This first-year student-oriented role in the Science Undergraduate Office implements new student transition initiatives for Science students including Waterloo Ready and First-Year Orientation. The incumbent liaises with undergraduate student advisors, student leaders, and other university staff and faculty members, to support an environment that helps new Science undergraduates flourish. Advice is provided to student leaders, Science faculty and staff, based on research and survey results on best practices in orientation and new student transition activities.

Responsible for supporting undergraduate Science students through First-Year Orientation initiatives by:

• Serving as the Orientation Advisor (OA) for the Science students on the Waterloo Orientation Team (WOT)
• Working with other OAs, Student Success Office (SSO) and Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association (WUSA) Orientation counterparts to plan and execute the recruitment, selection, training, evaluation, and supervision of the WOT
• Supervising, reviewing, and approving all decisions (e.g., event plans, budgets, orientation leader selections) made by the Science students on the WOT
• Attending and/or monitoring all Orientation events along with the Science WOT members to ensure proper execution and safe conditions
• Contributing to the overall management and supervision of Orientation events with the OA team
• Documenting and investigating negative incidents involving first-year students and orientation leaders, when required

Responsible for supporting additional transition programs for Science undergraduate students including Waterloo Ready and Preparation for Academic Success in Science (PASS):

• Serves as the Faculty’s liaison to the SSO for new student transition activities, especially Waterloo Ready and “Science Ready Day”. Coordinates with Associate Dean for Teaching and Learning and SUO Director to ensure this supports the undergraduate student strategic plan
• Coordinates the Faculty’s participation in transition events, such as Science Ready Day and PASS, ensuring proper representation from Science upper year students, academic advisors, faculty, staff, and the Dean’s Office
• Works with the Academic Advisor, International Students, to support international students receiving a proper orientation to the University and appropriate subsequent support

Collaborates, advises, and consults regarding Science student recruitment and experience:

• Participates in, and provides standing reports to, the Science Advising and Student Support Forum
• Contributes to the Science Strategic Engagement Team (SSET) by providing and receiving relevant information that bridges the gap between recruitment and current student initiatives
• Participates at Ontario Universities Fair (OUF), open houses, You @ Waterloo Day, Science Society GradBall, and outreach initiatives as needed
• Acts as an official member of NODA (National Orientation Directors Association) to gather and implement best practices in new student transition at the national level
• Collects metrics for students engagement for the Student Engagement Coordinator, as needed, and supports Student Engagement Officer initiatives as needed
• Plans for the collection of data, including student feedback, and provides recommendations to Student Engagement Officer on student initiatives that could enhance Science student experiences

Project Management and Assessment:

• Holds volunteers accountable to key dates, deadlines, and expectations within the new student transition planning process by clearly articulating expectations in advance, providing regular reminders, and following up promptly if concerns arise
• Develops and maintains extensive program documentation (e.g. action plans) outlining program goals, outcomes, progress, and recommendations for future offerings for numerous new student transition processes and events

• Bachelor’s degree, preferably Science or equivalent education and experience
• Two years of undergraduate academic advising or work experience with diverse student groups in an academic setting
• Up-to-date on the needs of a diverse population of students and their families including but not limited to priority populations such as first-year, transfer, exchange, and international students
• Proficient with university rules and regulations, campus resources, policies related to health and safety, ethical behaviour
• Demonstrated ability coaching student staff in event management, facilitation, and program content development, particularly related to new student transition and/or orientation programming
• Demonstrated ability to contribute to and thrive in a collaborative environment and to apply a positive team approach to working with colleagues within and outside of the office
• Excellent strategic thinking, sound judgment, tact, diplomacy, ability to manage confidential and sensitive issues, interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills
• Proven ability to manage a large volume of work, conflicting priorities, and deadlines

The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg, and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is co-ordinated within the Office of Indigenous Relations.

The University values the diverse and intersectional identities of its students, faculty, and staff. The University regards equity and diversity as an integral part of academic excellence and is committed to accessibility for all employees. The University of Waterloo seeks applicants who embrace our values of equity, anti-racism and inclusion.  As such, we encourage applications from candidates who have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including applicants who identify as First Nations, Métis and/or Inuk (Inuit), Black, racialized, a person with a disability, women and/or 2SLGBTQ+.

Positions are open to qualified candidates who are legally entitled to work in Canada.

The University of Waterloo is committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. If you have any application, interview, or workplace accommodation requests, please contact Human Resources at hrhelp@uwaterloo.ca  or 519-888-4567, ext. 45935.