Nova Scotia Community College

This position reports to the Manager, Student Services at the Strait Area Campus with functional reporting to Central Student Affairs Manager, Counselling and Wellness. You will play a vital role in supporting and empowering our diverse student body at the Strait Area Campus. You work from an anti-oppressive, culturally responsive and trauma informed framework.

Working as an integral member of our Student Services team, you will primarily focus on providing one-on-one counselling to help students navigate personal challenges, academic concerns, and career decisions. You will refer students to other services and resources within the college or in the community, as appropriate. You will provide leadership and support regarding critical incidents involving the entire campus community. Your expertise will also be instrumental in promoting health and wellness initiatives. You will participate in, or at times, lead the organization of campus events, activities, or committees that contribute to the distinctive student experience, such as Wellness Week, Orientation, Get Started, and Open House. This work will be done in consideration of the needs of equity-deserving students.

In this dynamic role, you'll have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on students' lives, fostering their personal growth, academic success, and future career prospects.

Qualifications and Occupational Experience:

• The minimum educational qualification for this position is a Master's degree in Clinical Social Work, Psychology or Counselling or other Master's degree enabling registration with one of the provincial regulatory bodies.

• Registered with, or undergoing candidacy process with the respective regulatory body, Nova Scotia College of Counselling Therapists (NSCCT), Nova Scotia College of Social Workers (NSCSW); Nova Scotia Board of Examiners in Psychology (NSBEP).

• You have a minimum of five years (full-time equivalent) post-counselling credential relevant occupational experience counselling adults in a variety of specialties, (e.g., academic, career and personal), including working with post-secondary and/or secondary students. Candidates with less then five years of post-counselling credential experience may also be considered.

• Competency in relation to the unique needs of equity deserving students, understanding the systemic barriers and challenges faced by equity deserving students in a post-secondary institution and the ability to apply a structural/anti-oppressive, dignified and trauma informed analysis to service delivery.

• Demonstrated respect for individual, cultural, community and organizational diversity, including the ability to identify and understand intersecting issues related to gender, age, sexual orientation, disability, race/ethnicity, immigration status, religion, heritage and gender identity.

• Awareness of the impacts of historical and ongoing colonialism and demonstrated commitment to decolonialization and equity.

• Outreach, advocacy, and health promotion experience would be considered an asset.

• You are comfortable working in a digital environment and are familiar with and comfortable using various computer applications including Microsoft Office Suite of software, Office 360, digital communication, social media, education technology and learning platforms.

• You take responsibility for acquiring knowledge about advancing technology; and you are committed to using technology to create an exceptional student experience.

Relevant Skills and Knowledge:

• You demonstrate a commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility, and anti-racism.

• You possess interpersonal skills that enable you to interact with people and support resolution of issues.

• Your team working skills enable you to contribute positively to a team environment.

• You are a strong communicator.

• You possess coordination skills specifically related to coordinating services, work, events, logistics, etc., and managing priorities and time management.

• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and independently and display a high degree of initiative.

• Analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to respond to a variety of needs of various stakeholders.

• Ability to foster and maintain partnerships with providers, internally and externally, for purposes of liaising, referrals, health promotion, support planning and system navigation.

• Highly developed assessment, listening, observational, therapeutic counselling and motivational interviewing skills.

• Proven judgement and discretion in dealing with confidential and sensitive matters and the ability to respond tactfully, calmly and with sound judgement to crisis situations and seek consultation as appropriate.

• Demonstrated ability to recognize mental health challenges and onset of mental health concerns and make timely, appropriate referrals to appropriate community providers.

• Clinical competence and comfort working independently to manage crises and provide ongoing counselling to student in an academic setting.

• You are dedicated to life-long learning and a willingness to look at decolonized solutions that work to the self-determined wellness of students.

We value Diversity and Inclusion

The College values diversity and inclusion and is committed to employment equity. We encourage applications from all qualified candidates including Aboriginal/Indigenous Persons, Black/African Nova Scotians, members of racially visible communities, persons with disabilities, persons of a minority sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, and women. Applicants from these communities wishing to self-identify may do so by completing the online questionnaire within the application.

All NSCC positions are advertised every Tuesday and Thursday. To learn more about us and our hiring process, please follow this link.

As a condition of employment, Professional Support employees at NSCC must complete a part-time adult education program delivered by NSCC. This adult education program is a significant investment on the part of NSCC in the learning and development of new employees. To achieve regular status; all probationary, full or part-time Professional Support employees of the College must successfully complete the program within their probationary period. Term full-time Professional Support employees whose term appointment is twelve or more months are also required to participate in this program.

Candidates selected for interviews will be expected to provide at least three recent, occupational references. The successful candidate will be expected to provide official transcripts to show proof of academic achievements.

NSCC is committed to the full inclusion of all applicants. As part of this commitment, NSCC will ensure that applicants are provided reasonable accommodations, as required. If accommodation is needed to participate in the job application process, please contact Jaclynn Kelly, HR Generalist, at [email protected]. Our Employee Workplace Accommodation Policy can be found here.