Student Assistant, Geography Lab (New Westminster)

Douglas College; New Westminster; On-site; CAD 25,000 - 30,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Transit-accessible campuses

Hybrid work arrangements

Health and dental benefits

Defined-benefit pension plan

Professional development

Fitness centres and classes

Job summary

Douglas College in New Westminster is seeking a Student Assistant to support instructors and fellow students in human and physical geography courses, helping to maintain a functional, collaborative learning space.

The position is on campus, up to 20 hours per week, Fall 2026 to Summer 2027, with eligibility for domestic or international students and study-permit requirements. Training in ArcGIS and geography lab practices is expected, and strong communication is valued.

Qualifications

• Must have ArcGIS knowledge and at least one undergraduate GIS course.
• Foundational knowledge of geography lab materials and equipment.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; able to work independently.

Responsibilities

• Provide peer support and course assistance to geography students during lab sessions.
• Clarify lab instructions and assist with demonstrations.
• Set up and take down equipment and materials for geography lab exercises.
• Ensure lab procedures and safety standards are followed.

Skills

ArcGIS

Geography lab materials

Lab equipment familiarity

Communication skills

Independent work

Reliability

Education

Undergraduate GIS course

Tools

ArcGIS

Job description

You’re driven and eager to delve into career exploration while enriching your educational journey. As a student yourself, you bring a unique perspective and valuable insights to ensuring other students are supported at the College. Whether it’s working alongside faculty, employees, and staff, or assisting your student peers, collaborating with diverse groups comes easily to you.
If this sounds like you, we need your talents! Apply to the Student Assistant position, and gain real-world knowledge, while creating meaningful career connections.

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
• 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

The Role: involves supporting instructors and students, with a focus on ensuring a functional and collaborative learning space for human and physical geography courses.

Responsibilities:

• Provide peer support and course assistance to students during scheduled and open lab sessions;
• Clarify lab instructions and assist with demonstrations;
• Set up and take down equipment and materials for geography lab exercises;
• Ensure that lab procedures and practices adhere to safety standards.

To be Successful in this Role You Will Need:

• Working knowledge of ArcGIS software and successful completion of at least one undergraduate level GIS course
• A foundational knowledge of geography lab materials
• A familiarity with lab equipment related to geography
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Responsible, professional, and reliable

Domestic students must meet ONE of the following criteria, to be eligible to work as a Student Assistant/Student Research Assistant:

1. The domestic student must be enrolled in, and maintain, a minimum of one or more (3 credit) courses at Douglas College throughout the work term; OR

2. The domestic student must have been enrolled in, and maintained, a minimum of one or more (3 credit) courses at Douglas College in the term immediately preceding the work term and has indicated an intention to enroll at the college in the term immediately following the work term; OR

3. The domestic student must be enrolled in, and maintain a minimum of two or more (3 credit) courses at another accredited public post-secondary institution in B.C. throughout the work term; OR

4. The domestic student must have been enrolled in, and maintained, a minimum of two or more (3 credit) courses at another accredited public post-secondary institution in B.C. in the term immediately preceding the work term and has indicated an intention to enroll at the institution in the term immediately following the work term

International students must meet ONE of the following criteria, to be eligible to work as a Student Assistant/Student Research Assistant:

1. The international student is enrolled in full-time studies at Douglas College, throughout the academic year; OR

2. The international student, who is not a Douglas College student, but is an international student at another accredited public post-secondary institution in B.C., has a valid Study Permit that has the notation – “May accept employment on or off campus if meeting eligibility criteria as per R186 (F), (V) or (W). Must cease working if no longer meeting these criteria.” Proof of enrollment in full-time studies from the other post‑secondary institution is required.

An original copy of a Social Insurance Number ( SIN ) and an original Study Permit are required by law before commencing work at Douglas College.

Qualified Douglas College students meeting the above criteria will be given first preference over students of other qualifying institutions.

Additional Information

The position is located at the New Westminster campus. Hours of work: up to a maximum of 20 hours/week. The work terms for this position are:

• Fall Semester 2026 – September 8, 2026 – December 19, 2026
• Winter Semester 2027 – January 4, 2027 – April 23, 2027
• Summer Semester 2027 – May 10, 2027 – August 21, 2027

Equity Statement

Douglas College is committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive and equitable learning and working environment. In support of this journey, we welcome all people to apply, including people from groups that are experiencing inequity, including, but not limited, to Indigenous Peoples, racialized or persons of colour, persons with mental or physical disabilities, persons who identify as women, and/or persons of marginalized sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, and persons of all faith identities, age, marital status, and parental status.

Special Instructions to Applicants

- Douglas College Student ID number or indicate if you are enrolled in another accredited public post-secondary institution in B.C.

- Domestic or International student status

- Being eligible to work please indicate the work terms you are applying for:

1. Fall 2026,, Winter 2027, Summer 2027.

- If selected for an interview please bring one of the following:

1. Proof of enrollment for work term from Douglas College OR

2. Proof of enrollment for work term from another post-secondary institution OR

3. Domestic students only: proof of registration for the term immediately preceding the work term and indication of intention to enroll at the college in the term immediately following the work term

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• * Do you currently have a valid Canadian work permit?
  • Yes
  • No
  • Not Applicable
• * If you have a valid Canadian work permit, please indicate expiry date and the type of work permit you hold. (Type N/A if not applicable).

  (Open Ended Question)

• * Being eligible to work please indicate the work terms you are applying for: Fall, Winter, Summer or combination of the above.

  (Open Ended Question)

• * Employees are required to report to the college in person, promptly and reliably, as required by their position. To meet this obligation, they must reside within a commutable distance to the college for the duration of their employment. Please confirm that you can fulfill this requirement.
  • Yes, I can fulfill this requirement
  • No, I cannot fulfill this requirement