Team Lead, Academic and Career Advising

The University of British Columbia; Kelowna; On-site; CAD 86,000 - 124,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of British Columbia is seeking a Staff Team Lead for Academic and Career Advising at UBC Okanagan. The role leads a team of advisors, coordinates student support, and partners with campus units to promote student success and retention.

The position reports to the Director of Academic, Career and Experiential Education and requires an undergraduate degree with several years of advising leadership experience.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline.
• Minimum of four to five years of related experience.
• Commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Responsibilities

• Academic & Career Advising Team Lead: Acts as first point of contact for all advisors to bring or escalat.
• Leads a group of 3-4 advisors within the larger advising team.
• Provides advice regarding advising policies and procedures, ensures campus-wide consistency with other faculties and programs.
• Collaborates on projects within the faculty and across campus.
• Develops and promotes best practices specific to a faculty and their programs.

Skills

Team leadership

Advising expertise

Education

Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline

Job description

Staff - Non Union Job Category M&P - AAPS Job Profile AAPS Salaried - Student Management, Level C Job Title Team Lead, Academic and Career Advising Department UBCO | Program Support | Academic and Career Development Compensation Range $7,727.33 - $11,112.00 CAD Monthly The Compensation Range is the span between the minimum and maximum base salary for a position. The midpoint of the range is approximately halfway between the minimum and the maximum and represents an employee that possesses full job knowledge, qualifications and experience for the position. In the normal course, employees will be hired, transferred or promoted between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range for a job.

Job Summary This position works on a centralized team that serve all students at UBC Okanagan. This position is responsible for delivering and evaluating student services to support student learning based on the specific and unique student needs. This position works closely with advisors to provide support with the most complex student cases and works closely with students throughout their degree to encourage success and retention. This position is responsible for not only providing academic support, but also student engagement programming to enhance academic and career outcomes. This position will lead departmental projects and oversee a group of advisors.

Organizational Status

This position works independently and with initiative under the general supervision of the Director, Academic, Career and Experiential Education. This position provides consultation to Associate Deans, and may work with Deans, Directors, Unit Heads, Committees, Managers, and other faculty and staff.

Work Performed

• Academic & Career Advising Team Lead: Acts as first point of contact for all advisors to bring or escalat
• Co-facilitates ACD advising meetings with a focus on student case consultation.
• Collates key topics and issues from student advising that can be addressed through advocacy channels.
• Utilizes assessment strategies to understand and address gaps in services and programs
• Assesses and evaluates current services and provide recommendations for services improvements with consideration for enhancing the use of technology.
• Drafts, collaborates, revises and implements policies and procedures related to advising services with support from AVPSO project manager
• Meets regularly with the Director to share information and identify areas of concern and/or complex problems that require consultation
• Connects with campus partners (Vancouver and Okanagan) to streamline advising functions (Example - CCR and LOP).
• Attends weekly cross campus meetings as well as working groups.
• Assists students in determining their academic, personal and professional goals and identifying appropriate academic courses and programs that support attaining those goals.
• Advises students on work integrated learning and skill building opportunities that enhance their career readiness.
• Discusses job search strategies, provides labour market information, and student career outcomes information to current students and alumni.
• Assists students with course selection to ensure they meet degree requirements, program prerequisites, and career goals.
• Interprets and advises on university policies and procedures.
• Supports both faculty and students with issues related to academic progression (full and blocked classes, waivers, transfer credit, academic concessions, late withdrawals and additions), and other issues as they arise.
• Annually evaluates student performance to ensure students are meeting requirements and, as needed, adjudicate student records for graduation eligibility.
• Develops and maintains a knowledge base of worldwide educational systems in order to advise students participating in exchange programs or considering taking courses outside of UBC's Okanagan campus and advising students coming from other global educational systems.
• Evaluates and approves student requests to study outside UBC's Okanagan campus.
• Evaluates requests for academic concession and provides appropriate advice, action and follow-up.
• Identifies students in crisis, either personal or academic, and provides support as well as advice on academic options and personal support services on campus.
• Acts as liaison between students and faculty/departments to facilitate appropriate resolution of disputes.
• Advises students on developing career plans and provides referrals to other appropriate campus units for further exploration.

