St. Thomas University

• Provide culturally sensitive individual and group counselling, assessment, and crisis intervention services to students presenting with personal and emotional issues, adjustment and developmental issues, mental health, human rights/diversity, and relationship issues.
• Collaborate with staff in the Wabanaki Centre and work alongside the Elder-in-Residence in engaging students in ceremonial and traditional healing practices.
• Work with non-Indigenous students of colour to understand needs, develop supports, and provide counselling and support services.
• Liaise with and refer students to other services and resources within the university or to agencies/programs in the community as needed to coordinate treatment.
• Maintain confidential counselling records/databases and provide statistical reports on service delivery as required.
• Create resources and deliver and/or coordinate the delivery of group sessions and workshops on a wide range of wellness and personal management topics that help students adjust to university life and be successful.
• Act as a resource on counselling and mental health issues to student groups, faculty, and staff within the university.
• Contribute to the Student-At-Risk Team consultation process on students indicating acute distress and/or problematic behaviour as a result of health issues.
• Contribute to strategic planning as part of the Student Services and Residence Life team, reporting on successes and outcomes to the Board of Governors and external funders supporting the position.
• Other duties as required.

• A minimum of a Master's degree in Counselling, Psychology (Counselling or Clinical), or Social Work supplemented by 5 years relevant clinical experience, working with Indigenous and other students/young adults in an adult education or community development environment, or recognized equivalencies.
• Registration in good standing with a relevant professional body (CCPA, etc.)
• An understanding of the needs of Indigenous students in accessing and being successful in post-secondary education.
• Lived experience within a First Nations community and fluency in the Mi'kmaq and/or Wolastoq language will be considered assets.
• A deep understanding of the indigenous world view and cultural beliefs.
• Understanding of colonial policies and practices and their effects upon First Nations people, and other students of colour; sensitivity to the prevalence of generational trauma as a result of these practices.
• Experience and knowledge of programs and services in an educational institution will be considered an asset.
• Excellent crisis management and intervention skills.
• Ability to recognize the sensitivity of issues and maintain strict confidentiality.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and problem solving skills.
• The ability to work effectively in teams and in coordination with other student services, university staff and faculty, and others in addressing student issues.
• An understanding of the principles of human rights and diversity.
• Basic information management skills with ability to input and retrieve data accurately from established information systems.
• Must be a dynamic, innovative, and proven organizer with proven skills in counselling and outreach.

Working Conditions:

• Regular need to give immediate and detailed attention to matters and issues in the student life area.
• Requires high levels of mental effort as dealing with students' personal crises and conflict can cause stress.
• Irregular hours are often part of the response to student issues and can be disruptive to personal life.

Candidates are responsible for clearly demonstrating in their cover letters how they meet the requirements of the position. All applications are to be received by 4:30 p.m. on the closing date Please note that the selection process may include testing related to the advertised requirements. Candidates will be advised of any testing prior to the interview.

Offers of employment will be conditional upon a candidate being able to adhere to current university COVID-19 policies.

An equal opportunity employer, St. Thomas University is committed to employment equity for women, Aboriginal peoples, members of visible minority groups, and persons with disabilities. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

St. Thomas University

Established in 1910, St. Thomas University is a primarily undergraduate, liberal arts institution with a full-time enrolment of 1600 that offers a Bachelor of Arts, Applied Arts, Education, and Social Work and a Master of Social Work. Faculty members are distinguished teachers, researchers and scholars, and the university holds two Canada Research Chairs and a New Brunswick Health Research Foundation Chair.

St. Thomas University originated in 1910, when Basilian Fathers assumed responsibility for St. Thomas College in Chatham, New Brunswick. The college began granting degrees in 1934, was renamed St. Thomas University in 1960, and relocated to Fredericton in 1964. St. Thomas now has 100 full-time faculty, and 12 buildings, several of which have earned architectural design awards and make the campus one of the most renowned in Canada.

Unique Approach to Education

St. Thomas is the only university in Canada wholly dedicated to the study of the liberal arts. A liberal arts education provides a broad base of knowledge and specialized skills that prepare students for a limitless list of careers or post-degree programs. Students gain a unique perspective from more than 30 academic disciplines as they choose from courses in the humanities, social sciences, fine arts, sciences, and interdisciplinary fields. According to the National Survey of Student Engagement (2014), STU students rate faculty significantly higher than do their Maritime or Canadian counterparts while 91% rate their first-year experience as excellent or good and 91% would attend STU again.