Mental Health Counselor

Overview and Responsibilities

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is seeking candidates who are eager to contribute to its Lasallian Catholic mission of awakening, nurturing, and empowering learners to ethical lives of service and leadership. We invite individuals to help transform lives through education, inspired by the Catholic Intellectual Tradition’s quest to understand the human experience through faith and reason and its embrace of all who are dedicated to learning from one another through authentic conversations in search of the truth. We are especially interested in and give preference to candidates who demonstrate a vision to create and nurture initiatives that will advance our mission within the scope of their duties and who will foster a culture of dialogue that, with respect for all people, supports the search for meaning and purpose in pursuit of excellence.

Job Summary

Reporting to the Vice President for Student Development, the Mental Health Counselor oversees the delivery of first-level clinical services, outreach, and preventive programs that address the psychological and behavioral needs of the undergraduate student population in Winona.  The director develops policies and procedures of service; evaluates programs and monitors the standards of clinical service effectiveness. The director is a practicing mental health clinician who provides counseling, crisis intervention, clinical supervision, outreach, and mental/behavioral health referral services to outside clinicians.

Salary: $50k - $70k

Main Duties & Responsibilities

• Oversees day-to-day operations of programs and services to include budget and assessing long-term quality and effectiveness in order to balance competing clinical and administrative demands.
• Develops and administers counseling center protocols and procedures in keeping with current best practices for college counseling centers. 
• Provides clinical counseling services directly to students as needed.
• Develops and maintains contractual relationships with local providers who serve as resources to enrolled students whose needs transcend the purview of the university’s center.
• Monitors and assesses the quality of clinical services and educational/outreach programs and services to ensure they meet the evolving needs of students.
• Provides consultation, education and outreach services to faculty, staff, and students on student-centered developmental and psychological issues.
• Works with colleagues in student life, student success, health sciences and other offices throughout the university to develop strategies for optimizing student strengths and healthy development, and for the prevention and intervention of psychological and behavioral concerns.
• Gathers and records data regarding student participation in programs and services sponsored by the center, and prepares reports that assess their effectiveness.
• Maintains the quality, integrity and confidentiality of clients’ records.
• Coordinates the center's emergency and crisis response procedures in accordance with the established Emergency Response Plan for the Winona campus.

Qualifications

Experience and Education Requirements

• Doctorate in counseling psychology, or Master’s degree in clinical psychology or related field and 4-5 years experience.

• Currently licensed as a Psychologist or Clinical Social Worker in Minnesota by the appropriate Minnesota State Board.
• At least 3 years’ prior experience as a practicing clinician; and minimum of 1 year in a collegiate counseling position. 
• Demonstrated experience and knowledge of college students’ developmental issues as well as current ethical, legal and clinical best practices as foundational principles for quality collegiate counseling.

Essential Knowledge & Skills

• Working knowledge of behavioral health and evidence-based treatments for mental health conditions.
• Adept at building and maintaining collaborative, impactful relationships with a diverse group of internal and external stakeholders.
• Critical thinking, analysis, and data interpretation skills.
• Excellent written, verbal, and social communication skills.
• Multicultural literacy regarding a diverse student population.
• Working knowledge of the latest trends affecting college student developmental and behavioral issues, retention and persistence.
• Strategic orientation with operational know-how.
• Embodiment of the principles of Lasallian mission and pedagogy.
• Expertise in crisis intervention and management.

Physical Demands

• Sedentary work. Sedentary work involves lifting no more than 10 pounds at a time and occasionally lifting or carrying articles like docket files, ledgers, and small tools. Although a sedentary job is defined as one which involves sitting, a certain amount of walking and standing is often necessary in carrying out job duties. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required occasionally and other sedentary criteria are met.
• Light work. Light work involves lifting no more than 20 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying of objects weighing up to 10 pounds. Even though the weight lifted may be very little, a job is in this category when it requires a good deal of walking or standing, or when it involves sitting most of the time with some pushing and pulling of arm or leg controls. To be considered capable of performing a full or wide range of light work, you must have the ability to do substantially all of these activities.
• Medium work. Medium work involves lifting no more than 50 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying of objects weighing up to 25 pounds.
• Heavy work. Heavy work involves lifting no more than 100 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying of objects weighing up to 50 pounds.

Physical Hazards – Health and Safety Concerns

• General office environments
• Ergonomics
• Noise
• Chemicals
• Driving
• Biohazards
• Extreme climate (Hot/Cold)

Application Requirements

Apply online at https://www.smumn.edu/about/offices-services/human-resources/employment-opportunities/ and include a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three professional references.

Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota believes inclusion and human dignity contributes to a robust academic and work environment and is critical to achieving the University's mission in an increasingly diverse society. Individuals with expertise and diverse skills from underrepresented groups are especially encouraged to apply. Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. The successful candidate must support, respect, and advance the mission of Saint Mary's University as a Lasallian Catholic institution.

Saint Mary’s offers a comprehensive benefit package including health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, flexible spending, retirement pension plan, and both undergraduate and graduate tuition remission plans.

All offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.