Student Assistant, Indigenous Student Services

Douglas College; Coquitlam; On-site; Part time

Job summary

A leading Canadian college is seeking a Student Assistant for Indigenous Student Services. The role involves providing peer mentorship and support to Indigenous students while facilitating engagement and cultural initiatives. Ideal candidates are self-identified Indigenous students in good academic standing with experience in effective communication. The position offers a collaborative work environment and the opportunity to participate in meaningful projects that empower the Indigenous community.

Benefits

Hybrid work arrangements

Professional Development opportunities

Access to fitness centres and classes

Competitive salaries

Health and Dental Benefits

Qualifications

• Must be a self-identified Indigenous student (First Nations, Metis, or Inuit).
• In good academic standing (not on academic probation).

Responsibilities

• Provide peer support to Indigenous students.
• Participate in training workshops on effective communication and cultural protocols.
• Coordinate projects for Indigenous student engagement.
• Welcome guests in the Indigenous Gathering Place.

Skills

Peer mentorship

Effective communication

Cultural awareness

Organizational skills

Education

Self-identified Indigenous student

At least one semester at Douglas College

Job description

JOB OPPORTUNITY

Location: Coquitlam Campus  |  Salary Range: $18.42/hour

The Opportunity

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
• 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, click here!

What It Takes

The Indigenous Student Services (ISS) Student Assistants provide support to the Indigenous Student Services team in a variety of day-to-day, programming and student outreach activities. ISS Student Assistants are role models within the Indigenous student community at Douglas College and they provide peer to peer mentorship to other Indigenous students.

Responsibilities

• Actively participate in a range of training workshops, including peer helping (e.g., suicide awareness), effective communication, Indigenous cultural protocols, and FoodSafe.
• Provide peer to peer support to other Indigenous students through active listening and referral to appropriate College and community services and resources.
• Support day-to-day functioning within the Indigenous student lounge, including tidying, organizing supplies and equipment, tracking student participation, and other cleaning and administrative tasks.
• Coordinate projects and events that contribute to Indigenous student orientation, transition and engagement (e.g., wellness programs, cultural activities, and recreational events).
• Support food security initiatives by cooking during Community Kitchen, prepping sandwich fixings, co-facilitating cooking workshops, and coordinating the food pantry.
• Welcome guests into the Indigenous Gathering Place and provide support during events, including sharing information about the space.
• Create posters and other promotional materials for the department using Canva and similar tools.
• Support College Elders during events by ensuring they are attended to (e.g., fetching tea or coffee, helping to carry supplies, etc).
• May be required to assist with the Indigenous Community Garden by watering, weeding and harvesting plants in the Summer semester
• Participate in and support community events with Indigenous partners.
• Participate in presentations to new and prospective Indigenous students.
• Participate in regular ISS team meetings to offer student input on programming and student needs.
• Participate in College-wide committees and consultations as a student representative of ISS.

To Be Successful in this Role You Will Need

• Self-identified Indigenous student (First Nations, Metis or Inuit).
• At least one previous semester as a student at Douglas College.
• In good academic standing (not on academic probation).

Domestic and International Student Eligibility

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

• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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:

• The international student is enrolled in full-time studies at Douglas College, throughout the academic year; OR
• 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 Coquitlam campus. Hours of work: Minimum 10 hours/week up to a maximum of 20 hours/week. The work terms for this position are:

• Fall 2025: September 2, 2025 - December 15, 2025
• Winter 2026: January 5, 2026 - April 24, 2026
• Summer 2026: May 4, 2026 - August 16, 2026

Posting Number 02589SA | Position Title Student Assistant, Indigenous Student Services - Coquitlam Campus | Anticipated Start Date 09/02/2025 | End Date: Needs a Criminal Records Check: No

How To Apply

Open Date 07/31/2025 | Close Date: Open Until Filled

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.

Important Note

Click the link at the top of this page to apply directly to this posting.

Please include the following:

• 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: (Fall 2025 or Winter 2026 or Summer 2026).

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

• Proof of enrollment for work term from Douglas College OR
• Proof of enrollment for work term from another post-secondary institution OR
• 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 OR
• 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.