Housing Assistant

Who We Are:

At CEA CAPA, we believe that studying and interning abroad is a transformative experience that goes beyond academics. By immersing oneself in a new culture and community, students gain valuable skills and perspectives that can shape their future. That's why we're committed to providing unparalleled academic, professional, and cultural experiences abroad, with a focus on student support every step of the way.

A sense of belonging is fundamental to the mission, structure, and operations of CEA CAPA. We strive to provide a work environment that celebrates difference and is free of implicit and explicit bias. We seek to hire employees representing diversity in all forms and work to support all employees to achieve at the highest level. Employment is based on a person’s professional qualifications and competence.

Your Role:

The Housing Assistant supports the Housing Coordinator in ensuring that CEA CAPA student housing meets the organization's high standards. This role involves assisting with the day-to-day operations of housing management, providing support to students, and maintaining positive relationships with housing providers and homestay families. The Housing Assistant is a key part of the team, helping to create a welcoming and comfortable living environment for students across global locations.

What You’ll Do:

The job duties listed below are not all inclusive of what the employee may be responsible for. Other duties may be assigned.

• Serve as first point of reference to students for questions regarding resources, general inquiries, etc.
• Ensure student housing is up to CEA CAPA standards.
• Assign students to available housing each term, taking into account their specific housing requests.
• Coordinate and expedite resolution of student maintenance requests, including checking apartments in person when necessary.
• Assist in completing all legal responsibilities for CEA CAPA for housing: especially reporting the cessione di fabbricato within the required timeline.
• Support in negotiating rental agreements with housing vendors.
• Maintain strong relationships with homestay families and ensure students feel comfortable in their accommodations.
• Collaborate with Custom Program & Housing Director and Housing Coordinator to work to resolve any student issues that may arise.
• Assist with “Italian Roommate” initiative, in which Italian university students live with our own CEA CAPA students.
• Serve as point of reference for the Italian roommates, and coordinate with other staff members to make use of their services beyond those required within their apartments.
• Assist in apartment checks during semesters or summer sessions, including meter readings during breaks.
• Organize and oversee student arrivals, ensuring a smooth transition into housing.
• Assist colleagues with non-housing-related questions and concerns, including health and safety matters.
• Actively participate in orientation sessions, providing clear explanations of housing standards, rules, and expectations.
• Participate in the emergency phone rotation with other staff members.
• Engage in or chaperone local and out-of-town activities and events, such as student activities and excursions.

What Makes a Great Candidate:

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Fluency in spoken and written English and Italian.
• Authorization to work in Italy.
• 2+ years of experience in a study abroad environment or in a university setting.
• 2+ years of experience in housing.
• Solid computer abilities and comfort using a PC (Microsoft); no fear of IT troubleshooting.

Soft Skills:

• Friendly personality, calm demeanor, diplomatic approach.
• Knowledge of and strong familiarity with Florence.
• Ability to address both daily work and unanticipated situations.
• Display excellent communication and organizational skills.
• Attention to detail and particularly to the U.S. value of customer service.
• Exhibit flexibility when scheduling will require, and in facing unforeseen challenges during a workday.
• Skilled as both an independent worker and in working in a team; collaborative and able to work towards a common goal with a good sense of humor.

We believe great talent comes in many forms and that there is no one size fits all in hiring. If you feel you may be a great fit for this role but do not check all of the boxes, we encourage you to apply and show us why you're the right candidate for this position.

Note: This role profile is intended to provide an overview of the key responsibilities and qualifications for the position. It is not exhaustive, and the role holder may be required to undertake additional tasks and duties, as necessary and in line with evolving business needs.

Our commitment to creating a sense of belonging means we welcome individuals of all abilities, ages, citizenships, educations, ethnicities, family statuses, gender identities, genders, genetic information, languages, marital status, military experiences, political views, pregnancy, races, religions, sexes, sexual orientations, socioeconomic statuses, and work experiences and therefore we encourage applicants from diverse lived experiences to apply.