Smart Start Team Assistant

Brock University is located on the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe peoples, many of whom continue to live and work here today. This territory is covered by the Upper Canada Treaties and is within the land protected by the Dish with One Spoon Wampum Agreement. 

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Post End Date:February 22, 2026 at 11:59 PMThis job advertisement is to fill an existing vacancy in the Part-Time Contract Positions (Employee Group)

Smart Start Program

Reporting to the Recruitment Officer, Conversion and Transition, the Smart Start Team Assistant will play an integral role in the overall delivery of Brock University's year one academic orientation and transition program. Smart Start is Brock University's academic orientation and transition program that welcomes all incoming students annually and promotes student success through opportunities that encourage orientation, engagement, leadership development, service-learning, and volunteerism.

The Smart Start program aims to deliver immediately relevant information that is vital to the enrichment of the learning experience during the summer before a student starts at Brock. The purpose of the program is to effectively welcome, support, and engage new students and their families into the Brock community by equipping them with the knowledge and tools needed to successfully navigate their transition into university life.

In addition to participating in traditional Smart Start programming, team members engage in a full menu of support, engagement, and learning opportunities that extend into the academic term. These supports are delivered through a combination of online and in-person events, including AskMe Booths and additional Smart Start support for students that begin their studies in Winter and Spring.

We are committed to building a diverse team with members who represent a variety of lived experiences, educational pathways, and career aspirations.

About the Role

The Smart Start Team Assistant will welcome, support, and connect with incoming students and their supporters through customer service interactions, formal presentations, and one-on-one engagement. Team members will collaborate with academic and student service departments across campus to ensure accurate information, coordinated support, and a positive student experience throughout the transition period.

The Smart Start Team Assistant will represent Brock University and the Smart Start program at various transition and engagement initiatives, including orientation programming, AskMe Booths, Welcome Week activities, and additional First Year Experience initiatives throughout the academic year.

Hours of operation include weekdays, with required availability for some evenings, weekends, and key university events.

The Smart Start Team Assistant will:

Customer Service:

• Greet and connect with campus visitors and incoming students, going above and beyond to ensure they feel welcome and important.
• Provide exceptional customer service and respond to student and family inquiries in a professional and supportive manner.
• Demonstrate a thorough knowledge and understanding of Brock programs, services, and campus resources.
• Support campus orientation initiatives, including AskMe Booths during the start of the academic term.
• Connect with incoming students and families through multiple methods, including in-person interactions, large-group presentations, phone, and email.

Student Transition and Team Support:

• Demonstrate superior professionalism and behaviors that reflect commitment to innovation, teamwork, flexibility, and integrity.
• Liaise with academic and student service departments across Brock University.
• Assist students with the course registration process and support their transition into first year.
• Work collaboratively with the campus community to support First Year Experience initiatives, Welcome Week programming, Smart Start, AskMe Booths, and additional projects as needed.

Information Delivery and Public Speaking:

• Deliver important information to new students and guests through formal presentations, telephone outreach, email communications, and one-on-one interactions.
• Officiate campus tours and facilitate course registration support sessions for Year One students and their supporters.

Other duties as assigned.

Key Skills and Experience:

• Must be an undergraduate student at Brock University for the 2026–2027 academic year (Fall/Winter).
• A love of Brock, including experience participating in a wide range of Brock-related activities.
• Superior professionalism and behaviour demonstrating a commitment to innovation, teamwork, flexibility, and integrity.
• Knowledge of Brock programs and student services.
• Comfort with public speaking and strong oral and written communication skills.
• Excellent planning, organizational, and time-management skills with strong attention to detail.
• Self-motivation, initiative, and the ability to motivate others and lead by example.
• Strong leadership abilities, interpersonal skills, and an energetic and positive attitude.
• Superior customer service skills.
• Creativity, flexibility, enthusiasm, reliability, and punctuality.
• Ability to work well in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

Application:

This position is open to current Brock students.

Applications submitted via email or in-person will not be accepted.

Applications are due before 11:59pm on Sunday, February 22, 2026.

Interviews will take place on campus at the Student Recruitment Hiring Carousel on Sunday, March 1, 2026.
All successful candidates will be contacted and provided with additional information following the application deadline.

Complete applications must include:

• Resume
• Statement of interest (maximum one page) including:
  • Why do you want to work as a member of the Smart Start team and represent Brock University? (1–2 paragraphs)
  • What are your academic plans/goals for the 2026–2027 school year? (1 paragraph)
  • Returning Smart Start team members should indicate interest in a Team Lead role within their statement of interest.

Other Information

• This posting is for 12 existing vacancies.
• Artificial Intelligence will not be used in the hiring process for this role.
• Intensive training focused on customer service, Brock services, academic expectations, campus culture, and presentation skill development will be provided.
  • Training dates (May 20, 2026 – June 19, 2026) align with program needs and are mandatory in-person sessions running from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.
• Ongoing professional development including mental health awareness, diversity and inclusion, resume development, emergency management, and leadership skill-building.
• Opportunities to contribute ideas and participate in projects related to Brock University's broader recruitment, transition, and First Year Experience strategies.
• Continuous skill development in communication, public speaking, leadership, organization, and time management.
• Successful candidates must have access to technology and reliable home internet to operate Microsoft Office 365 and MS Teams with video and audio capabilities.
• Work is conducted both on-campus and remotely, with the structure subject to change over the course of employment.

Contract Dates: March 23, 2026 to March 31, 2027

• Up to 35 hours per week from May 20 — August 31, 2026 (Smart Start training and programming).
• Additional part-time hours will be available throughout the 2026/27 academic year, and may be mandatory (see below) or optional dependent on the event.

Compensation: $17.60 per hour.

Please Note: Required Participation

Participation is required for key Smart Start and Recruitment events, including but not limited to:

Mandatory events in March and during the summer:

Spring Open House | March 29, 2026.

In-person training | May 20 – July 10, 2026.

Spring Convocation | June 2026.

Smart Start program days | July and August 2026.

Mandatory events during the 2026/27 academic year:

AskMe Booths | September 2026.

Fall Convocation | October 2026.

Ontario Universities' Fair (OUF) | September 26 & 27, 2026.

Fall Preview Day | November 2026.

Optional events during the 2026/27 academic year:

Winter Smart Start support | January 2027.

March Break Tours | March 2027.

We are committed to offering flexible work arrangements where possible as outlined in our Flexible Work Arrangement Policy. As a student-centered organization, all employees are required to work on campus as needed.

Brock University is committed to creating a respectful and equitable workplace. We strive to foster a culture of diversity and inclusion in our work and learning environments. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals and actively encourage applications from women, people with disabilities, members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, Indigenous Peoples, people who identify as Black, African and/or Caribbean, as racialized and/or as from ethnic and cultural minority groups, and other underrepresented demographic groups at Brock and in the Niagara region. Brock also recognizes intersectionality and the interconnected identities, histories, and experiences of these aforementioned groups.

We are committed to inclusive and barrier-free recruitment, and we accommodate the needs of applicants throughout all stages of the recruitment process, as outlined in our Employment Accommodation Policy and consistent with the requirements of the Ontario Human Rights Code. Please contact   if you require a disability related accommodation so we can ensure your participation needs are met.

Brock University does not use AI Technology at any stage of the recruitment process.

We appreciate all applications received. Candidates that are selected for an interview will be contacted.

Learn more about Brock University by visiting

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