IRES Vancouver Summer Program (VSP) Student Ambassadors
Department: Institute of Resources, Environment and Sustainability (IRES)
Hours per week: 20 hours per week (300 hours total)
Positions: 6 Salary: $17.09/hr
Background:
The Institute of Resources, Environment and Sustainability (IRES) is a collaborative, problem-oriented interdisciplinary research institute and graduate program that produces students and research geared towards finding real-world solutions to environmental and sustainability issues.
This year will be the second year that the IRES will be hosting the Vancouver Summer Programs (VSP), of which two four-week packages will be offered:
• Package A: Climate Change, Energy and Society (IRES A July)
• Package B: Sustainable Futures (IRES B July)
The Program will host approximately 60-80 international undergraduate students (approximately 30-40 students in each Package) who will attend academic courses related to Environmental Sustainability, as well as social and cultural activities hosted by IRES.
The IRES Vancouver Summer Program (VSP) Student Ambassadors will be an essential and active part of the IRES VSP team. They will work closely with the IRES Special Projects Coordinator on the execution and implementation of the Program. Some unsocial hours may be required.
Job Description:
Under direct supervision from the IRES Special Projects Coordinator, the IRES Vancouver Summer Program (VSP) Student Ambassadors will provide support, coordinate scheduled activities (including escorting the students on field trips, airport pick-ups, as well as social and cultural activities) and be a vital liaison between the VSP students and the department.
Responsibilities include:
General Duties
• Ensuring a respectful, supportive and welcoming environment for VSP students
• Engaging with VSP students to facilitate a meaningful exchange experience
• Leading and supporting volunteers by providing necessary supplies and instructions, and offering advice as needed
• Developing relationships with VSP students and ensuring approachability and resourcefulness
• Fostering a sense of community and inclusion
Event Coordination and Execution
• Organizing and assisting in leading group activities and/or events (such as movie nights, trivia nights, Sports Day, city tours, etc.) aimed at exposing international summer students to Canadian culture
• Taking responsibility for VSP student safety and enjoyment
• Coordinating opportunities for current UBC students to interact with international students who are specializing in similar areas
• Meeting with the other VSP student workers on campus in order to evaluate options and make recommendations for orientation and social activities
Administration
• Assisting with academic courses by performing tasks such as: preparing course materials and handouts, and helping prepare other information as required
• Preparing materials for various events and activities
• Responding to various forms of student inquiries in person, via e-mail, social media, and by phone in a timely and professional manner
• Supporting students with logistical needs (e.g. using public transportation, accessing local amenities, timing of program events etc…).
• Directing international students to campus resources as appropriate
• Designing and implementing program evaluation surveys for VSP students, staff, and faculty
• Analyzing evaluation data and writing evaluation reports to recommend program improvement areas
• Researching potential partner universities for future recruitment, and updating a database of marketing contacts
Other Responsibilities May Include:
• Assisting Vancouver Summer Program Staff with centrally run initiatives
• Facilitating airport pickup and residence move-in for incoming students
• Attending and participating in meetings with IRES staff and the VSP central team
• Maintaining the social and cultural activities budget, which includes daily expenditures
• Assisting with developing and managing marketing materials for the IRES Vancouver Summer Programs (e.g. social media marketing materials for Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn)
Additional duties may be assigned by the IRES Special Projects Coordinator as necessary.
Supervision:
These duties and responsibilities will be performed under the direct supervision of the IRES Special Projects Coordinator. Additional supervision may be provided by IRES VSP Course Instructors, IRES Staff, or VSP Central Staff. The IRES Vancouver Summer Program (VSP) Student Ambassadors will have regular weekly meetings with the IRES Special Projects Coordinator to discuss project progress, workload and any other concerns. Weekly meetings will also be an opportunity for the Student workers to provide their feedback, reflection and creativity on the Program. Furthermore, the IRES Vancouver Summer Program (VSP) Student Ambassadors and the IRES Special Projects Coordinator will work in close proximity to one another in an effort to create a workplace context that promotes effective mentorship, communication and learning.
