Indigenous Student Recruitment Officer

Desired Start Date: October 12, 2026

Posting Close Date: October 4, 2026

Salary range: $63,827 - $72,927

Bargaining unit: BCGEU Support

Classification: Support Services Coordinator II

Type of appointment: Regular Full-time

Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm

Special Instructions to Applicants:

• This position will require travel and may include some evenings and weekends
• Travelling frequently throughout campus regions and occasionally outside of region.
• Shortlisted internal candidates must notify the current Support Staff Bargaining Chairperson and People Services if they want a Union Observer during interviews and final selection of candidates.

Position Summary

The Indigenous Student Recruitment Offers reports to the Manager, Recruitment & Enrolment. This role is primarily responsible for promoting Okanagan College to prospective Indigenous students in secondary and post-secondary institutions, community, educational, and career organizations; business and industry; and other relevant community settings. While available to support all recruitment activities and initiatives, this position focuses on encouraging prospective Indigenous students to engage with and apply to the College through direct connections, in-school and community presentations, and on and off-campus events. Working closely with Indigenous Services, this position strengthens relations with local Indigenous community partners and advances the College’s goals related to reconciliation and student success.

The Indigenous Student Recruitment Officer identifies quality leads and prospective Indigenous applicants for all Okanagan College programs, location, pathways, and delivery methods. The position combines knowledge of various data sources and industry and enrolment trends with relevant cultural understandings and competencies ideally, through lived experience to support prospective Indigenous students, parents, and influencers in the process of making decision for post-secondary education.

As a key ambassador of the College and its goals, the Indigenous Student Recruitment Officer is the key primary recruitment contact supporting Indigenous community partners served by the college.

Functions and Duties

STUDENT RECRUITMENT

• Provides detailed, comprehensive, and accurateCollege and program-specific information and guidance to prospective students through school, communityand campus presentations; one-on-one or group consultations; and varied media (e.g.virtual meetings, phone, text messaging, email, and social media).
• Responds promptly to inquiries, concerns and requests about programs, applications, registrationand services from prospective students.
• Provides advising to prospective students to help identifyprograms that are a fit for student goals, advises on pre-requisites and conducts first stage review of transcripts to assess admissibility.
• Provides prospective students with information on career and employment trends and outlines how Okanagan College programs and courses are a pathway into these careers.
• Works collaboratively with the College’s program delivery departments to promote all programs.
• Works collaboratively with the College’s service departments (especially Indigenous Services and Student Services) to advise prospective students effectively on supports available and the process to access supports.
• Provides on-campus tours to prospective students, influencers, schooland community groups as required.
• Guides prospective students and their influencers to engage with Okanagan College by providing contact information and promoting tours and attendance at oncampus events.
• RepresentsOkanagan College and all its programs and regions as applicable on the post-secondary BC recruitment circuit, at the Alberta Out-of-Province recruitment weeks, and at other recruitment activities in and outside the province as appropriate.
• Stays current on provincial initiatives and systems that impactprospective students, applicants and students including but not limited to EducationPlannerBC, BC Transfer Guide, Skilled Trades BCand Financial Aid.
• Researches and develops new Indigenousrecruitment opportunities and methodologies, consulting widely with Indigenous Services and external stakeholders to identifybarriers to and supports for Indigenous student recruitment
• Stays current on program changes and offerings.

CONVERSION

• Assistsprospective students and applicants through the application process with detailed information on entrance requirements and admission processes for all programs and credentials.
• Understands band funding and works closely with the Indigenous coordinators to support Indigenous students with understanding of band memberships, statusand funding on reserve and off reserve.
• Communicates application status and important deadlines to applicants according to the recruitment/admissions cycle and on request.
• Refers applicants to Academic Advisors, Indigenous Student Services Coordinators, and academic departments as requiredfor advanced course and program planning.
• Works in close relation to the Indigenous coordinators to ensure the education plans are being adhered to from the first interaction and through the studentspost-secondaryjourney
• Provides information on Financial Aid options available to various student populations and makes referrals for prospective students and applicants to Financial Aid.
• Provides information on accommodationavailable to students who experience barriers to access and makes referrals to Accessibility Services as required.
• Is available to meet with prospective students and applicants and their influencers in-person, online, or over the phone to encourage enrolment.

