Imagine UBC Senior 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 Senior Orientation Leader position plays an important role in the recruitment, development and oversight of student leaders involved in Imagine UBC.

For 2026 orientations, Science is looking for 18 Senior Orientation Leaders.

14 Senior Orientation Leaders working directly with developing and supporting the programming for First Year Science Students (majority of which are direct entry from high school).
4 Senior Orientation Leaders working directly with developing and supporting the programming for Transfer Science Students (transferring from another university or college - including UBC Okanagan, or from another Faculty/program within UBC Vancouver).

All 18 Science Senior Orientation Leaders, regardless of designation as First Year or Transfer, will work closely as a single, cohesive team to help build out and implement the Imagine UBC Orientation Experience for the Faculty of Science.

The Science Senior Orientation Leader position is active from March 14, 2026 until December 2026, plus a 3-day commitment in March 2027.

Role Overview

Build and support an engaged community of Orientation Leaders

Within the Faculty of Science, Orientation Leaders are grouped in teams of approximately 10 people. These teams are led by a Senior Orientation Leader. Senior Orientation Leaders are responsible for:

Building and maintaining a respectful environment for others in all University-related activities
Building peer relationships
Modeling professionalism and leadership
Communicating important updates from UBC staff regarding the Orientation and Transition program to your team via email or other communications channels
Providing support to the development of the student leaders in your team through their summer online training program
Motivating team members to stay engaged for the duration of their roles and to build a successful team
Maintaining contact with your team for the first 6 weeks of Term 1 to support them as they continue to engage with their new-to-UBC students throughout their transition experience

Imagine UBC logistical planning and delivery

All Imagine UBC Senior Orientation Leaders brainstorm, implement ideas and provide feedback on Orientation and Transition programs. This encompasses:

Providing leadership and active participation as a member of a larger community of student leaders across the UBC Vancouver campus.
Assisting with the facilitation of Orientation Leader recruitment, hiring, and training
Assisting with the organization of Imagine UBC activities for new-to-UBC and transfer students
Maintaining effective communication throughout the planning process to ensure successful program delivery.
Collaborate with fellow Senior Orientation Leaders as an active member of a Senior Orientation Leader committee
Support Orientation Leaders and new-to-UBC students during Imagine UBC, responding to questions, helping with activity implementation, and reacting quickly and appropriately if any issues arise

Orientation and Transition experience delivery

The Science Orientation and Transition Experience is designed to support new-to-UBC students through the summer and throughout their first term (Mar – Dec 2026). This encompasses:

Understanding the larger picture of Orientations and Transition at the University and assisting in the implementation of that vision between Mar – Dec
Supporting the ongoing development of the Orientation Leader Team (May – Oct), which includes online and in-person check-ins with the Orientation Leaders, and connecting them with resources and ideas to aid in the support of new-to-UBC students
Contributing to the coordination of campus wayfinding support during the first week of classes
Participating in the facilitation of our weekly Study Hall program taking place throughout Term 1
Assisting in the evaluation of the program and articulating recommendations moving forward
Supporting with the hiring and onboarding of next year’s Science Senior Orientation Leader team (including participating in the hiring process, creating transition documents, and taking on formal mentorship roles in 2027)

Time Commitment

Senior Orientation Leaders must attend:

Commitment	Date and Time	Description
Senior Orientation Leader Welcome	Saturday Mar 14 9 am – 2 pm	In person at UBC Vancouver: Meet the team of Science Senior Orientation Leaders and engage in team training
Science Orientation Leader Welcome Training	Thursday Mar 26 5:30 – 7 pm	Training session to prepare for the Orientation Leader welcome
Science Orientation Leader Welcome	Friday Mar 27 5 – 7:30 pm	Participate in the in-person Science Orientation Leader Welcome event
Professional Development Day	Saturday May 9 10 am – 3 pm	Virtual Science Senior Orientation Leader Professional Development session
Senior Orientation Leader Recurrent Meetings	Thursdays from 5:30 – 7 pm	Includes Senior Orientation Leader development, Science specific meetings, Orientation team meet-ups Meetings take place weekly from May – August (virtually) and from September – December (in-person) A schedule will be provided to you at the start of your role. Attendance at these meetings is mandatory; inability to attend may result in dismissal from the role
Orientation Leader Recruitment	April – May	Assist with Orientation Leader recruitment, virtually
Asynchronous Role Training	Asynchronous training throughout Summer	Complete asynchronous role training as required in late August/early September 2026
In-Person Training	Sunday Sept 6 and Monday Sept 7 Exact timing of training to be announced	Orientation Leader training in-person at UBC Vancouver
Imagine UBC	Tuesday Sept 8	Contribute to the facilitation of Imagine UBC!
Imagine Team Debrief & Reflection	Thursday Sept 24 5:30 – 7 pm	Reflect on Imagine Day to provide feedback and celebrate achievements with your Orientation Leader team
Study Hall program	Throughout Term 1	Assist with the facilitation of our weekly Study Hall program taking place throughout Term 1 (Sept – Dec 2026)

Senior Orientation Leaders must also:

Maintain regular contact (via email, virtual and in-person meetings, etc.) with your team of Orientation Leaders to support in community building, provide updates from UBC Staff, facilitate the completion of online learning modules during the summer, and to support them during the Transition Experience
Regularly follow up with your Orientation Leader team after Imagine UBC and hold them accountable to engaging in mandatory Orientation Leader training sessions and events post-Imagine to facilitate student social and academic transition (dates and times will be outlined in their position descriptions)
- Note: Your attendance may be required at these training sessions and post-imagine events; the specific details will be communicated to you later on

Skills and Qualifications required:

Current undergraduate student in the Faculty of Science, continuing in the Faculty of Science in 2026-2027
Recognizes the importance of their role as a positive role model and representative of UBC and the Faculty of Science
Demonstrated leadership skills
Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills
Able to commit to and follow through with all Senior Orientation Leader required dates and expectations as outlined above
Demonstrated ability to adapt to new and challenging experiences with positive mindset
Ability and willingness to work independently and as part of a team with students, volunteers, and staff
Knowledge of UBC and volunteer/work experience on campus
Knowledge and/or sensitivity to issues affecting students and their transition to Canada or to UBC
Previous experience with UBC Orientations as a Leader is an asset but is not required
Being flexible and adaptable to programming changes that may occur depending on needs of incoming new to UBC students

Skills and Experiences to be enhanced through your involvement as a Senior Orientation Leader:

Facilitation skills (leading a group of 10-15 peers, leading online learning and reflection, assisting with facilitation of different events and sessions, etc.)
Written and oral communication skills (email correspondence, public speaking, etc.)
Time management and organization skills
Active listening skills and awareness of the needs of students in transition
Problem–solving and trouble-shooting experience
Experience working with diverse teams, including peers, staff, and faculty

Commitment to Equity and Inclusion

Equity and diversity are essential to the academic community at UBC, and are essential to Orientations programming that will support all incoming students. A diverse leader community can help 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.