Academic Advisor

Duties and Responsibilities:

Under the guidance of the Manager, Academic Advising Centre (AAC), the Academic Advisor is a multi-functional position that works as part of a team for the coordination, implementation and delivery of advising services to undergraduate and Special Students, including first year students, students in academic difficulty, mature and transfer students, high achieving students and exploratory/undecided students. The AAC advises and addresses the needs of undergraduate and Special Students including but not limited to assisting students in understanding their degree requirements, changing degrees and/or program elements, students experiencing academic difficulty, and students that are at risk of being removed from their program. Working with minimal supervision, the incumbent is responsible for providing timely complex advice on student academic issues, policies, rules and regulations and connecting students to the appropriate support departments and resources on campus to resolve issues and questions.

They will coordinate outreach programs to students and staff and working with the Manager, will be involved in coordinating and participating in the training of new members of the advising team and student staff as well as developing training manuals for office procedures, advising guidelines, and software application use. The Academic advisor is on the front line of student support and is required to triage the frontline as appropriate and is expected to present a positive, knowledgeable, professional reflection of the department and its services at all times. The incumbent is also responsible for outreach activities to the Carleton community on the Academic Advising Centre to inform students, faculty and staff on the services provided as well as other related duties that may be required.

The incumbent is required to continually develop and maintain knowledge in all aspects of operations and processes related to the advising unit and the Academic Advising Centre in general, policies and procedures, evolving University rules and regulations governing undergraduate and special students in the university and all other information as required to accurately provide service to clients.

This position may require the ability to work outside of business hours and/or weekends to lead seminars and presentations as a part of outreach programs and/or represent AAC at recruitment events.

Qualifications:

The incumbent must possess the following qualifications:

• Excellent interpersonal skills to advise students and collaborate with team members.
• Proven triage skills, as it is essential to know when and where to refer students in a timely fashion, especially with urgent or sensitive cases.
• Ability to problem solve while exercising sound judgment.
• Highly developed verbal and written communication skills, including presentation skills.
• Proven ability to communicate with tact, diplomacy, empathy and discretion, especially when working with sensitive student cases.
• Excellent organization skills and the ability to coordinate multiple tasks simultaneously while providing mutual support to colleagues.
• Incumbents must be able to complete work accurately and display attention to detail.
• Working knowledge of academic rules and regulations.
• In addition, the incumbent may be required to work weekends for outreach activities.
• This position also requires the ability to work overtime during peak operational periods as required.

Education and Experience:

The above is normally acquired through the completion of:

• Three-year university degree.
• Five years' related experience of which three years must be in a high-pressure advising environment, preferably in a post-secondary setting with frontline triage skills required.

HR Note:

Equivalencies will be considered. Applicants are encouraged to provide information which may demonstrate equivalent qualifications. Please note that applicants may be required to complete an employment test as part of the selection process for this position. Those applicants that are selected for an interview will be requested to contact the Human Resource Advisor assigned to this competition as soon as possible to discuss any accommodation requirements. Arrangements will be made to accommodate your request in a timely manner. Carleton University is strongly committed to fostering diversity within its community as a source of excellence, cultural enrichment, and social strength. We welcome those who would contribute to the further diversification of our University including, but not limited to: women; visible minorities; First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples; persons with disabilities; and persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity and expressions.