Job Description / Duties

Job Summary

The Global Engagement Office (GEO) is responsible for providing leadership, opportunities, and services that strengthen and enrich student learning at UBC. International Student Advisors support international students through innovative and professional advising services and programs. Part of this innovative service includes wrap around supports in the area of career supports for international students, in collaboration with the Academic and Career Development (ACD) Team. This position will provide the highest quality of integrated advising to support international graduate and undergraduate student recruitment, retention, and success, specifically in the domains of international student immigration, health insurance, employment, personal wellbeing and cultural transitions.

This role will be focused on one of the key areas of support for international students, navigating IRCC policies, processes and applications including providing Permanent Residence (PR) advising to current and graduated students up to three years post-graduation. The Global Engagement Office is committed to understanding UBC students and their experience, and to work collaboratively with partners to offer services. This position will work collaboratively within The Global Engagement Office, Academic Career and Development Team, and with other units within the AVP Student's portfolio, departments across the University as well as schools, organizations, and international educators in the community.

Organizational Status

Reporting to the Manager, International Advising and Intercultural Programming. This role also has dual reporting into the Director of Academic and Career Development and the Director, Global Engagement. This position may supervise staff, supervises and mentors paid student staff, works collaboratively with staff on the Vancouver campus, and provides significant leadership and management to volunteers on a number of projects and events. This position takes on leadership roles in cross-functional team projects.

Work Performed

International Student Advising:

• Provides Permanent Residency and IRCC policy/program advising to students and alumni (up to three years post-graduation)
• Identifies issues impacting their academic and personal lives.
• Guides students in determining a resolution or course of action and mediate on their behalf when necessary.
• Provides accurate, timely, and sensitive assistance related to study and work permits, visas, health insurance, employment, student life, cultural adjustment, and related issues.
• Supports and develops students and student groups to accomplish their goals and to support strategic initiatives.
• Provides information and advice to students regarding immigration status and permit and visa applications.
• Reviews student and family permit and visa applications prior to submission and provide related advice.

Act as a liaison and provide leadership to other staff on campus:

• Liaises with and provides leadership to other staff on campus to provide seamless support and services for international students.
• Works collaboratively with faculties, units within the AVP Student's portfolio, departments across the University as well as schools and organizations in the community.
• Manages complex cases involving students' immigration, wellbeing and other matters.
• Provides seamless and knowledgeable services for international students.
  Liaises effectively with IRCC, HRSDC, and CBIE to maintain a high standard of professional practice.
• Manages the university's reputation in all interactions with CBSA, BC PNP, Service Canada, Health Insurance BC, local MP's office and other government entities as well as CBIE, BCCIE, CICC and related organizations.
• Conducts detailed research; interpret legislation, regulations and policies; define practices for UBC and communicate the findings and practices to colleagues, UBC departments, students and stakeholders

Develop, coordinate and deliver innovative, responsive, and professional programs and services:

• Maintains and updates student records according to CICC and UBC policies.
• Creates a welcoming and supportive environment so that international students may be fully engaged members of the University community.
• Collaborates with colleagues and campus partners to create programming/activities/initiatives that foster a comprehensive approach to the student experience internationalization
• Participates in assessment specific to international UBC students and current student development literature, and seeking to address gaps in services and programs.
• Assesses and evaluates current offerings and provides direction in redesigning current programs and services.
• Documents student experiences and program assessments.

Foster an international and intercultural dimension within the University and the community at large:

• Designs and delivers awareness and education programs to faculty, students and staff relevant to supporting the University's strategic goals toward a fully engaged international campus.
• Continues to develop and respond to the needs of all students, creating innovative and supportive programming for all stages of the student experience.
• Engages with a wide variety of stakeholders and working in a collaborative team approach.
• Develops relationships with external stakeholders in the area of international and intercultural programming both locally and across Canada/Internationally.
• Prepares publications, and other written work as required.
• Performs duties consistent with the mandate of the Global Engagement Office.
• Fulfill obligations to the CICC and remain in good standing as a RCIC.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

Providing incomplete or inaccurate information to students can have a devastating impact on UBC's ability to recruit and retain students and severely damage UBC's international reputation. Inaccurate information given to students may lead to grave consequences, such as depriving students of the chance to enter, remain in, or legally study in Canada. Lack of imagination and persistence in handling students' personal situations, including broader crisis management issues, may result in significant distress for students. Lack of cross-cultural sensitivity can also cause serious misunderstanding and/or hardship for students, faculty and staff. Poor management of staff or volunteers may lead to inefficiency, discontentment or grievances. If applicable, errors and omissions and negligence can result in the permanent loss of RCIC license, imprisonment, fines, civil action (directed at both the RCIC and UBC), and other disciplinary actions by the regulatory body.

Supervision Received

Working under the direction of the Manager, International Student Advising & Intercultural Programming and in close collaboration with ACD and GEO Leadership the incumbent acts independently and exercises considerable judgment and innovation in working with students, faculty and staff.

Supervision Given

May supervise professional and student staff directly and manage numerous volunteers on various projects. Responsible for developmental evaluation of professional and student staff. Responsible for on-going mentoring and professional development of student leaders and staff. Will review and approve application preparation and written immigration advice drafted by other staff.

Qualifications / Required Skills

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

• A member in good standing of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC) as a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) required.
• Thorough knowledge of Canadian immigration legislation, policies and regulations specifically related to international students, their family and dependents.
• Experience working directly with international students at the post-secondary level.
• Experience dealing with issues relating to international students and international education.
• Overseas work/study experience preferred.
• Experience in program assessment and evaluation.
• Experience in managing the development of publications an asset.
• Knowledge of theories of cross-cultural communication and student development.
• Expertise in designing and delivering educational workshops.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills and cross-cultural sensitivity.
• Demonstrated computer skills.
• Demonstrated oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively in teams and to develop effective working relationships with students, faculty, staff and community members.
• Ability to manage the complexity inherent within a multi-faceted work environment focused on broad outcomes for students.

Salary: $76452 - 110270

Contact Information

To learn more and apply to this position, visit: https://ubc.wd10.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/ubcstaffjobs/details/International-Student-Advisor---RCIC-Career-Advisor_JR11850

Employer Profile

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

This position is part of new and unique opportunity and collaboration between Academic and Career Development and the Global Engagement Office that will deliver International Student Support and Career Programming on the UBCO campus.