PRIMARY FUNCTION SUMMARY:

The Graduate Assistant for the Reimagine Our Future Sustainability Competition (https://www.herox.com/reimagine2024) is responsible for providing support to the competition’s Organizing Committee, liaising with their counterpart at the University of Birmingham (co-lead of the competition), guiding student participants, and helping them form teams from the Global South and the Global North where possible. The role involves producing innovative ideas to grow the competition, implementing some of those ideas, and leading undergraduate assistants in their competition tasks.

MAJOR DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Community Development and Leadership Responsibilities (50%)

• Build relationships with the University of Birmingham by liaising with graduate student counterpart at that university.
• Help promote the competition among students at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the University of Birmingham, by developing an appropriate social media program, among others.
• Help promote the competition among UIUC faculty to get their assistance as volunteer advisors or judges, and to get them to promote the competition in their courses.
• Design innovative and creative strategies for meeting the needs of the competition organizing committee and participating students.
• Educate and lead undergraduate student assistants regarding competition objectives, procedures, and tasks.
• Train successor to seamlessly take over responsibilities as Competition Graduate Assistant. (It is assumed that incumbent will spend one year leading the competition as graduate assistant, and in the following year getting his successor to take over that role, whilst still playing an active role in the competition.)
• Demonstrate awareness of sustainability, as elucidated by the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Competition Intervention Responsibilities (35%)

• Collaborate with the Competition Organizing Committee to effectively address any competition-related issues.
• Conduct weekly meetings with student assistants and University of Birmingham graduate student counterpart.
• Maintain periodic follow-up with all participating teams, particularly near deliverable submission deadlines.
• Supervise social media promotional platforms to ensure optimal performance.

Administrative Responsibilities (10%)            

• Provide weekly written feedback to competition Organizing Committee regarding tasks completed and planned for the following week(s).
• Oversee updates of competition webpage (https://www.herox.com/reimagine2024), by effectively delegating tasks to student assistants and ensuring correctness of editorial and other updates.

Professional Responsibilities (5%)

• Maintain an effective working relationship with the competition Organizing Committee, student assistants, and graduate assistant counterpart at the University of Birmingham.
• Be open and receptive to constructive criticism and feedback.
• Demonstrate a positive attitude toward the competition and its goals and methodology.
• Demonstrate an ability to work with and appreciate individuals from diverse backgrounds.