Degree Advisor - Competition ID: 4816

Kwantlen Polytechnic University; Richmond; Hybrid; CAD 47,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Extended health and dental benefits

Healthcare spending account

Generous vacation

Defined pension plan

Tuition waiver

Professional development days

Inter-campus transportation

Job summary

Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) is seeking a Degree Advisor to join the Wilson School of Design. The advisor helps students with degree progression, retention and program alignment, offering guidance to the Dean and Faculty Chairs to ensure timely degree completion.

The role requires an undergraduate degree (Masters preferred) with at least five years in a related post-secondary position, plus strong communication and stakeholder collaboration.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree completed; Masters preferred.
• Minimum of five years in a related position, preferably at a post-secondary institution.

Responsibilities

• Engage in collaborative practice to enhance student development, progression and retention.
• Provide advice and recommendations to the Dean and Faculty Chairs on degree alignment.
• Develop and deliver training activities and workshops for students.

Skills

Curricular knowledge

Graduate admissions

Educational systems

English communication

Interpersonal skills

Stakeholder relations

Training delivery

Recruitment workshops

Policy compliance

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's degree

Masters preferred

Tools

MS Word

MS Excel

PowerPoint

Email

Internet browsers

Student Information System

Job description

Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) is Canada’s only polytechnic university, proudly serving the South Fraser region for more than 40 years. With campuses in Surrey, Richmond, Langley, and Cloverdale, KPU is deeply connected to the communities it serves and to the diverse cultures, backgrounds, and lived experiences of its students. Through academic excellence, applied learning, innovation, and strong industry and community partnerships, KPU prepares students for meaningful futures.

As an open-access university, KPU is powered by the people who live and work here. We believe every employee plays a meaningful role in supporting student learning and success. We are honoured to carry the name of the Kwantlen First Nation and are committed to equity, inclusion, reconciliation, and respectful relationships. As one of BC’s Top Employers, KPU is dedicated to fostering a supportive, inclusive, and engaged workplace where employees feel valued, connected to purpose, and empowered to make an impact.

We invite you to explore your next career opportunity at KPU and discover how your work can contribute to a university where thought truly meets action.

Competition ID: 4816

Internal Closing Date: October 24, 2026

External Closing Date: October 28, 2026

# of Openings: 1

Salary Information: 13 - BCGEU Pay Grid - $33.88 to $37.81 per hour

Employment Type: Temporary Full Time

Workplace Type: Hybrid

Travel Frequency: Occasional travel between campuses is required.

Employee Group: Support Staff (BC General Employees Union)

Days of Work (BCGEU): Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday

Hours of Work (BCGEU): 8:30am - 4:30pm

Hours per Week (BCGEU): 35

We are currently seeking a Degree Advisor to join our Wilson School of Design team.

Job Overview

Degree Advisors in the academic Faculties engage in collaborative practice to enhance the development, progression and retention of KPU students. Through guidance and the use of leading and innovative practices, Degree Advisors empower students to ensure student success. Degree Advisors also play a key role in the development and delivery of programs offered within the Faculty by providing advice and recommendations to the Dean and Faculty Chairs/Coordinators on alignment with student needs/interests and smooth degree completion.

Education And Experience

• Successful completion of an undergraduate degree (Masters preferred) in a related area from an accredited university.
• A minimum of five years employment in a related position, preferably at a post-secondary institution.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Demonstrated in-depth knowledge of the curricular nature of Faculty-specific degree programs and their development.
• Demonstrated in-depth knowledge of educational or career advancements available to Faculty-specific degree graduates including admission requirements to graduate studies and common professional certificate or other post-secondary programs.
• Demonstrated in-depth knowledge of secondary and post-secondary educational systems.
• Superior communication skills in English, both spoken and written, exhibiting a high level of tact, professionalism, and diplomacy.
• Superior inter-personal skills, with the ability to patiently and effectively deal with a diverse range of people in a respectful and professional manner.
• Demonstrated advocacy roles with diverse populations.
• Demonstrated ability to establish positive and productive working relationships with internal and external stakeholders at a variety of administrative levels.
• Proven ability to work cooperatively and constructively in a team environment, particularly in developing strategies for effective processes that require coordination between various departments in an organizational environment.
• Demonstrated experience in developing and delivering effective training activities and workshops for students related to Faculty-specific degree advising.
• Demonstrated experience in planning and presenting recruitment and marketing workshops and activities.
• Demonstrated ability to address confidential matters and materials with tact and discretion.
• Proven ability to comprehend, communicate and comply with established policies, practices and procedures.
• Superior accuracy and attention to detail, particularly in editing and interpreting documents.
• Superior time-management skills in coordinating projects and meeting multiple overlapping deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to measure and recommend strategies promoting student success.
• Proven ability to successfully recognize, analyze and resolve problems; to work independently and establish own priorities; to exercise a high level of initiative and responsibility; and, to adapt quickly to new technologies and ongoing organizational transitions.
• Ability to work from all KPU campuses with flexibility for day and evening shifts; and, the ability to travel within Canada.
• Demonstrated competency at an intermediate level in various software including MS Word, MS Excel, and Power Point, internet browsers and email.
• Experience using student information management systems.

Job Description

Please click here for a more detailed job description.

Salary Information

Salary and wage increments are in accordance with the Collective Agreement.

Total Rewards

As a part of our total rewards offerings, KPU also offers extended health and dental benefits, healthcare spending account, generous vacation package, defined pension plan, parenthood top-up, sick leave, long-term disability, life insurance, professional development days, tuition waiver, inhouse training & development, inter-campus transportation, and more!

Note: Eligibility requirements apply, benefits may vary depending on the employee group the position belongs to and whether the position offered is temporary or part-time.

Visit https://www.kpu.ca/hr for more information on KPU’s workplace, culture and total rewards.

Note to Applicants

Kwantlen Polytechnic University welcomes and encourages applications from equity deserving groups and diverse experiences including, but not limited to, Indigenous people, racialized people, people with disabilities, and members of the 2S/LGBTQIA+ community.

If there are any barriers that you are experiencing or an accommodation that we can provide to support you through the application process, please reach out to us at [e-mail].

Kwantlen Polytechnic University is committed to protecting the safety and welfare of employees, students, and the general public, and upholding the reputation and integrity of the University. For this reason, final applicants will be asked to undergo a background check.

We thank all applicants for their interest in employment with KPU. Only candidates who are legally eligible to work in Canada will be considered; only those selected for an interview will be contacted.