The Co-op Advisor is the primary support person for students during their co-op experience at Waterloo. Co-op Advisors support students from their first academic term through to graduation, preparing them for co-op success and providing support throughout all recruitment and work terms.  The Co-op Advisor is an integral co-op support, working collaboratively with Account Managers, Account Coordinators, their own regional team, and in connection with Faculty-aligned colleagues within CEE to ensure success of all Co-operative Education stakeholders.

This role is required to be on campus twice a week

Support students during their recruitment term to build job search techniques and to secure relevant and valuable work experiences

• Develop strong, supportive advising relationships with students that will aid them in their job search experience
• Cultivate trust with students through Faculty and program expertise and one-to-one engagement, centering attention on the values and needs of the student seeking service and creating an environment that encourages the development of self-efficacy, resilience and career confidence
• Guide and support students in navigating the co-op employment process
• Apply understanding of relevant employment sectors to help students navigate labour market and other sources of information to build their understanding of the world of work as it aligns to their studies and career aspirations
• Tailor approach based on the individual’s needs through active listening, consultation and relevant content knowledge
• Support students to gain employment through resume review, managing online presence, work search tactics, interviews, negotiating salary and other job search skills
• Provide support to students, leveraging Account Manager and employer relationships within the regional teams
• Connect with on-campus partners and Faculty-aligned colleagues within CEE to further support students (e.g. Academic Advisors, Career Advisors, Co-op Student Experience Managers, Centre for WIL staff, Faculty Relations Managers, On-Campus Counselling)

 
Support students during their work term to resolve issues and ensure a successful employment experience

• Support students through difficult employment issues, such as: harassment, discrimination and termination in a compassionate and thoughtful manner. When additional support is needed, refer students to the Student Mental Health Advisor, Workplace Harassment Advisor or Counselling Services
• Contact and meet with students virtually during work terms as needed to ensure optimal student experience
• Support the student/supervisor relationship as needed i.e. issue resolution, performance concerns, etc.
• Solicit individual student feedback on work term measures, including overall experience, compensation, quality of support and co-op processes
• Facilitate the transition of students from work term to academic term while supporting reflection on students’ career trajectory, competencies and skills developed during the work term, and the connection between studies and the world of work
• Collaborate with other staff including Account Managers and Business Developers to assist with work term situations, maintain or enhance the employer relationship and pursue potential employment opportunities

Strengthen and leverage on-campus relationship for the enhancement of our student support system

• Support other Co-op Advisors in developing and sharing best practices and training guides
• Work alongside other Co-op Advisors and Career Advisors on a case-by-case basis to enable effective career supports for students
• Build relationships with campus colleagues through involvement of initiatives, committees, projects and working groups
• Deepen Faculty and program expertise, as well as knowledge of skills students develop through intentional engagement and training
• Collaborate with Co-op Student Experience Managers to help to resolve student concerns and issues in a fair and consistent approach
• Work with our WIL partners to understand the importance of Professional Development (PD) courses and the connection between PD and work terms

Promote Student Advising Best Practices and Continuous Improvement, participate in professional development opportunities

• Ensure adherence of creditable work term jobs to program/faculty specific requirements (e.g. admission levels, work relevance criteria, job type/sequence requirements), and review co- op job opportunities for students that arrange their own jobs
• Support implementation of University-wide or Co-op student development initiatives
• Promote continuous improvement of services to students, employers and colleagues by providing feedback to or participating in Co-op Advisor Best Practices Group, Co-op Advisor WaterlooWorks Coach role and other opportunities
• Develop training and tools for fellow Co-op Advisors; share expertise, support cross-training
• Promote awareness and understanding of Co-operative Education within students’ own Faculty context

• Undergraduate University degree required
• Courses, training, certification/degree or equivalent experience in Mental Health, Career Development and/or Counselling would be a strong asset
• Minimum of 3 years of student consulting, guidance and support is required
• Experience in counselling/advising environments with an emphasis on active listening, dialogue facilitation focused on reflection, learning, and creating trust
• Professional or academic experience related to assigned faculty is an asset
• Experience working in an employment and educational environment is an asset
• Knowledge of Co-operative education preferred
• Experience developing and maintaining relationships with students, internal and external stakeholders is required
• Active listening, strong verbal and written communication skills and critical problem-solving is essential
• The ability to develop strong and supportive relationships with students from all identities and experiences and have demonstrated experience working with diverse groups
• Non-judgmental, empathetic and creative approach to working through challenges is a must
• Ability to learn material and complex processes and work within these structures is required
• An understanding of confidentiality of personal information, and an ability to respect this and work to properly moderate communications accordingly is required
• Understanding of professional scope and able to make appropriate referrals to community, institutional and student-run services, considering potential barriers that individuals might face in accessing them
• Commitment to deepening advising skills through individual reflective practice and professional development, as applicable
• Ability to build relationships and collaborate with colleagues both inside and outside the department
• Ability to manage own schedule and balance competing priorities in a fast-paced work environment is required
• Ability to understand and interpret key business metrics and how to use them to prioritize work
• Appreciation of the purpose and value of quality work-integrated learning/co-operative education in preparing students for work/life is preferred
• Ability to maintain working knowledge of relevant technology, including MS Office Suite, Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tools

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.