinators (SC) will limit.
  • The application process for the Residential Life Safety Program will likely take around two to three weeks. That being said, there may be delays. Please be patient as it is possible it will take over a month.
  • Please refrain from contacting the Hiring Coordinator for the program (rlsp.hiring@berkeley.edu) to inquire about the state of your submission until two weeks have passed

Residential Life

The goal of Residential Life is to develop inclusive communities that foster academic success and personal growth while providing students with transitional support. The professional staff and the student staff they supervise accomplish this through a combination of educational events, community building activities, student empowerment, and personal conversations.

The Residential Life Safety Program has been designed to provide a safe community for residents to come home to. Student leaders (SCs) manage a team of RSAs, working together with Residential Life Hall Staff, CSOs, UCPD, and other campus partners to create a safe environment. Through their presence, resident education, vigilance, rapid response to emergency situations, as well as ensuring non-residents are checked in and are welcome guests of a resident, the RSA plays an important role in providing this safe community.

Essential Duties

Safety and Security Responsibilities (100%)

The RSA is responsible for working closely with hall staff and other campus resources to maintain and promote safety in the residential environment. As an employee of the RLSP, each RSA will administer and enforce policies and procedures as outlined in the Bearest Necessities and the Residential Code of Conduct.

The RSA role is responsible for promoting and contributing to residential safety and educating residents on safety topics through rotating safety messaging. This means that the RSA needs to be a responsible and dependable individual who has a sincere interest in the welfare of the residential community. The RSA will serve as a resource to diverse staff and students and as such, must be open to and understanding of issues of inclusion (i.e. sexual orientation, cultural, and racial diversity). The responsibilities listed will be carried out under the supervision of an SC.

  • Greet incoming residents and welcome them home. RSAs must provide positive customer service as outlined in training.
  • Observe the entrance into the residence halls and assess the safety/wellbeing of individuals returning
  • Promote safety precautions by informing residents about recent crime trends and by providing safety education topics and resource information
  • Report dangerous and/or suspicious activities both inside and immediately outside of the buildings to residential staff and/or UCPD as appropriate
  • Respond to and seek out available staff to confront inappropriate behavior and residential policy violations
  • Assist Residential Hall Staff in emergency situations. Utilize your training to provide for the safety of residents and non-residents
  • Encourage others to use crime prevention resources (e.g. Safe Walk, Bear Transit, Blue Light Phones)
  • Maintain an optimum work area (i.e. clean, no crowds, maintaining a quiet and orderly environment on the ground floor, and no unauthorized guests in the booth during your shift)
  • Complete duties as assigned by the SC or RLSP Manager
  • Report any issues with equipment or the facility to the SC on Duty

Responsibilities to Residents

  • Exhibit awareness and responsiveness to student concerns regarding safety and security issues
  • Be open to and understanding of issues of diversity (i.e. sexual orientation, cultural, and racial diversity)
  • Respect and treat all individuals fairly and equally
  • Demonstrate positive role modeling behavior while working in the residential community

Terms of Employment

  • The RSA is expected to work at least 5 shifts per month​. Minimum of two weekend shifts a month (Fri-Sat). An RSA may not work more than 19 hours per week (40 hours during the summer) totaled across all positions held on campus.
  • The period of employment for this position commences on the day of hiring until the residence halls close at the end of the academic year. Summer opportunities are available.
  • RSAs will actively participate in mandatory paid staff training as designated by the SC
  • RSAs must attend mandatory monthly meetings as scheduled by the SC
  • The RLSP will be in operation from 9:00 PM to 1:00 AM from Sunday to Thursday and from 9:00 PM to 1:45 AM on Fridays and Saturdays. RSAs must be available and willing to work during these hours.
  • “Special” shifts include Sunday nights before Monday closures, Thanksgiving, Spring Break, Welcome Week in both August and January, Move-out, Cal Day, and others. RSAs are required to be available for at least 3 “special” shifts.
  • Continued employment is contingent upon a satisfactory job performance evaluation by the SC.
  • The RSA is expected to serve as a role model for all residential policies and procedures. Failure to serve as a positive role model may result in personnel action.

Expectations

  • Maintain a positive relationship and open communication with residential staff and other RSAs
  • Exhibit an attitude of professionalism (i.e. confidentiality, honesty, maturity)
  • Record time by clocking in and out of shift correctly. Clocking in and out must be done at a work kiosk as shown in training.
  • Follow instructions and procedures given by the SC, Community Coordinator (summer), other Residential Life professional staff, and UCPD
  • Be available and flexible with shift scheduling when necessary. RSAs may be called and asked for availability if unexpected circumstances cause staffing shortages.
  • Meet with the SC and Residential Life Safety Program staff on a monthly basis
  • Meet with the SC as necessary
  • Complete administrative paperwork and mandatory training as needed and in a timely manner
  • Participate in all individual and group staff evaluations as planned by the RLSP

Qualifications

  • RSAs must be full-time students (undergraduate or graduate) enrolled at the University of California, Berkeley
  • RSAs must be in good standing with the University possessing a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00 (we do not round up GPAs)
  • Strong preference for Work-Study eligible students

Application

Once you have read the job description and understand the expectations, apply using the Safety Ambassador Application Form. Please contact the Hiring Coordinator at rlsp.hiring@berkeley.edu if you have any further questions.