Career Advisor

At the University of Waterloo, we create and promote a culture where everyone can reach their full potential. As an employee, you get support & opportunities that empower you to advance your career. Explore how we can bring big ideas to life, together. The University is a welcoming workplace for those of all abilities, interests, and expertise. As part of our workforce, you can do what you do best, every day.
Learn more about our recruitment process.

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Posting Information:
This posting is for an existing vacancy.

2 roles available: one will be aligned to the Faculty of Math, and the other will be aligned to the Faculty of Health. This alignment is in support of faculty-tailored programming and relationship building

Term 18 months

The internal posting deadline for this position is November 12, 2026 at 11:59PM.

This is a Career Path position. The final level will be determined based on demonstrated skills and experience.

Anticipated hiring ranges:

USG 9: $73,695 - $92,119

USG 10: $80,248 - $100,310

Job Description:

Primary Purpose

The Centre for Career Development (CCD) is a central unit enabling University of Waterloo undergraduate students, graduate students and postdocs to navigate and steer their career. The CCD supports learners to build their self-awareness, labour market awareness and ability to take purposeful action in setting goals, gaining experience and engaging resiliently with the changing world of work. The CCD sits within the Cooperative and Experiential Education (CEE) department, bringing thought leadership to defining what quality career development learning looks like across this learning ecosystem.

Career Advisors support undergraduate students, graduate students and postdocs in exploring their career possibilities using a person-centered, trauma informed and equity-informed approach. They connect with learners in multiple ways, including through one-on-one advising, group facilitation, and creating compelling curriculum. . Each Career Advisor is aligned with certain faculties in support of faculty-tailored programming and relationship building.

Key Accountabilities

Individualized Coaching and Advising

• Develops supportive advising relationships that centre learner agency by applying person-centered, equity-informed, and trauma-informed principles of practice

• Facilitates reflective thinking through asking questions, active listening and applying other counselling micro-skills to support learner decision making in career and employment-related contexts

• Flexibly adapts to ensure inclusive, supportive interactions with people from all identities and experiences, including individuals who identify as Indigenous, Black, racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+, a person with a disability, an international student, or any intersection of these

• Understands and tactfully acknowledges employment barriers; works with individuals to build strategies that will support work search needs post-graduation

• Navigates complex interactions and engages in effective case management when situations require referrals (e.g., Counselling Services, AccessAbility Services, etc.)

• Supports learners to identify and use tools, resources, and other sources of information relevant to pursuing their goals and understanding the world of work
  

Group Facilitation

• Designs and delivers presentations and facilitates workshops and activities with small and large groups of learners (in person and online)

• Tailors resources and adapts facilitation style/strategies to meet the needs of diverse learners, drawing on universal design principles and effective teaching and learning strategies

• Creates and integrates customized content within presentations and workshops to meet designated learning outcomes at the course and/or program level

Relationship Building

• Builds relationships with CCD colleagues to effectively collaborate on projects, engage in supportive communities of practice and facilitate information sharing

• Builds relationships with campus stakeholders to strengthen CCD referrals and increase curricular/co-curricular integration of CCD services (Faculties, SSO, Co-operative Education, Accessibility Services, Campus Wellness, Centre for Work Integrated Learning, Writing & Communication Centre, Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs, Registrar’s Office, etc.)

• Leverages key relationships (e.g., Faculty Relations Managers, Instructors) to strategically embed inclusive career education content into academic spaces (including courses)

• Influences stakeholder perspectives on the value of career education and capably coaches other educators on purposeful career readiness principles

• Negotiates the delivery of career education programs, services and content with stakeholders to optimize the learner experience

• Works closely with colleagues in the Centre for Work-Integrated Learning to incorporate best practices in pedagogy

 Program Management and Leadership

• Leads the strategic design and delivery of career education programming that enhances the learning experience both inside and outside the classroom

• Identifies service gaps/opportunities and proposes ideas for new/improved programming that aligns with strategic priorities and stakeholder feedback

• Conducts relevant research and identifies key themes to inform curriculum and program development

• Creates learning outcomes and assessment strategies to evaluate program success in collaboration with colleagues

• Develops, plans, and implements inclusive career and employment-related programming

• Collaborates with internal stakeholders and external partners outside the department/university to inform strategic initiatives and programs

• Supervises and mentors student-staff

Theory, Knowledge, and Best Practices

• Stays abreast of career education and student development trends, theories, literature and best practices; applies knowledge to ensure high-quality service and programming

• Continuously strengthens equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility competencies; applies learning/unlearning to adapt approaches to supporting learners

• Develops and maintains thorough knowledge of University of Waterloo and community resources, services, and supports to ensure strong and effective referrals for learners

• Develops resources for fellow Career Advisors as well as student-staff using educational practices that meet a variety of learning needs

• Participates in a culture of shared learning; engages in and offers appointment/workshop shadowing opportunities

Required Qualifications

• Undergraduate university degree required

• Courses or certification in career development is a strong asset
• Experience advising/coaching is required; preferably in a career development or postsecondary education context

• Experience facilitating workshops and delivering presentations is required

• Experience building successful relationships and collaborative partnerships is required

• Experience directly supporting/designing programming that meet the needs of individuals facing barriers is required

• Experience developing tailored workshops, curricula, or other learning resources is required
• Knowledge of learner-centered, trauma-informed and equity-informed principles and practices

• Knowledge of career development, student transition and student life cycles

• Knowledge of the barriers faced by individuals seeking employment, especially equity-deserving individuals

• Knowledge of work-integrated learning, co-operative education, and role of career development in enhancing these learner experiences an asset

• Advanced active listening skills; empathetic and non-judgmental

• Exceptional written and oral communications skills, adaptable to audience and context

• Strong presentation and facilitation skills; knowledge of effective teaching and learning strategies/activities is an asset

• Strong organizational and time management skills, as well as excellent attention to detail

• Ability to support others using a person-centered approach, setting aside preconceived ideas of what knowledge or conventions would be best for someone else

• Ability to build strong working relationships and collaborate effectively with colleagues both inside and outside of the department

• Ability to develop, implement and lead quality projects and programs while meeting deadlines

• Ability to manage a high volume of work amidst competing priorities

• Ability to update working knowledge of best practices, processes and resources that inform practitioner practice

• Awareness of own social location and how it affects power and privilege within both learner and coworker interactions/relationships

• Understanding of professional scope and ability to make appropriate referrals while considering potential barriers individuals might face in accessing them

Equity Statement
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 coordinated 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 [email protected] or 519-888-4567, ext. 45935.