Academic Advisor

University of British Columbia; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 30,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

An esteemed Canadian university is seeking an Academic Advisor to support over 5,500 undergraduate students. The advisor will be responsible for strategic planning in academic advising and will develop programs tailored to enhance student experiences. Candidates should possess a relevant undergraduate degree and a strong commitment to equity and inclusion. The role involves collaboration with various teams and requires strong communication and problem-solving skills. This position is located in Vancouver, Canada.

Qualifications

• Minimum of four to five years of related experience.
• Advising experience at the post-secondary level preferred.
• Ability to manage stress in a multi-faceted environment.

Responsibilities

• Engage in strategic planning for academic advising.
• Develop and deliver academic advising programming.
• Provide academic advice to scholarship recipients.

Skills

Commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Strong written and verbal communication

Advanced problem-solving

Ability to analyze information

Education

Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline

Tools

Excel

Outlook

Job description

Posting End Date: September 23, 2025

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

Job Title: Academic Advisor
Department: Academic Services | Engineering Student Services | Dean’s Office | Faculty of Applied Science
Compensation Range: $7,283.75 - $10,474.08 CAD Monthly

The Compensation Range is the span between the minimum and maximum base salary for a position. The midpoint of the range is approximately halfway between the minimum and the maximum and represents an employee that possesses full job knowledge, qualifications and experience for the position. In the normal course, employees will be hired, transferred or promoted between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range for a job.

Job End Date: Ongoing

Open competition, 1 posting indicating 3 vacancies: P000206343 Academic Advisor; P000206344 Academic Advisor; P000206345 Academic Advisor

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

Job Summary

Applied Science Central Student Services is a shared service unit across the Faculty of Applied Science (APSC) including Engineering, the School of Community and Regional Planning, the School of Biomedical Engineering, and the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. The unit is dedicated to being an efficient and consistent source of academic, career, and professional development services and support for students through their academic journey in APSC. APSC Central Student Services unit has 4 teams; the APSC Co-op, Experiential Learning and Professional Development team, the Undergraduate Academic Advising Team, the Graduate Academic Programs and Advising Team, and the Academic Systems Team all under the leadership of the Director, APSC Student Services.

Academic Advisors are part of the Undergraduate Academic Advising Team and are responsible for providing collaborative leadership for academic advising services and programs for 5,500 BASc undergraduate students to support academic success, personal development, and retention, ensuring they meet their full academic potential. BASc students graduate from 14 programs offered at the Vancouver campus, each with unique degree requirements requiring Advisors to maintain an in-depth understanding of the requirements and options of all programs to provide accurate and consistent advising.

Responsibilities (Work Performed)

• Actively engage in strategic planning and evaluation of the Undergraduate Academic Advising Unit to fulfill, develop, and hone its mandate.
• Develop, assess, and deliver orientation, advising events and academic advising programming (e.g., Jump Start, Imagine Day, Group Advising) to improve the BASc undergraduate student experience. Collaborates within the BASc portfolio, the Faculty of Applied Science (APSC), and other UBC departments; design interventions for at‑risk students, advising services for student athletes, student peer programs, and online resources.
• Collaborates on student development and faculty advising projects with colleagues across campuses (UBC-V and UBC-O).
• Researches and analyzes the needs of special population students; evaluates services, recommends changes, and develops new initiatives.
• Leads the BASc special populations portfolio and works with ISI, First Nations House of Learning, and other departments and centralized resources.
• Conducts research and prepares briefs, data, and reports related to advising services.
• Provides academic advice to entrance award and scholarship recipients.
• Assesses academic progress of students admitted under Dean's Discretion; forwards concerns for review of admission policies.
• Leads investigations and resolves highly complex student cases; authorizes changes as appropriate.
• Interprets University and Faculty policies for complex inquiries; liaises between students and faculty to resolve disputes.
• Maintains knowledge of advising standards and best practices; develops a knowledge base of international educational systems for exchange or courses taken outside UBC.
• Uses in-depth knowledge of BASc program requirements to assess student records for informed degree planning.
• Advises on academic concessions, minors, dual degrees, and degree completion; teaches students to use university tools for ongoing degree planning.
• Advises first-year BASc and upper-year engineering students on degree progression requirements to meet BASc degree requirements.
• Manages the Sessional Evaluation and Graduation Evaluation processes; conducts complex reviews of grades and standing.
• Advises students seeking withdrawal or readmission and evaluates transfer credits and year level.
• Manages applications for minors and dual degrees; evaluates and admits students.
• Identifies students in crisis and manages cases to resolution; collaborates with campus supports and services as required.
• Interprets and applies university and faculty policies to individual programs; proposes exceptions where appropriate.
• Attends conferences/workshops and maintains professional memberships; represents the Faculty at information sessions and recruitment events to support student recruitment and yield.
• Guides students toward holistic academic, career, and wellbeing goals; promotes engagement in campus life and community.
• Identifies processes and systems needing improvement; may represent APSC on university committees or at public functions.
• Performs other duties as required.

Consequences of Error/Judgement

A wide latitude of decision-making is required with emphasis on policies, procedures, and curriculum. Advising affects undergraduate student experience, degree progression, and program accreditation. Poor performance can impact reputation, enrolment goals, and student outcomes. Errors can have significant financial, academic, and personal consequences for students. High risk; cross-cultural sensitivity is essential.

Supervision

Supervision Received: This position reports to the Associate Director, Undergraduate Academic Services.

Supervision Given: None.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline; minimum of four to five years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own.
• Demonstrates a commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advising experience at the post-secondary level preferred.
• Broad understanding of secondary and post-secondary systems; in-depth knowledge of BASc degree, 14 engineering programs, and admission requirements; familiarity with BC and international curricula is an asset.
• Strong written and verbal communication, including public speaking; ability to communicate with students of varying language skills.
• Advanced problem-solving, initiative, independence and team collaboration.
• Ability to analyze information, develop solutions, and make informed decisions; manage stress in a multi-faceted environment.
• Willingness to work evenings and weekends; ability to travel domestically and internationally as required.
• Proficiency in Excel, Outlook, and standard office software.