Student Support Advisor - Wellness

Description

Student Wellness Services is currently seeking a Full-time Regular Student Support Advisor - Wellness.

We would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the traditional territories of the people of the Treaty 7 region in Southern Alberta. The City of Calgary is also home to Métis Nation of Alberta, Districts 5 and 6.

Position Description

Reports to the Director, Student Wellness Services.

As a member of the Student Wellness Services team, the Student Support Advisor provides social work services to students through case management, psychosocial support, resource navigation, consultation, and program development, with a focus on supporting vulnerable student communities experiencing a range of health, mental health, social, and wellness concerns. The position works collaboratively within Student Wellness, Student Wellness and Accessibility Services, other SES departments, faculties, and community partners to coordinate care, provide consultation and liaison, and connect students with appropriate resources. The position also develops and implements processes, programs, and services that promote harm reduction, safer practices, and student wellbeing across a range of concerns, including substance use, mental health, eating concerns, self-harm, and other health and wellness risks. Specific communities may include students with substance use and other harm reduction needs, as well as international students, first-year students, transfer students, students from isolated communities, distance students within Alberta, and other vulnerable or underserved student populations as needs emerge.

The position is predominantly located at the University of Calgary Main Campus; however, travel to other campuses may be required. The position works 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday, generally between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., in accordance with the AUPE Collective Agreement.

Summary of Key Responsibilities (job functions include but are not limited to):

Case Management

• Provides autonomous social work services to students, including intake, triage, crisis intervention, psychosocial assessment, case management, resource navigation, and individualized, strengths-based care planning.
• Collaborates with students, multidisciplinary teams, and internal and external service providers to coordinate care, facilitate referrals, and address complex mental health, substance use, social, and wellness needs.
• Supports students experiencing acute or ongoing concerns, including at-risk behaviours and harm reduction needs.
• Provides consultation and support to faculty and staff regarding students experiencing complex or emerging concerns and promotes a warm, supportive, and non-judgmental service environment.
• Maintains timely, thorough, ethical, and confidential documentation in accordance with University policies, FOIP, and professional standards.
  
  

Outreach

• Builds collaborative relationships with University departments, faculties, student communities, and external partners to identify and engage vulnerable or underserved student populations.
• Provides outreach, education, workshops, and resource navigation to connect students with appropriate campus and community supports.
• Develops relationships with student communities and participates in culturally responsive engagement and community-building activities to promote student wellbeing, retention, and success.
  
  

Program Development

• Assesses emerging student needs and develops, implements, and evaluates evidence-informed programming focused on prevention, mental health and wellness promotion, and harm reduction.
• Develops and delivers education, training, and supportive programming addressing a broad range of concerns, including substance use, mental health, eating concerns, self-harm, and other health and wellness risks.
• Leads campus-based harm reduction initiatives in collaboration with University teams, student communities, and community partners, including Naloxone education and other safer-practice initiatives.
• Provides consultation and training to staff, faculty, and student leaders on responding to at-risk behaviours and promoting harm reduction and supportive interventions.
• Participates in relevant committees, working groups, and community networks and coordinates, trains, and oversees related volunteer initiatives.
  
  

Administration

• Follows established policies, procedures, and professional standards and maintains accurate documentation and case management records.
• Collects and reports service data in accordance with University requirements and privacy legislation.
• Coordinates the availability, inventory, and distribution of harm reduction resources and materials on campus.
  
  

Qualifications / Requirements:

• Master's degree in Social Work (MSW) or Bachelor's degree in Social Work (BSW) with additional relevant experience, and current registration with the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW), in good standing.
• 1-2 years of experience in mental health case management and 2-3 years of experience in harm reduction, addictions, recovery, or related social work practice. Experience in crisis intervention and suicide intervention is required.
• Demonstrated experience conducting comprehensive psychosocial assessments, developing individualized strengths-based care plans, providing brief interventions, and coordinating referrals for students with complex or intersecting mental health, substance use, medical, housing, and social needs.
• Demonstrated knowledge and application of harm reduction principles and interventions across a range of health and wellness concerns, including substance use, safer substance use practices, relapse prevention, mental health, self-harm, eating concerns, and other risk-related behaviours.
• Experience working with youth, emerging adults, and/or post-secondary students experiencing complex or at-risk circumstances is preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to apply trauma-informed, culturally responsive, inclusive, and strengths-based approaches when working with diverse student populations. Related training or certification is preferred.
• Experience developing, implementing, evaluating, and delivering programs, education, workshops, and outreach initiatives, with the ability to identify emerging needs and contribute to evidence-informed service development.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively within multidisciplinary teams and with University departments, faculties, community organizations, and external service providers to support coordinated care.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, including demonstrated proficiency in consultation, presentations, psychoeducation, and group facilitation.
• Demonstrated understanding of and adherence to POPA, privacy, confidentiality, professional ethics, and appropriate handling of sensitive and complex information.
• Demonstrated leadership, organizational, problem-solving, and prioritization skills, with the ability to work independently and effectively within a multidisciplinary environment.
  
  

Application Deadline: October 31, 2026

We would like to thank all applicants in advance for submitting their resumes. Please note, only those candidates chosen to continue on through the selection process will be contacted.

This position is part of the AUPE bargaining unit, and falls under the Specialist/Advisor Job Family, Phase 3.

For a listing of all management and staff opportunities at the University of Calgary, view our Management and Staff Careers website.

About The University Of Calgary

UCalgary is Canada's entrepreneurial university, located in Canada's most enterprising city. It is a top research university and one of the highest-ranked universities of its age. Founded in 1966, its 36,000 students experience an innovative learning environment, made rich by research, hands-on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. It is Canada's leader in the creation of start-ups. Start something today at the University of Calgary. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.

The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy ii' taa'poh'to'p committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.

The university's commitment to the Indigenous Strategy is evident through the oversight of 18 Elders serving on the Circle of Advisors and the many unit-based circles working towards implementation of the strategy including the Faculty Advisory Circle and teams such as the Office of Indigenous Engagement, the Writing Symbols Lodge, and the Indigenous Research Support Team. Many Indigenous-based events and processes are impacting curriculum, programming and polices at the University of Calgary.

As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Institutional Commitments ([email protected]) and requests for accommodations can be sent to People & Culture ([email protected]).

Do you have most but not all the qualifications? Research show that women, racialized and visible minorities, and persons with disabilities are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At UCalgary we are committed to achieving equitable, diverse, inclusive and accessible employment practices and workplaces and encourage you to apply if you believe you are right for this role.

We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, however preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.