DATA COLLECTION and ANALYSIS

• Cultivates and collects relevant data of prospective students, engagements, client contacts and events to facilitate ongoing contact with prospective students and influencers throughout the inquiry, application, and admissions cycle.
• Uses CRM tools available to track and analyze recruitment activities, engagement levels, yield, and conversion rates and recommends future recruitment changes to improve recruitment activities with indigenous communities and that it aligns with the overarching goals of those communities.
• Periodically, extracts, reviews and analyzes past and current enrolment data and recommends future recruitment changes to improve Indigenous recruitment efficiencies and results.
• Collaborates on development and implementation of applicant calling campaigns as required to enhance conversion activities.

SCHOOL and COMMUNITY INTERACTIONS

• In consultation with the recruitment team, plans and coordinates an annual schedule of presentations at all secondary schools for each Recruitment Officers’ catchment area. Prepares and delivers the required presentation materials in their assigned catchment area and assists other recruiters as required.
• Attends Parent Teacher Nights, Dual Credit Nights, Course Selection Nights and other events at secondary schools in the region to connect with influencers and prospective students.
• In collaboration with school representatives, examines the historic high school enrolment data at OC to develop strategies to improve application and conversion rates.
• Identifies key community agencies whose clients are prospective students and establishes relationships to implement recruitment practices suited to these clients.
• Prepares and conducts presentations and workshops to a range of audiences in the community as requested, and/or as planned in the Recruitment Strategy.
• Identifies key community events and activities and represents Okanagan College as appropriate to sustain visibility and information to influencers and prospects.

EVENTS

• Organizes and implements on and off-campus recruitment events. Logistics include but are not limited to booking speakers, room set-ups, signage, hospitality, programming tables, event supplies, technology requirements.
• Specific on-campus recruitment events for prospective students include but are not limited to Counsellors Breakfast, Spotlight Sessions, Recruitment workshops, and Student for a Day.
• Collaborates with recruitment team, College Relations, and Events programmer on the implementation of Open Houses at each campus.
• Coordinates Okanagan College’s participation at external trade, career and consumer shows, recruitment fairs, and information sessions including the staffing, preparation of booth, and gathering all display materials required.
• Volunteers at other College events as appropriate, such as Orientation to assist in the transition of new students.

PLANNING

• Under the guidance of the Recruitment and Enrolment Management, participates in the development, implementation and evaluation of short- and long-term strategic recruitment.
• Gathers and makes recommendations based on market intelligence on best practices of competitor institutions.
• Based on current best practices, continuously identifies, builds business cases, and presents new recruitment opportunities and ideas. Maintains knowledge of current trends and issues in student recruitment and higher education to inform and implement best practices in recruitment.
• Works with local Indigenous communities and Indigenous support coordinators to ensure planning adheres with the expectations of the community

MARKETING

• Working with College Relations, provides input into any region-specific marketing materials and program specific marketing materials to meet the needs of the multiple range of audiences.
• From interactions with prospective students and through other experiences, provides feedback to College Relations on various communications and promotional materials/channels.
• Collaborates with College Relations to build communication campaigns targeting prospective students, applicants and influencers.

OTHER

• Understands barriers to post-secondary and has training in trauma informed practice with both individuals and groups
• Assists in the development and delivery of training for student employees and volunteers.
• Supports, mentors and supervises student employees and volunteers.

Education and Experience

EDUCATION

Graduation from a three- or four-year degree program in marketing, business, public relations, Indigenous studies or related discipline.

EXPERIENCE

At least two years related experience in post-secondary student recruitment, indigenous education, program promotion, public speaking and presentations to large groups, event organization, or marketing,

Training in culturally informed practice and trauma informed care is preferred.

Must hold a valid BC Class 5 DriversLicense and have access to a personal vehicle. Food Safe and Serving It Right certification would be an asset.

Skills and Abilities

• Superior customer service and interpersonal skills
• Ability to identify and respond to the needs of Indigenous students, including transitional and developmental needs and work closely with other departments to ensure students have access to resources
• Ability to build and develop relationships with Indigenous students, communities and leaders, including an understanding of respectful practices and protocols when working with Elders
• Effective organizational and time management skills
• Works effectively independently as well as collaborating effectively with a team
• Effective conflict resolution skills and ability to resolve sensitive issues
• Exceptional listening and professional communication skills, focused on tact and diplomacy
• Excellent computer skills with proficiency using Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook)
• Working knowledge and experience with student record systems
• Aptitude for learning and working with new systems and software
• Effective problem analysis and problem-solving skills
• Outstanding public speaking and presentation skills
• Ability to exercise initiative, self-development, good judgement and critical thinking
• Collaborates with others and maintains positive working relationships