As a former student leader at UBC, my time at university was so fulfilling because of the people I met and the work I accomplished. My 4 years at school helped me build a resume of extracurriculars that landed me some pretty cool jobs after graduation.
Like many students, I found it really tough to meet friends and build a social life on campus when I started at UBC. I was a commuter student and didn’t get the residence life experience like many of my friends did—there was no Collegia back then! At the beginning of Term 2 in my first year, I knew I needed to work harder to expand my social circle and actually do something fun on campus. I found out about UBC Rec’s involvement opportunities through a classmate, applied, and the rest is history.
I worked as a student volunteer with UBC Rec for 3 years while at UBC. The connections I made with other students and the experiences I had quickly became my favourite part about being a UBC student—I only wished I had gotten involved sooner!
Many of my new friends also worked as Orientation Leaders or Residence Advisors, and the communities we were a part of were some of the most welcoming, inclusive, and passionate groups I’ve ever seen. Still to this day, I tell everyone I know who studies at UBC that they need to find a way to get involved and jump in feet first.
But before you take the leap, you need to figure out which opportunity is right for you. No two student leadership jobs are the same, so check out how they vary in length, compensation, commitment level, and more, below.
Orientations
Imagine Day Senior Orientation Leaders
Length: Short term
Compensation: Paid or volunteer
Season: August - September
Commitment: High level of commitment required for a short period of time
Applications open: February 12 - March 3, 2024
Help introduce new students to UBC during their orientation. You’ll execute events, build a community, and create a welcoming, fun, and safe atmosphere on campus. Orientation Leader roles offer a supportive environment for you to discover your leadership style alongside dedicated staff and peers. Additional volunteer roles (Imagine Day Orientation Leaders) will open up for application in early April.
Jump Start and UBC Collegia Roles
Jump Start
Length: Short term
Compensation: Paid
Season: August - September
Commitment: High level of commitment required for a short period of time
Applications open: February 12 - March 3, 2024
As a Jump Start leader, you’ll work alongside faculty members, Centre for Student Development and Leadership staff, and other student leaders to build community with small groups of incoming students. There are a range of positions within Jump Start, which are paid roles with varying levels of commitment involved.
Collegia Advisors
Length: Long term
Compensation: Paid
Season: Academic year
Commitment: Part-time for the academic year
Applications open: To be confirmed
As a Collegia Advisor, you’ll help provide commuter students and/or Indigenous students with an inclusive home on campus during the winter session. If you already have a little leadership experience and are passionate about community-building throughout the school year, working with the Collegia team could be the right fit for you.
Peer Programs
Peer Program Leaders
Length: Long term
Compensation: Volunteer
Season: Academic year
Commitment: About 5-8 hours per week; varies by program
Applications open: February 12 - March 3, 2024
Join Peer Programs and support your peers while building valuable career skills. You can apply to be a leader in programs like Arts Peer Academic Coaches (APAC), SCI Team, Peer Health Educators, and more! As a Peer Leader, you'll join a community of individuals who want to help others—all while making the greater UBC community a better place to learn and grow. You’ll also be supervised by UBC staff and build communication, organization, event planning, and coaching skills.
Athletics and Recreation
UBC Intramurals Directors and Assistant Directors
Length: September 2024 - April 2025
Compensation: Volunteer
Season: Academic year
Commitment: 8-12 hours per week
Applications open: March 1 - 27, 2024
For over 50 years, Intramurals staff have passionately volunteered their time and delivered some of UBC’s most iconic events, leagues, and marketing initiatives. Supported by professional staff with experience in sport management and student development, you'll be part of one of the most immersive student experiences on campus—and one of the most recognizable Intramural staff programs in Canada.
UBC Sports Facilities - Operations Staff
Length: May 1, 2024 - August 31, 2024
Compensation: Varies
Season: Spring - Summer 2024
Commitment: Part-time up to 20 hours per week
Applications open: February 9, 2024
If you're looking for a flexible work environment, apply to work or volunteer at one of the many sports facilities on campus—including the UBC Aquatic Centre, Thunderbird Park, UBC Tennis Centre, War Memorial Gymnasium, and more.