Faculty Specialist responsibilities

• Participates fully in academic and career advising specific to their designated faculty and works consultatively with the Associate Dean(s) and faculty members.
• Leads a group of 3-4 advisors within the larger advising team.
• Provides advice and guidance to faculty committees regarding the development of new courses, how courses might fit academic requirements and how new courses apply to degrees.
• Provides input into curriculum redesign and advises on experiential learning and practicum opportunities within the community for students.
• Assists departmental advisors and faculty members in interpreting and applying University and faculty specific policy, procedures and regulations.
• Evaluates programs and makes recommendations for improvements in degree design and progression.
• Evaluates and makes strategic recommendations for areas of improvement and growth in student advising services.
• Develops and promotes best practices specific to a faculty and their programs.
• Provides advice regarding advising policies and procedures, ensures campus wide consistency with other faculties and programs.
• Evaluates the usage and functioning of technologies in student advising, retention, and student development.
• Collaborates on projects within the faculty and across campus.
• Researches and implements initiatives with other faculty units and community leaders.
• Works in partnership with the Communications teams in the faculty and AVPS portfolio to develop accurate and easily understood website content and resources for students.

Student Success and Retention

Attends academic and career-related programming and events on and off campus.

Proactively engages new to UBC students through strategic and aligned communication approaches.

Conducts research, makes recommendations, and implements transition and retention projects for undergraduate and graduate students.

Organizes and/or participates in advising, orientation and campus recruitment events designed to improve the undergraduate experience and assist students with the cultural and academic transition to UBC.

Unit and Faculty Support

May participate in recruiting, hiring, training and management of student staff.

Plans and executes events designed to improve the undergraduate and graduate experience.

Attends and presents at conferences and workshops, and develops and promotes best practices.

Performs other related duties as required.

Consequence of Error/Judgement Misinterpretation of University policies

Misinterpretation of University policies can cause students serious difficulties in attaining their educational objectives. Advising decisions directly affect the quality of a student’s undergraduate experience. Poor performance in this position will contribute to inefficient operation and low-quality service being provided by Academic & Career Advising. In turn, this not only affects the reputation and credibility of Academic & Career Advising and the University, but also our ability to recruit and retain students. If an Advisor does not consider the intercultural aspects of communication with students, this can negatively impact the advisor’s ability to function in a culturally diverse arena. Errors in decision making can have a serious negative effect on the Department’s ability to carry out its mandate.

Supervision Received

Academic & Career Advisors work independently under the general direction of the Director, Academic, Career and Experiential Education. Must be able to work independently and carry out work to completion.

Supervision Given

This position may supervise student staff and/or volunteers. This position may supervise the work of junior M&P professionals and will be required to train colleagues on faculty specific programs, unique advising requirements and program complexities. This position works as a member of a broader student support team.

Minimum Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline.
• Minimum of four to five years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience - Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own - Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with the student population, including domestic, international, aboriginal, and disabilities is an asset.
• Experience leading or managing professional staff.
• Ability to deal with a diverse population in a calm, courteous, and effective manner.
• Demonstrated ability to use good judgement and problem solving skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing is critical.
• Ability to be a team player.
• Ability to effectively adopt and successfully use technologies that enhance the student experience and overall advisor efficiency.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and with initiative.
• Ability to take the lead within a team environment.
• Ability to handle stress within a varied work environment.
• Demonstrated attention to detail.
• Must provide willingness to learn and continually upgrades skills and knowledge.

The University of British Columbia is a global centre for research and teaching, consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities globally. A large part of what makes us unique is the community of engaged students, faculty, and staff who are collectively committed to shaping a better world. Recognized as a leading employer in British Columbia and Canada, UBC supports inspired students, faculty and staff on their journey of discovery, and challenges them to realize their greatest potential. New ideas, changing infrastructure, innovative technology, and fresh approaches are opening up possibilities for the future of research, teaching, and work. Are you ready to embrace the future together?

Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, and/or Indigenous person.