For the 11th year running, Douglas has been recognized by BC’s Top Employers as an outstanding place to work. But what does this actually mean for the people on the ground – our employees? 

It means that we strive to offer everyone who works at Douglas – from staff, to faculty, to management – an inspiring, supportive and respectful environment where everyone has the backing and resources to thrive in their roles, advance their careers and, quite frankly, be who they are, enjoy themselves and have fun. 

Welcoming and inclusive 

We are proud to be recognized as a workplace that welcomes employees from diverse groups, a workplace that is committed to fostering a campus environment that is respectful, inclusive, accessible and welcoming to everyone. But don’t take our word for it! Read what some of our employees have to say about working at Douglas: 

“There’s a richness in the diversity of the Douglas College community,” says Janice Sestan, a Communications and Global Citizenship instructor. “I believe the future of education is people from different backgrounds working and learning together.” 

“My favourite thing about working here is how sincerely colleagues respect one another,” adds Richa Dwor, English instructor and Coordinator of the Research and Innovation Office. “It’s truly a supporting, collegial and positive work environment.” 

Promoting success  

Douglas is a place where our employees can – and do – grow. We support ongoing education and professional development through things like tuition subsidies, in-house and online training programs as well as subsidies for professional accreditation. In some cases, people have started working at Douglas in entry-level roles and have worked their way up to senior management positions. All employees have free access to the LinkedIn Learning platform, where they can sharpen their skills in everything from public speaking, to project management, to learning new software and much more. 

Fostering connection  

At Douglas, our employees don’t just have a job – they have a voice. We are a culture of community and connectedness, and our employees are invited and encouraged to take part in important decisions undertaken by Douglas, whether it be through sitting on College committees, joining the Education Council or College Board, or giving feedback on the annual College budget plan. 

“Our work environment values collaboration, discussion and unity that is rooted in a sense of trust and care for one another,” says Michael Lam, our Associate Vice President, Technology and CIO. “Our ability to come together and help one another is our strength – it’s our superpower.” 

We also recognize and celebrate our employees with annual events such as the end of summer barbecue and the holiday party in December. Both events saw, in 2023, record numbers of people coming out to enjoy food and conversation with their colleagues. We also hold a formal event every winter that honours new retirees as well as employees who have been with the College for five, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and – yes – even 40 years. The event also recognizes the outstanding work of individuals and teams who have gone above and beyond in their roles. 

Nurturing wellness 

At Douglas, we care about the health and well-being of our employees. Our benefits package includes maternity and parental leave top-up payments, along with generous extended health and dental benefits. We also offer a defined-benefit pension plan that provides a lifetime retirement income for employees. 

Glenn Ellingson, who has been with Douglas for 40 years as the Supervisor of the Print Shop, says he has stayed with Douglas because it has provided him with a stable position, a decent income and more. 

“It has been great for raising a family and having both the benefits and vacation time to share with them. I have been in the Print Shop my entire time here and have seen so many changes in print production over the years. DC has always supplied us with the equipment to stay current in the industry.” 

Our intranet, DC Connect, has a library of free mental health and wellness supports. Our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offers free counselling and coaching in the areas of mental health, addictions, lifestyle, career planning, relationships and more. The EAP is available to all employees, including auxiliaries and contract employees. Employees also have access to free wellness webinars on a variety of mental wellness topics. 

 All employees can use our fully equipped gym free of charge as well as enjoy group fitness classes like yoga, HIIT and bootcamp. We even have an onsite daycare that gives priority admission to children of employees and students.  

Enjoying life at work 

Did we mention the annual summer barbecue and holiday celebration? There’s also a yearly Halloween costume contest that sees some wonderfully creative entries and good-natured competition between departments. On a day-to-day level, we offer lots of options for food and drinks on campus, including fresh meals, grab-and-go items like pizza and sandwiches, and a variety of plant-based options. And of course, there is coffee. Both campuses have a Tim Horton’s to help you stay fueled and satisfied throughout the workday.  

Join us! 

We are always looking for talented and passionate people to join the Douglas community, whether you are a recent graduate seeking your first job or a veteran in your field looking for new and exciting challenges. Visit our website to learn more about careers at Douglas and see our job board to find out what positions are available right now.