Black Student Transition Specialist

Brock University is located on the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe peoples, many of whom continue to live and work here today. This territory is covered by the Upper Canada Treaties and is within the land protected by the Dish with One Spoon Wampum Agreement. 

We are one of Canada’s outstanding comprehensive universities, where excellence and innovation thrive! Brock has been proudly recognized as a Hamilton-Niagara Top Employer for eight consecutive years. Brock continues to earn recognition as one of Canada’s Best Employers and one of Canada’s Best Employers for Diversity in 2026. For the second consecutive year, Forbes, in partnership with Statista, also named Brock one of Canada’s Top Employers for Company Culture. At Brock, you will find a welcoming, inclusive community and an exciting range of meaningful career opportunities.

Ignite new possibilities for your career. Break through at Brock.

Post End Date:

September 7, 2026 at 11:59 PM

This job advertisement is to fill an existing vacancy in the Administrative Professional (Employee Group)

Please note: This is a fixed term contract expected to conclude September 2028.

About the Role:

Reporting to the Manager, Black Student Success Centre, the Black Student Transition Specialist supports Black NEET youth within the context of current Brock students, youth within the greater Niagara community, and recent graduates as they navigate key educational, career, and life transitions. They will develop and deliver culturally responsive transition, career, postgraduate, and community engagement programming that promotes student persistence, belonging, career readiness, and successful post-graduation outcomes. In addition to providing direct student support, the position contributes to research and knowledge mobilization initiatives focused on the educational, career, and transition experiences of Black youth and students. Working collaboratively with community partners, students, and institutional partners, the incumbent supports data collection, stakeholder engagement, systems mapping, program evaluation, and the development of evidence-informed strategies that strengthen pathways between education, employment, and community supports for Black students and recent graduates. The incumbent facilitates connections with school boards, external agencies and internal partners, for planning and hosting on-site and virtual conferences, website, social media and educational outreach activities.

The Black Student Transition Specialist applies an anti-racist, culturally relevant, trauma-informed, and strengths-based approach when supporting students and contributing to system-level initiatives designed to improve educational and employment outcomes for Black youth.

The Black Student Transition Specialist will: 

• Assist students in identifying and overcoming barriers that may impact educational persistence, well-being, career readiness, and post-graduation success; 
• Facilitate referrals to campus and community services that support housing, financial stability, mental health, transportation, employment, and other student needs; 
• Contribute to research, assessment, and evaluation activities, including surveys, focus groups, stakeholder consultations, and reporting that strengthen supports and transition pathways for Black students and youth;
• Provide individualized transition coaching and planning for prospective, incoming, current, and graduating Black students from secondary school through graduation and beyond;
• Support students in navigating academic, personal, financial, and career transitions and explore educational, employment, and postgraduate opportunities aligned with their goals;
• Offer programming to support students to build confidence, skills, and connections necessary for successful transitions into further education, training, or employment;
• Manage all aspects of Transitions Programs, including scheduling workshops for presentations and planning extra-curricular activities/off campus excursions for students;
• Recruit, train and prepare volunteers to assist with running of events (i.e., panel participants, peer staff, etc.);
• Develop marketing information/handouts to advertise programming to potential students; 
• Design, implement, and facilitate orientation, retention, transition, and graduation programming that supports student success throughout the student lifecycle;
• Offer a wide array of programming, events, and activities based upon the identified needs/interests of the students who relate to the BSSC community;
• Design and implement evidence based, high-quality and accessible workshops and events based upon student feedback that focus on positive transitions and student goals; and
• Design engaging, high quality and accessible social media posts to engage and promote activities related to the BSSC and NEET Youth.

This role may occasionally require work outside regular business hours, including evenings or weekends, based on operational needs.

Key Skills and Experience:

• Undergraduate degree in related discipline such as psychology, social work or social sciences;
• Comprehensive understanding of the principles and application of NEET Youth;
• Strong understanding of equity, diversity and inclusion approaches to improve student success;
• Knowledge of and experience with participatory research design and community-engaged approaches to program development and evaluation;
• Sound judgement in a fast-paced environment;
• Ability to keep up to date with legislation and internal policies that apply to the role; and  
• Promotes and embodies inclusivity and respect within the workplace and the broader community.

Preferred or Asset Skills: 

• Lived experience as a Black student at the graduate level (Social Sciences, Education, Psychology, Social Work)

Salary and Total Rewards: 

• Job Grade (J), Annual Salary $63,700
• This is a fixed-term position that includes:  
• Health & Dental Benefits: Comprehensive extended health, dental, and vision coverage.
• Pension Plan: Enrollment eligibility in the Brock University Pension Plan.
• Vacation: Up to 3 weeks per year, in addition to university holidays.
• Flexible Work Arrangements: Hybrid work schedule available.