Imagine UBC Orientation Leader Position Description

Imagine UBC and the University's orientation programs serve as new students' formal welcome to the University, and to the learning community they have joined. Imagine UBC helps both first year and transfer students begin to find and build a community at UBC, feel supported from their first day on campus and through their first year.

The Imagine UBC Orientation Leader position plays a crucial role in the delivery of UBC Orientations, through communicating with a cohort of new-to-Science students throughout the summer, and by providing direct peer support to this group on Imagine Day (September 8, 2026) through to mid-October.

Imagine UBC is an in-person orientation, and your responsibilities are primarily completed in-person too. Some training through the summer will be hosted online. Please check specific dates and responsibilities further down this page to ensure that you can fully commit to the role.

In 2026, we are seeking 180 Imagine UBC Orientation Leaders in the Faculty of Science.

Role Overview

Build and support an engaged community of new-to-Science students
Facilitate the delivery of Imagine UBC
Facilitate the delivery of campus wayfinding support during the first week of classes
Engage in personal and professional development
Role model outstanding student leadership on campus
Provide informed and timely referrals to official campus resources and opportunities to students in your group to support their transition, as needed

Assist with the delivery of the new-to-UBC Science Transition Experience through October 17, 2026 by:

Engaging in bi-weekly check-ins with the new-to-UBC students in your group
Maintaining regular contact (via email, in-person meeting, etc.) with your Imagine Senior Orientation Leader
Providing updates to the Science Imagine UBC Orientations team regarding connections with new-to-UBC students and other information as required

Additional Information for Leaders Working with Transfer Students

We are actively looking for strong Science student leaders who are interested in working with a diverse and dynamic population of transfer students. Previous experience as a Science transfer student is an asset, but not required.

In addition to the Imagine UBC Orientation Leader requirements and time commitments below, leaders working with transfer students will:

Begin connecting with transfer Science students in early July
Communicate information regarding new-to-UBC student connections with the Science Imagine Orientations team on a regular and recurring basis
Be flexible in participating in a variety of ways throughout the role in order to support transfer students

Time Commitment

You must ensure you are available for all commitments listed below as they are mandatory requirements.

Time Period	Details
Fri March 27 5:30 – 7:30 PM	Science Welcome: An in-person overview of the Orientation Leader role and an opportunity to meet your Senior Orientation Leader team.
Thurs June 18 5:30 – 7 PM	Community Building Event #1 Virtual training and community building with your Senior Orientation Leader team.
Ongoing June – October	Asynchronous Online Training Modules To be completed on your own time (including online challenges, Asynchronous Imagine Training and Community Building Education). Connections with incoming students Specific dates and details to come.
Thurs July 16 5:30 – 7 PM	Community Building Event #2 Virtual training and community building with your Senior Orientation Leader team.
Thurs August 27 5:30 – 7 PM	Community Building Event #3 Virtual training and community building with your Senior Orientation Leader team.
Mon September 7 All Day: 8:30 AM – 5 PM	Imagine UBC Training More information will be available in August. If you will be away for the summer, please plan to return to campus by September 6, 2026
Tues September 8 All Day: 7 AM – 4 PM	Imagine UBC
Wed September 9 or Thurs September 10	Wayfinding Support One shift within the first two days of classes to support student navigation across campus. More information will be available in August.
Thurs September 24 5:30 – 7 PM	Post-Imagine Session This event is in-person and on campus.
September – October 17	Ongoing check-ins with new-to-UBC Science students
Thurs October 15 5:30 – 7 PM	Final Community Building Event This event is in-person and on campus.

Benefits of Participating

Involvement in the University community
Build respectful and inclusive communities
Develop transferable soft skills including: group facilitation, online facilitation, effective communication, community development, and team building
Build connections with university staff and peers
Give back to the UBC community

Responsibilities

Build and support an engaged community of new-to-UBC students by:

Leading an Orientation group of approximately 10 first year or 25 transfer students
Creating and maintaining communities of friendship and belonging for all new-to-UBC students
Building peer relationships within your individual group, as well as amongst fellow Orientation Leaders
Embracing your role as a UBC ambassador for student leadership and as a representative of the program
Communicating important updates from your Senior Orientation Leader to your group via email or other social media

Facilitate delivery of Imagine UBC by:

Assisting with the organization and delivery of Imagine UBC activities for new-to-UBC students
Maintaining communication throughout the planning process to ensure successful program delivery
Providing feedback for overall program delivery and articulating recommendations moving forward

Facilitate campus wayfinding support:

Assisting with directional wayfinding between September 9 - 10
Supporting students to find important information on the websites (science.ubc.ca/students and students.ubc.ca), and reinforcing the Distillation email
Directing students to resources as appropriate

Engage in personal and professional skill development by:

Developing competencies in areas including communication, teamwork, social and community organization, analysis and problem solving, initiative and motivation, willingness to learn, and adaptability

Role model outstanding student leadership on campus by:

Upholding UBC’s Respectful Environment Statement as a responsible member of the UBC community
Embracing the role as an ambassador for student leadership and representative of the Faculty
Understanding the role that an Orientation Leader plays within a larger scope of leadership on the UBC Vancouver campus
Actively participating as a member of a larger community of leadership across the UBC Vancouver campus

Desired Experience and Skills

Must be a student in good academic standing and enrolled as an undergraduate student in the Faculty of Science until December 2026
Exceptional leadership skills
Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills
Excellent time management and conflict resolution skills
Flexibility in planning, promoting, and facilitating new and innovative initiatives throughout the year
Demonstrated ability to adapt to new and challenging experiences with a positive mindset
Ability and willingness to work independently and as part of a team with students, volunteers, and staff
Willing to engage in ongoing professional and personal development and opportunities
Knowledge of UBC and volunteer/work experience
Knowledge of and/or sensitivity to issues affecting students and their transition to Canada or to UBC

Commitment to Equity and Inclusion

Equity and diversity are essential to the academic community at UBC and essential to Orientations programming that will support all incoming students. A diverse leader community can contribute to effective community building and to the empowerment of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit or Indigenous person.

We expect all applicants to be committed to equity and inclusion, and leaders will be provided with ongoing training related to these topics. We expect all applicants to show respect for all people and their differences, demonstrate fairness and equity, work to understand the perspectives of others, promote cooperation and collaboration, bring out the best in others, demonstrate empathy and use respectful language. 