Educational Advisor

Duties:

• Assist students to clarify career and academic goals and develop suitable educational plans. Provide accurate information about VIU to students, including appropriate courses or programs to meet identified career/program objectives.
• Interact effectively and with sensitivity to students across VIU's divers student population.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate research informed support programs and interventions to improve the academic success and retention of VIU students, including collaborative initiatives with specific programs and/or faculties.
• Identify students at academic risk and evaluate individual student progress toward established goals and follow up with timely and purposeful intervention.
• Develop and facilitate group presentations and educational events and deliver in-person and online.
• Exemplify professionalism and a high standard of ethical behaviour.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships and contribute to the effective functioning of the Academic Advising team.
• Beyond one on one and group contact with students, successful candidates will be expected to contribute to the development of new initiatives and projects to support student success.

Successful candidates will participate in a wide range of activities, including, student support; institutional, faculty and departmental committee meetings and other initiatives; and professional activities in keeping with their disciplines in and outside the institution.

Required Qualifications:

Master's Degree (Student Personnel, Social Work, Adult Education, Counselling or similarly relevant field) from an appropriately accredited institution. Minimum three years in an academic advising role including demonstrated experience with relevant student program planning, student development, and the organization, implementation and evaluation of student related initiatives.

• Demonstrated awareness of and ability to respond to the developmental needs of a diverse student population.
• Knowledge of developmental academic advising philosophy as well as career development theory and counselling practices.
• Knowledge of BC Colleges, institutes, university systems programs and services.
• Demonstrated awareness of and ability to respond to the developmental and transitional needs of the student population.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and respectfully in a team setting.
• Demonstrated excellence in public speaking, group presentations and group facilitation.
• Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office and using intermediate features associated with a Windows computer environment.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills including working effectively with students, staff, faculty, alumni, and the public.
• Problem solving and conflict resolution skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advising experience in a post-secondary institution.
• Familiarity with BC Colleges, Institutes and University systems, programs, services, policies and procedures.
• Proficiency working within the Experience Hub system.
• Practice in developing and delivering outreach initiatives for students in a variety of modalities.
• Knowledge in working with Indigenous and international student populations.

VIU is pleased to offer eligible employees a comprehensive benefit plan; ample paid holiday time; professional development opportunities and a desirable pension plan. As part of the VIU campus community, our employees work with supportive colleagues within an encouraging environment and are provided with the tools and training that promote learning and development. The perks of VIU employment are multiple, and include well-being initiatives and services, strategic discounts, and flexible work opportunities.

Note: 

• Short-listed candidates must provide original transcripts, or applicable original certifications at time of interview.
• All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.
• Vancouver Island University (VIU) is collectively committed to building and sustaining a diverse and inclusive working and learning environment for faculty, staff, and students.  In our journey towards greater diversity, we invite applications from members of equity-seeking communities including women, racialized and Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, persons of all gender identities and sexual orientations who bring value to the VIU community through their lived experiences.  We encourage members of all equity-seeking groups to self-identify within their application cover letter.  When a candidate voluntarily discloses this information in their cover letter, the information will be used only for the fulfillment of the career opportunity.  Disclosure and/or self-identification with an equity-seeking group will not lead to advantageous treatment of a candidate who is not qualified.