Department Assistant, Arts - Competition ID: 4853

Kwantlen Polytechnic University; Surrey; Hybrid; CAD 43,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Extended health benefits

Dental benefits

Pension plan

Tuition waiver

Professional development days

Job summary

Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) in Canada is seeking a Department Assistant, Arts to join the Faculty of Arts team. The role provides administrative support, requires high attention to detail, and supports senior academic leadership in confidential record-keeping and decision-making.

Qualifications include a four-year bachelor’s degree, three years of related experience, and a 50 wpm typing speed; proficiency with MS Office and Banner/FAST systems is an asset.

Qualifications

• Completion of a four-year bachelor degree from a publicly accredited post-secondary institution.
• Three years recent related experience with increasing levels of responsibility.
• Typing speed of 50 wpm.
• Experience with data analysis is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Provide administrative support for the Faculty of Arts and related departments.
• Maintain confidentiality and discretion in record-keeping and decisions.
• Assist the DBM, Chair(s), Associate Deans, and Dean with administrative processes.

Skills

Excellent English (oral & written)

Strong communication skills

Discretion and confidentiality

Independent work

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

MS Word

MS Excel

MS Access

MS SharePoint

Outlook

Banner

FAST

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: 4853

Internal Closing Date: November 11, 2026

External Closing Date: November 11, 2026

# of Openings: 2

Salary Information: 10 - BCGEU Pay Grid - $31.16 to $34.78 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 Department Assistant, Arts to join our Faculty of Arts team.

Job Overview

Provides administrative support for functions related to the Faculty of Arts and its associated departments while maintaining confidentiality and discretion. A high degree of attention to detail and accuracy is required as the Department Assistant’s record keeping and recommendations are relied upon when the DBM, Chair(s), Associate Deans, and Dean are making decisions.

Education And Experience

• Completion of four-year baccalaureate degree from a publically accredited post-secondary institution. Experience working within highly complex administrative environments is an asset as is supervisory experience.
• Three years recent related experience that demonstrates increasing levels of responsibility.
• Typing speed of 50 wpm.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Excellent working knowledge of English, both oral and written. Proven excellence in communication skills, both oral and written, exhibiting a high level of tact, professionalism and diplomacy.
• Proven ability to comprehend, communicate and comply with established policies, practices and procedures.
• Proven ability to compose standard forms of business communication such as memoranda, business correspondence, minutes of meetings, etc.
• Superior accuracy and attention to detail, particularly in editing documents.
• Superior interpersonal skills, with the ability to patiently and effectively deal with a diverse range of people in a respectful and professional manner.
• Superior organizational and time-management skills in coordinating projects and meeting multiple overlapping deadlines.
• Proven ability to effectively prioritize work and manage time in an administrative environment with multiple demands and frequent interruptions.
• Proven ability to develop effective multi-person administrative procedures in a systematic, organized fashion.
• Proven ability to take direction and complete assigned tasks on time.
• Experience managing the multiple demands within a large and complex organization.
• Proven ability to successfully recognize, analyze and resolve problems.
• Proven excellence in quantitative reasoning.
• Proven ability to handle confidential matters and materials with tact and discretion.
• Proven ability to work independently under minimal supervision, exercising good judgment and initiative.
• Proven ability to work constructively and cooperatively with an administrative team.
• Proven ability to adapt quickly to new technologies and rapidly changing work environments.
• Proven ability with integrated computer technologies including MS Word, MS Excel, MS Access, MS SharePoint, Outlook software, electronic calendars, website maintenance and internet. Familiarity with Banner information system, FAST, and Access is an asset.
• Working knowledge of routine office systems and procedures, including standard filing systems, clerical control systems, record-keeping, etc. Familiarity with Collective Agreements.
• Experience with financial budgets. Experience in data analysis is an asset.

Job Description

Please click here for a more detailed job description.

As per the KPU-BCGEU Collective Agreement, qualified internal applicants within the BCGEU bargaining unit are given first consideration in filling this position. Internal applicants must apply by 11:59pm on the internal closing date in order to be considered as an internal applicant. Internal applications received after the closing date will be considered as an external applicant.

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.