Complexity of Tasks:
The IRES Vancouver Summer Program (VSP) Student Ambassadors’ primary tasks will be planning, facilitating, communicating, connecting with VSP students and evaluating. As such, familiarity with identifying program goals and outcomes, coordinating event logistics, leading groups, and creating evaluations will be highly beneficial. Strong written and verbal communication, knowledge of additional languages, as well as intercultural sensitivity is also considered a benefit. Furthermore, tasks require significant interpersonal skills and the ability to empower others and work with people from other cultures in a respectful manner.
Supporting the Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability’s (IRES’) Mission:
This role directly supports the IRES’ mission to foster sustainable futures through integrated research and learning about the linkages among human, technological and natural systems, and to support decision making from local to global scales. In particular, the IRES Vancouver Summer Program (VSP) Student Ambassadors’ role will help to directly carry out the learning aspect of the mission.
Qualifications:
This position requires an individual who has a positive attitude, strong work ethic, excellent communications skills and a strong focus on attention to detail. The successful applicants will need to be able to work effectively with the IRES administrative team, as well as independently manage and prioritize multiple tasks to meet VSP goals and timeframes.
Education & Experience
• Current UBC student (undergraduate students in their 3rd or 4th year, as well as graduate students are preferred)
• Students with an academic background or interest in Environmental Sustainability is preferred
• Experience and familiarity with UBC campus life and Vancouver
• Experience working with international students is an asset
• Previous experience in a customer service environment an asset
• Experience as a Student Ambassador is an asset
• Interest in a career related to Environmental Sustainability, Student Services, Event Coordination, or Program Management is considered an asset
• Knowledge of additional languages, especially Mandarin, is considered an asset
Skills and Qualifications:
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills: professional email/phone correspondence, public speaking and presentation proficiency
• Excellent computer skills (experience with MS Office, including Outlook, Word and Excel)
• Experience with social media marketing (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn) is an asset
• Demonstrates an eagerness to learn and take initiative
• Exceptional attention to detail
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Ability and willingness to work both independently and as part of a team with students, volunteers and staff
• Experience working with people from a variety of backgrounds/cultures; knowledge and/or sensitivity to issues affecting domestic and international students and their transition to Canada or to UBC
• Knowledge of UBC’s services and resources for students and of campus life
• Students who are a good fit for this position are approachable, knowledgeable and open to learning about themselves and others
• Having experience working with confidential information and material is an asset
• Keen interest in the success of undergraduate students and education
Fit:
• Positive, welcoming, and inclusive attitude
• Open-minded and interested in learning about other languages and cultures
• Eager to share personal UBC and Vancouver experience with international students
• Interest in Environmental Sustainability
• Strong leadership skills
• Ability to adapt to different situations
• Good team player
Student Learning Components:
The IRES Vancouver Summer Program (VSP) Student Ambassador role aims to offer students the following experiential learning outcomes to:
Pursue mentorship opportunities:
Training will be provided by the IRES Special Projects Coordinator. Introductory training will include an orientation to the Institute of Resources, Environment and Sustainability and its various functions, an introduction to our VSP Program and its intentions. An initial one-on-one welcome meeting will be held by the IRES Special Projects Coordinator with the IRES Vancouver Summer Program (VSP) Student Ambassadors to discuss personal and professional development goals, as well as to determine areas of learning and growth. Regular weekly or bi-weekly meetings will be set up throughout the placement to provide constructive feedback and discuss project progress, workload and any other concerns. Weekly meetings will also be an opportunity for the Student workers to provide their feedback and reflection on the Program. Finally, a one-on-one exit interview meeting will also be held at the end of the term in order to reflect on learning, growth and goals, as well as to seek the feedback on the IRES Vancouver Summer Program (VSP) Student Ambassador experience.
Additional training may be provided by the VSP central team. Opportunities to collaborate and learn from other Vancouver Summer Program Assistants/Ambassadors working on the VSP in other faculties on campus will be provided.
