Indigenous Student Recruitment Officer

When you join Okanagan College, you’re joining a team that’s transforming lives and communities.

Every course you create, every student you support and every connection you build, it all matters.

Be a part of a vibrant campus community, where the work you do every day truly makes a difference.

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 accurate College and program-specific information and guidance to prospective students through school, community and 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, registration and services from prospective students.  

• Provides advising to prospective students to help identify programs 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, school and 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 on campus events.  

• Represents Okanagan 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 impact prospective students, applicants and students including but not limited to EducationPlannerBC , BC Transfer Guide, Skilled Trades BC and Financial Aid.  

• Researches and develops new Indigenous recruitment opportunities and methodologies, consulting widely with Indigenous Services and external stakeholders to identify barriers to and supports for Indigenous student recruitment  

• Stays current on program changes and offerings.  

CONVERSION  

 • A ssists prospective 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, status and 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 for advanced course and program planning.  

•Works in close relation to the I ndigenous coordinators to ensure the education plans are being adhered to from the first interaction and through the students post-secondary journey  

•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 accommodation available 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 Drivers License 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  

Our Values

Students first: Creating meaningful life-long educational opportunities of the highest quality for alumni, current, and future students is at the heart of everything we do.

Community: We are one College. We enthusiastically embrace the opportunity to work with, learn from, and support everyone we encounter collaboratively and collegially.

Respect: We welcome, embrace, and celebrate that which make us unique in creating an environment in which every individual is valued, affirming our commitment to human dignity for all.

Courage: We are courageous in our actions in areas that contribute to positive change in our communities and beyond. We have the courage to be vulnerable. We are truthful, sincere, and act ethically with honesty and fairness.

Relationships: We steward meaningful relationships built on a foundation of reciprocity. We are compassionate, empathic, and care for the holistic well-being of students, employees, community members, and the land.

Distinction: We choose activities in which we can achieve excellence and positively impact society.

Okanagan College is committed to increasing the equitable and inclusive participation of marginalized people in all aspects of college life. We welcome and encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, Black People, members of racialized groups/visible minorities, people with disabilities and people with diverse gender identities or expressions. People with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations for any part of the application process may contact, in confidence, [email protected] .

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.