Westfield State University Looking for Staff Counselor Full Time

About Westfield State University:

In 1839, Horace Mann founded Westfield State University as the first public higher education institution without barrier to race, gender or economic class. Westfield State University is committed to a policy of non-discrimination, equal opportunity, diversity and affirmative action. We are dedicated to providing educational, working and living environments that value the diverse backgrounds of all people including minorities, women, veterans, individuals with disabilities and other protected persons, or individuals with diverse cultural backgrounds.

Westfield State is the most residential of the state universities in Massachusetts, with over 60% of our 5600 full-time undergraduate students living on campus. The campus is ideally situated on the edge of the Berkshire Mountains in western Massachusetts just 30 minutes from the thriving cultural centers of Northampton and Amherst, and 1.5 hours from both Boston and Albany.

Job Description:

Campus Title: Staff Counselor
State Job Title: Staff Assistant
Department: Counseling Center
Job Code: HA5600
FLSA Status: Exempt
Funding: 7115-0100
Bargaining Unit: APA
Job Type: Full-time permanent
Timeframe: 52 Weeks
Shift: Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. Also provides rotating 24-hour crisis intervention
Regular Days Off: Saturday and Sunday
Supervision Received: The Staff Counselor is supervised by the Counseling Center Director
Supervision Exercised: The Staff Counselor is generally not responsible for supervising others, but may temporarily supervise the Counseling Center Administrative Assistant and graduate interns in the absence of more senior administrative departmental staff.
Salary: $57,000.00-$62,000.00 (salary to be commensurate with education and experience)

General Statement of Duties:
The Staff Counselor is a full-time, twelve-month clinical staff position, which involves a combination of direct short-term clinical service, education, programming, outreach, and consultation duties.

Duties and Responsibilities:
Duties include but not limited to:
Essential:

• Provide individual psychological evaluation, short-term psychotherapy, appropriate referral, and case management.
• Provide rotating 24-hour crisis intervention and attend to psychological crises and emergencies.
• Develop and deliver relevant education and training programs for the campus community.
• Provide consultation to University personnel, students, and students’ families, as appropriate.
• Provide outreach and support to University student affinity groups.
• Adhere to ethical guidelines of the appropriate professional association (e.g., NASW, ACA, or APA), and maintain professional standards for providers of psychological services.
• Remain current with therapeutic theory, intervention, and practice.
• Attend open houses and orientation programs as needed; sometimes outside normal business hours.
• Implement special projects as assigned by the Counseling Center Director.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Counseling Center Director or the Chief Student Affairs Administrator.

Requirements:

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree in counseling, psychology, or social work required.
• Licensed or license-eligible as a mental health service provider in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (e.g., mental health counselor, or social worker)
• Clinical and theoretical knowledge of psychotherapy, ability to assess severe psychopathology, and provide competent crisis intervention.
• Two years experience in a counseling setting, college counseling center preferred.
• Knowledge and experience in outreach, mindfulness-based practice, DBT skills, and/or life coaching.
• Willingness to work a flexible schedule, including some evening hours and some weekends.
• A good understanding of the challenges and concerns of college students at a public residential campus.
• Fluency in Spanish preferred
• Experience working with university affinity groups preferred.

Qualities and Characteristics:

• Demonstrated experience with a multicultural population, and with underrepresented or underserved populations.
• Demonstrated experience promoting and enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Demonstrated experience promoting and enhancing social justice.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and skill in addressing race and racism.
• Experience working with an educational paradigm and developmental models to best work with the intersectionality of race and culture.
• Demonstrated strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work autonomously, take initiative, and use sound judgment.
• Ability to work collaboratively with others and to lead programs and initiatives that include a wide range of constituent groups.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work with diverse groups/populations.
• Demonstrate flexibility and the ability to handle multiple priorities.
• High degree of professionalism and ability to accurately maintain confidential information and records.
• Open and responsive to direction and feedback, and able to communicate employment needs.

Additional Information:

Salary:
For the majority of new employees, the minimum starting salary will apply. Specific salary for current Westfield State University employees and individuals currently working for the state of Massachusetts must be calculated individually in accordance with collective bargaining and state policies and procedures.

State job specifications for this position may be found at the department of higher education website: http://www.mass.edu/foremployees/classificationspecs/classspecs-pers.asp

Disability Accommodations:
Westfield State University understands that persons with disabilities may need assistance with the job application process and/or with the interview process. For confidential assistance regarding disability accommodations, please contact the Office of Human Resources at (413) 572-8106.

Background Check:
Employment at Westfield State University is contingent upon a background check that is satisfactory to the University. Failure to provide written authorization for a background check will nullify the offer of employment.

Covid-19 Requirements:

As a condition of employment, you will be required to complete an initial series of COVID vaccination (2 doses of Pfizer/Moderna or 1 dose of J&J) prior to coming to campus. Initial booster doses are strongly encouraged for everyone who is eligible. New employees will be required to provide proof of vaccination to Human Resources prior to onboarding. Employees who require a medical or religious exemption should email Tina Bones, Benefits Manager in Human Resources, at [email protected].

Application Instructions:

An on-line application is required. The successful candidate must submit an official transcript at the time of hire. Interested candidates should electronically attach the following documents:

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• Contact information for three references *
• Copy of unofficial transcript of highest degree

* Provide the contact information for reference providers in the reference section of the online application.

Deadline: The job posting will be open a minimum of ten days and, if needed, will remain open until finalists have been selected.

NOTE: If you need assistance completing your application please contact our online Help Desk. The link to the help desk can be found at the top of the page via Contact Us.
Westfield State University provides equal access to employment opportunities for all applicants, regardless of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, marital status, age, disability or veteran status in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations and policies.

To apply, visit https://westfield.interviewexchange.com/jobofferdetails.jsp?JOBID=163885&CNTRNO=0&TSTMP=0jeid-b8597f27b3c96c449c651f77fedc6b5b