Develop professional and personal skills:
The IRES Vancouver Summer Program (VSP) Student Ambassadors will have the opportunity to develop the following professional and personal skills:
• Verbal and written communication
• Project management
• Strategic planning and prioritization
• Organization and time management
• Interpersonal and cross-cultural skills
• Event/activity coordination, management and execution
• Decision-making skills
• Self-reflection
• Attention to detail
• Teamwork
• Problem-solving
These skills are highly transferable and invaluable to any professional workplace.
The student will also gain exposure to:
• A professional office environment
• Collaborating with university Faculty, Staff, and Graduate Students
• Working with international students
Furthermore, the IRES Vancouver Summer Program (VSP) Student Ambassadors will be exposed to the various faculty and student projects, job and volunteer opportunities, and the latest information in the fields of resource management, sustainability, and environmental science.
Apply discipline specific knowledge:
IRES Vancouver Summer Program (VSP) Student Ambassadors may come from different academic backgrounds as there is no specific academic background requirement for this role. However, IRES Vancouver Summer Program (VSP) Student Ambassadors with an academic background and discipline specific knowledge in Environmental Science/Sustainability related topics will have the opportunity to apply their discipline specific knowledge on a daily basis. Whereas IRES Vancouver Summer Program (VSP) Student Ambassadors with other academic backgrounds may have the opportunity to share their discipline specific knowledge and expertise with the VSP students by taking the initiative to facilitate discussions and events related to their discipline specific knowledge and/or academic background.
Expand their network:
The IRES Vancouver Summer Program (VSP) Student Ambassadors will have the opportunity to expand their network by meeting and working with:
• UBC IRES Staff, Faculty, and Graduate students
• VSP student volunteers
• The international students participating in the IRES Vancouver Summer Program
• Other Vancouver Summer Program Student Assistance/Ambassadors from other Faculties
• Local organizations through event and excursion planning
The IRES Vancouver Summer Program (VSP) Student Ambassador role provides an excellent opportunity for students to expand their network locally as well as internationally.
Demonstrate ownership and responsibility of work:
The IRES Vancouver Summer Program (VSP) Student Ambassadors will have the opportunity develop, coordinate, and execute their own events/activities. Furthermore, they are expected to take ownership and responsibility of their work.
Develop self-awareness and reflection:
As previously mentioned, the IRES Vancouver Summer Program (VSP) Student Ambassadors will have regular meetings with the IRES Special Projects Coordinator in which constructive feedback, project progress, workload and any other concerns will be discussed. Additionally, the student will have the opportunity to share their own feedback, and reflections. These one-on-one meetings are designed to assess job performance, ensure project goals are being met,
identify areas of professional/personal development, and engage in discussions around student and supervisor’s reflections on progress and growth. Furthermore the IRES Vancouver Summer Program (VSP) Student Ambassador will work in close proximity to the IRES Special Projects Coordinator, thus, ongoing support and feedback will be available on a continual and consistent basis
Contribute to the University as a whole:
The IRES Vancouver Summer Program (VSP) Student Ambassador role is crucial to ensuring the success of the IRES Vancouver Summer Program (VSP), which contributes to the university by creating an additional educational program for students offered by the university, fostering relationships and partnerships with international universities, as well as building and expanding the UBC Community domestically and internationally.
The IRES Vancouver Summer Program (VSP) Student Ambassador role:
• Directly aligns with UBC’s vision to inspire people, ideas and actions for a better world
• Carries out UBC’s purpose to pursue excellence in research, learning and engagement to foster global citizenship and advance a sustainable and just society across British Columbia, Canada and the world.
Furthermore the IRES Vancouver Summer Program (VSP) Student Ambassador role meets the following goals of UBC:
• Inspire and enable students through excellence in transformative teaching, mentoring, advising and the student experience
• Build a diverse culture that integrates our themes of innovation, collaboration and inclusion, and infuses them through all our activities
• Lead globally and locally in sustainability, wellbeing and safety across our campuses and communities
• Significantly expand student access, alumni networks and institutional partnerships to reinforce global and local connections
• Lead as a first-choice place to learn and work
• Define and leverage the distinctive and complementary strengths of our campuses and learning sites
• Lead as a model public institution, fostering discourse, knowledge exchange and engagement
Apply through the UBC Careers Online Website through Work Learn Job Positions – Deadline March 15th