Principal Counselor
Job Summary
Reporting to the DVC-
Student Life, the person will manage the services offered at the counseling center
to ensure the mental, emotional, and social well-being of the USIU Community as
well as provide prevention and intervention support for students with academic
problems.
Key Responsibilities
Supervision of staff at
the counseling center to ensure the provision of quality services. This
involves;
Develop annual performance
plans with performance indicators and measurements for all staff and forward
the same to DVC- Student Life
Monitor the provision of services, documentation of client’s data, and effective use of counseling tools e.g. client data collection instruments, psychological tests, checklists, etc.
Ensure timely and
effective implementation of all planned activities at the center
Prepare and coordinate
leave schedule for counseling center staff
Prepare annual budgets
according to the university’s strategic plan and departmental goals, implement
financial management policies, and approve, monitor, and control financial
expenditure in the counseling department to ensure effective and efficient use
of financial resources
Ensure proper, efficient,
and effective management of resources within the counseling center for optimum
operation of the center.
Develop standard operating
procedures for all counseling center processes.
Market counseling services
to manage the stigma attached to counseling and to Increase the demand for
counseling services.
Enhance students’ academic
performance by addressing issues that impact student’s performance. This
involves:
Liaising with the
different Deans of schools, academic advisors, financial aid officers, and
parents when helping students with academic difficulties
Liaising with the Dean of
Students on students with disciplinary issues for behavior change
Continuous improvement of
counseling services through the following:
Professional development
of counseling center staff to strengthen their skills.
Facilitate client feedback
and needs assessment survey.
Develop Standard
operational procedure manuals for standardization of counseling services.
Establish a referral
system and contacts for the management of cases that require more specialized
attention- both internally and externally.
Research, design, develop
and disseminate information/educational and publicity materials (notice board
campaigns, posters, brochures, e-mail messages) that create awareness, guide
the prevention and management of emerging and contextual issues likely to
impact negatively on students, e.g. HIV/AIDS, drug and substance abuse, stress,
relationships among others and promote mental health.
Strengthen student’s life
skills through planning and facilitating training on life skills, consulting
with various student groups, clubs, sports teams, and student leaders for the
development of life skills and leadership skills.
Coordinate HIV/AIDS
program within the university, through:
Ensuring availability of
personnel for the provision of VCT services by individually providing VCT
services, coordinating other counseling staff to provide VCT services, or with
the availability of funds recruitment of VCT counselor
Develop Liaison with
government, NGO and private institutions to ensure provision of HIV test kits,
continuous supply of condoms, and training on new developments on HIV/AIDS
Establish networks and
identify partnerships with non-governmental organizations both national and
international to raise funds through proposal writing that will ensure the
availability of varied services for students
Advice and ensure
USIU-Africa policies, procedures, and processes are adhered to when working
with partnering organizations
Carry out baseline surveys
to establish the knowledge, attitudes, skills, perceptions, and behavior as
they relate to student well-being
Receive individual reports
from the counselors, consolidate and disseminate the departmental work plans,
progress/achievement reports, end-of-semester, and annual reports to the
DVC-Student Life for planning and decision making.
Ensuring the counseling
center department participates in university-wide activities, through attending
meetings, training, university-wide events, membership in committees, and
appointing staff for membership in different committees, meetings, and training.
Work with other
departments in crisis intervention and management by providing debriefing and
trauma counseling to the affected.
Represent the university
in forums both internal and external in areas related to counseling and
HIV/AIDS.
Ensure all services
provided comply with university policies, procedures, systems, processes, legal
frameworks, and the APA ethical and professional code of conduct for counselors
Educational /Professional Qualifications and Experience
Master’s degree in
Counseling/Clinical Psychology from a recognized educational institution
Professional
Qualifications: Membership to a Professional regulatory body; NASCOP VCT
certification.
Proficiency in computer
applications;
5 years of Counseling
practice 3 of which involve managerial work
Showed merit and ability
as reflected in work performance and results.
Personal Attributes & Competencies
Good communication skills.
Cross-cultural
interpersonal skills.
Confidentiality and
integrity.
Team player with excellent
interpersonal skills.
Proactive and with proven
ability to take instructions and execute.
Self-motivated.
Attention to detail.
How To Apply
If you have the requisite
qualifications and experience and desire to work as a team member in a modern,
progressive, international, and multicultural institution where you can make a
difference, please apply indicating in the subject line of the email address
the position you are applying for.
Interested applicants must
provide a cover letter and a current CV, certified copies of educational
certificates and transcripts, names and addresses of three referees, current
salary and benefits, telephone and e-mail contacts by 5.00 p.m., Sunday,
November 12, 2023, to:
Director Administration,
United
States International University – Africa,
P. O. Box
14634-00800,
Nairobi, Kenya
Email: jobs-dvcasa@usiu.ac.ke
