Academic Advisor

University of British Columbia • Kelowna, BC

7d • Onsite

About The Position

The Faculty of Management (FoM) is a growing academic unit at UBC Okanagan, dedicated to shaping responsible leaders through experiential, career-integrated, and community-engaged education. Academic Advisors play a central role in supporting student success, wellness, retention, and timely progression toward degree completion. Academic Advisors provide comprehensive academic advising to students in the Faculty of Management’s suite of programming. They support students through course planning, program navigation, and decision-making, while applying university policies, managing concessions and special requests, and connecting students with appropriate resources. Advisors work closely with faculty, staff, and campus partners to create an inclusive, supportive learning environment and contribute to ongoing improvements in advising programs and student services.

Requirements

• Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline.
• Minimum of three-four 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

Nice To Haves

• Experience in post-secondary academic advising, student affairs, counselling, or related fields; UBC experience preferred.
• Advanced ability to communicate with tact and sensitivity in emotionally charged or complex situations.
• Strong analytical skills, the ability to interpret policy, and independent decision-making capacity.
• Demonstrated ability to build relationships, collaborate across units, and work effectively on cross-functional teams.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication, time management, and organizational skills.
• Experience working with student information systems (e.g., Workday), Microsoft Suite, and other advising tools.
• Ability to work flexible hours during peak periods or special events.

Responsibilities

• Provides holistic, student-centered advising through appointments, drop-ins, email, and proactive outreach.
• Assesses and interprets students’ academic goals, performance, personal circumstances, and long-term plans to guide decision-making and post-graduation plans.
• Supports course selection, program planning, degree mapping, and interpretation of requirements.
• Anticipates student needs and provides proactive guidance beyond the initial presenting concern.
• Advises students, faculty, and staff on the interpretation and application of academic policies, procedures, and degree requirements.
• Evaluates and adjudicates student requests for academic concessions, considering documentation, context, and policy.
• Communicates outcomes with clarity, sensitivity, and consistency.
• Identifies complex cases requiring Manager involvement and collaborates to determine appropriate decisions.
• Interprets and applies UBC and Faculty policies with autonomy and informed judgment, identifying when exceptions or escalations are warranted.
• Provides intensive advising during peak cycles, including walk-in support, triage, and real-time decision-making.
• Assists students with schedule adjustments, registration barriers, prerequisite issues, and course load considerations.
• Troubleshoots enrolment challenges and identifies emerging patterns requiring escalation to the Manager or academic leadership.
• Reviews academic performance, monitors progression, and identifies students who may be struggling or at risk.
• Conducts outreach to students flagged through early alerts, academic standing review, or behavioural changes.
• Supports students in developing action plans to address academic or personal difficulties.
• Coaches students toward holistic success, including wellbeing, engagement, and balanced academic planning.
• Celebrates academic milestones, progress, and persistence to strengthen student motivation and retention.
• Creates an environment where students can disclose challenges, seek support, and explore solutions safely.
• Assesses student needs holistically and identifies concerns related to mental health, financial stress, personal circumstances, or transition difficulties.
• Makes referrals to appropriate supports, including: Health & Wellness | Counselling Centre for Accessibility Financial Advising Indigenous Programs & Services Equity & Inclusion support Sexual Violence Prevention & Response Office (SVPRO)
• Manages emotionally complex or sensitive cases that require confidentiality, compassion, and collaboration across units.
• Documents advising interactions and decisions thoroughly and accurately in advising systems.
• Maintains student records in compliance with university standards.
• Uses advising technologies, student information systems (e.g., OAMS, 12Twenty, and Workday), and planning tools effectively.
• Tracks advising activity, identifies trends in student needs, and contributes to continuous improvement initiatives.
• Participates in training related to advising systems, policy changes, and best practices.
• Coordinates with instructors, program directors, and faculty members regarding student concerns, academic performance, and program requirements.
• Works collaboratively with Career & Co-op specialists to support holistic student development.
• Contributes to orientation, workshops, outreach campaigns, and transition programming.
• Participates in committees and student support initiatives as required.
• May provide direction to student employees and support onboarding of new staff.
• May offer guidance to peers regarding policy interpretation or advising practices.

Benefits

• 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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level