Indigenous Counsellor - Regular Probationary Faculty (Student Affairs & Services)

Douglas College; New Westminster; On-site; CAD 72,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Transit-accessible campuses

Hybrid work arrangements

Competitive salaries

Health and dental benefits

Defined-Benefit Pension Plan

Professional development opportunities

Access to fitness centres and classes

Job summary

Douglas College seeks an Indigenous Counsellor to provide culturally sensitive counselling to Indigenous students across New Westminster and Coquitlam campuses. The role reports to the Director of Student Affairs and Services and sits within Indigenous Student Services and Counselling teams.

The incumbent shapes this role to support Indigenous students using Indigenous ways of knowing and being. Responsibilities include trauma-informed counselling, crisis intervention, group workshops, and

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Counselling or equivalent.
• Experience in counselling post-secondary students is preferred.
• Ability to provide trauma-informed and crisis intervention supports.

Responsibilities

• Provide trauma informed counselling to Indigenous students.
• Assess and intervene in crisis situations.
• Design and deliver culturally based workshops for Indigenous students.
• Coordinate with Indigenous Student Services and Counselling teams.
• Maintain confidential records and provide reports on service delivery.

Skills

Crisis management

Trauma-informed counselling

Cultural sensitivity

Group facilitation

Public speaking

Education

Master’s degree in Counselling

Job description

Location

New Westminster/Coquitlam Campus

Salary Range

$71,846 to $115,129 annually. Salary scale and wage increments are in accordance with the Collective Agreement.

The Opportunity

Douglas College, situated on the unceded traditional and ancestral lands of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the territories if the q̓íc̓əy̓ (Katzie), qʼʷa:n̓ƛʼən̓ (Kwantlen), kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), qiqéyt (Qayqayt), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), scəw̓aθən (Tsawwassen) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Peoples, is fortunate to host a large number of Indigenous students and provides a learning environment that inspires students to do what they love and be good at it.

The Indigenous Counsellor will provide culturally sensitive individual counselling, group/workshop based supports, and crisis intervention services, primarily for Indigenous students. This key position will support Douglas College’s commitment to align practices and processes with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action.

This role is a faculty position, that reports to the Director of Student Affairs and Services. The Indigenous Counsellor will be an integral part of both the Indigenous Student Services and Counselling teams, within the Student Affairs and Services department. The incumbent will have the opportunity to shape this role and inform how it can best support the needs of Indigenous students. The methods adopted will be responsive, creative, and in keeping with Indigenous ways of knowing and being.

Who We Are

Do what you love. Be good at it. That's how Douglas College defines a great career. It's a philosophy that resonates through our classrooms, our offices and our boardrooms. It inspires our students and drives us to make Douglas College one of BC's Top Employers. We love what we do. And we're looking for passionate, motivated people to join us in making one of Canada’s best degree-granting colleges even better.

Be a part of an institution where everyone is committed to empowering successful students, creating responsive learning environments, fostering social and environmental responsibility, and supporting healthy learning and work environments.

What We Offer

We offer the opportunity to do what you do best in an inclusive, collaborative and collegial environment. At Douglas, our goal is to ensure our people are valued and supported by promoting a healthy work-life balance, professional growth, and development, as well as a safe and respectful workplace.

• Transit-accessible campuses
• Hybrid work arrangements for eligible positions
• Competitive salaries
• Excellent Health and Dental Benefits for eligible positions
• Defined-Benefit Pension Plan for eligible positions
• Professional Development opportunities
• Access to our Fitness Centres and Classes

For more benefits information,

What It Takes

• Ensure that consistent efforts are made to connect students to their Indigenous culture through cultural teachings (e.g., smudging, cedar/saltwater brushing or ceremonies like the sweat lodge or pipe ceremony) and promote cultural inclusiveness, responsiveness, and sensitivity.
• Assess and respond appropriately to urgent situations.
• Design, plan and deliver culturally based workshops and/or group sessions on wellness and personal management topics for Indigenous students.
• Work closely with members of Student Affairs and Services to support Indigenous students.
• Regularly participate in team meetings within Indigenous Student Services and Counselling.
• Liaise with and refer Indigenous students to other services and resources within the College or to agencies/programs in the community as needed, to coordinate support.
• Consult and support College faculty/staff, who are working with Indigenous Students, on supports available, supporting students with their wellbeing, and navigating appropriate College Policies.
• Provide scheduled office hours on both the New Westminster and Coquitlam campuses to allow for access for all Indigenous students.
• Regularly attend events held by Indigenous Student Services on both campuses.
• Participate on departmental and College committees.
• Serve as a back-up counsellor across the institution (both campuses) as needed, including covering urgent appointments for all students.
• Maintain confidential counselling records/databases and provide statistical reports on service delivery as required.

Key Counselling Responsibilities – From An Indigenous Lens

• Provide trauma informed counselling: e.g. inter-generational and residential school trauma
• Assess and intervene appropriately to crisis situations: e.g. suicide ideation and threat assessment
• Support Indigenous students who have experienced sexual abuse or sexual violence
• Support student through transitions, career indecision, and with common mental health concerns, including depression and anxiety
• Provide grief and loss counselling
• Provide support to Indigenous students experiencing racism, violence in relationships, lateral violence, and substance misuse
• Identify and support Indigenous students dealing with isolation factors
• Support students with issues related to academic success
• Engage in culturally responsive holistic approaches to develop proactive educational programming and respond to student needs

The preferred candidate will be of Indigenous ancestry and/or will have extensive knowledge of and experience with Indigenous organizations and communities.

• Experience working in Post-Secondary environment is an asset.
• Priority consideration will be given to qualified internal candidates.
• A minimum of a Master’s degree in Counselling or equivalent from an appropriately accredited institution.
• Certification with a recognized Professional Association is preferred (e.g. RCC , CCC , RCSW , RSW , or equivalent).
• Lived experience and understanding of Indigenous values, needs, history and culture.
• An understanding and appreciation for Indigenous ways of being and knowing, and how they might apply in a counselling setting.
• Demonstrated ability in crisis management, intervention and problem-solving skills.
• Experience communicating with diverse Indigenous populations.
• Interest and/or experience in public speaking, group presentations and group facilitation.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing.
• Commitment to ongoing professional development.

Additional Information

This is a Regular Part-Time position commencing as early as November 2, 2026.

Workload is assigned each year based on available work.

Regular hours of work 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Work may be at both the New Westminster and Coquitlam campuses.