Indigenous Student Advisor

About Loyalist

Loyalist College is built upon the lands governed by the Dish with One Spoon wampum agreement. We affirm and thank the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabeg and Huron-Wendat nations for their continued caretaking of the land. At Loyalist, we empower our students with wraparound support services and hands-on training to succeed on any path they choose. Our academic programs are responsive and innovative, designed to solve pressing social and economic challenges and meet the evolving needs of our regional industry and community partners. Our graduates enter the workforce equipped with the knowledge they need to be better global citizens, and with future-focused skills to lead change in their fields. With a presence in Belleville, Bancroft, Port Hope, Tyendinaga and Toronto, we believe our institutional responsibility extends beyond the classroom to seeing the big picture for the communities we serve. Our expertise in applied research and deep connections to local industry support economic development, to the benefit of businesses, entrepreneurs, changemakers and innovators. Our commitment to decolonization, and the pursuit of a more inclusive, equitable world, means we hold ourselves accountable to the diverse perspectives, cultures and experiences that shape our communities.

Position Summary

The Indigenous Student Advisor reports to and takes direction from the Executive Director, Indigenous Initiatives and Reconciliation and will provide holistic support to students in order to enhance the students’ overall post-secondary experiences. The Indigenous Student Advisor works within the context of the College’s vision to liaise with other departments within the college and with Indigenous communities to assist and inspire students in achieving their goals throughout their college journey.
The Indigenous Student Advisor participates in the design, development, implementation, and evaluation of student success programs and coordinates the effective integration of programs across the student life cycle from prospective students to beginning alumni engagement. The Indigenous Student Advisor works closely with Indigenous communities and agencies to promote a successful post-secondary journey.
The Indigenous Student Advisor closely collaborates with Academic Advisors and other student services such as Accessibility, Tutoring, and Counselling to ensure a comprehensive and integrated approach to student engagement and success from Recruitment through to Convocation.
Supporting students during academically challenging situations, in addition to personal circumstances will, on occasion, be required. Ultimately, the role of the Indigenous Student Advisor is to prioritize the student’s wellbeing by supporting them as they overcome barriers that may impede their academic achievements and personal and spiritual growth.
The Indigenous Student Advisor will successfully blend academic support and advocacy with cultural knowledge to form an integral component of the Indigenous Services offered by Loyalist College.
The Indigenous Student Advisor identifies as being of Indigenous heritage including First Nations, Metis or Inuit (as a bona fide occupational requirement, under Section 24(1) of the Ontario Human Rights Code.
The incumbent will be expected to work some evenings and weekends in accordance with the Support Staff Collective Agreement. This role requires working out of both the Belleville location and within surrounding Indigenous communities.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive academic advising and guidance to prospective and current Indigenous students and their families, covering admission pathways, course selections, program changes, and collaborative success plans.
• Empower students to actively navigate their educational journey by fostering self-advocacy, assisting with faculty communication, and connecting them with college resources, sponsoring agencies, and Indigenous-specific services.
• Assess and prioritize student needs using the Indigenous Student Wellbeing Triage Framework, respond to crisis situations, participate in coordinated care teams (CARE), and escalate critical cases to the Executive Director.
• Coordinate academic accommodations such as test proctoring with faculty, administer the emergency student bursary, and maintain accurate, confidential documentation and case notes.
• Develop and deliver annual student engagement plans, academic skills workshops, classroom presentations, and transition programming, including summer bridge camps, orientation, and early move-in.
• Supports the planning and execution of cultural, social, and major institutional events such as the Indigenous Arts Festival, Truth and Reconciliation Week, and Indigenous History Month while maintaining an active, welcoming presence in the Indigenous Centre.
• Manage a semester-based academic communications calendar, contribute promotional content to highlight Centre services, and track communication analytics to support continuous improvement.
• Support student recruitment initiatives like Open Houses and maintain up-to-date knowledge of external support services available within Indigenous communities.
• Compile and analyze student success data—including registration, withdrawals, transfers, and convocation metrics—and develop standardized operational resources to ensure consistent service delivery.
• Implement the College's policy on confirmation of student Indigeneity, represent the Centre on internal committees, collaborate across departments to improve processes, and perform other related duties as assigned by the Executive Director.

Qualifications

• Completion of a two (2) year diploma in Indigenous Studies, Social Service Worker, Child and Youth Worker, or a related field.
• 5 years experience providing student support, advising, case management, or social service support in a post-secondary, community, or Indigenous service environment; Ontario College experience is an asset.
• Valid driver’s license, clean driver’s abstract and the ability to travel extensively to visit Indigenous communities
• The incumbent identifies as being of Indigenous heritage including First Nations, Metis or Inuit (as a bona fide occupational requirement, under Section 24(1) of the Ontario Human Rights Code
• Demonstrated knowledge of Indigenous cultures, communities, and perspectives, informed by lived experience and community connection.
• Knowledge of Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee cultures and teachings; knowledge of other Indigenous Nations is an asset.
• Established relationships and active engagement with Indigenous communities, organizations, and service providers.
• Understanding of holistic approaches to Indigenous student wellbeing, success, and support.
• Strong advocacy, interviewing, communication, problem-solving, conflict resolution, and referral skills.
• Experience applying trauma-informed and student-centred approaches to support.
• Ability to work collaboratively, maintain confidentiality, manage competing priorities, and build positive relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community partners.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and experience delivering presentations, workshops, and student-focused programming.

Benefits

Benefits for Full-time Support Staff include:

• A comprehensive Extended Health & Dental Plan (covering 90% of eligible paramedical services up to a combined maximum of $4,750 in any calendar year): College Employer Council website with Benefit Booklet
• A defined benefit pension plan with CAAT pension where you will enjoy the certainty of predictable and secure lifetime pension payments: CAAT pension website
• Life and accident insurance
• Out-of-country travel insurance
• Pregnancy and parental leave, including a top-up to Employment Insurance benefits
• 3 paid professional development days/year

Work Life Balance Matters at Loyalist College
Full-time Support Staff can expect:

• After 1 year of service, vacation entitlement starts at 15 days
• December closure period without loss of pay for scheduled hours
• Employee Family Assistance Plan - provides timely short-term counselling and consultation assistance to employees and their immediate family
• Fitness Centre Membership - exclusive facilities for use by Staff and Students at the Belleville location free of charge
• An Inclusive and Accessible Workplace

Please note:

Following an offer of employment, candidates with Canadian credentials will be required to provide official transcripts from the granting educational institution(s); candidates with international credentials must provide World Education Services (WES) www.wes.org/ca evaluation (at their own cost) confirming Canadian equivalency of their credentials.

Loyalist is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive college community. We encourage and welcome applications from marginalized and equity seeking groups. Loyalist College is committed to accommodating applicants with disabilities throughout the hiring process. If you have accommodation needs, please inform us as soon as possible by sending an email to [email protected].

We thank all applicants, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.