Principal Counselor at United States International University - USIU Africa

Job Summary

Reporting to the DVC- Student Life, the person will manage the services offered at the counselling center to ensure the mental, emotional, 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 provision of quality services. This involves;
  • Develop annual performance plans with performance indicators and measurement for all staff and forward the same to DVC- Student Life
  • Monitor provision of services, documentation of client’s data, 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, 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 stigma attached to counseling and to Increase the demand for counseling services.
• Enhance student’s academic performance by addressing issues that impact on student’s performance. This involves:
  • Liaising with the different Deans of schools, Academics Advisors, financial aid officer and parents when helping students with academic difficulties
  • Liaising with 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 in order 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 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 students life skills through planning and facilitating training on life skills, consulting with various student groups, clubs and sport teams, student leaders for development of life skills and leadership skills.
• Coordinate HIV/AIDS program within the university, through:
  • Ensuring availability of personnel for provision of VCT services by individually providing VCT services, coordinating other counseling staff to provide VCT services or with availability of funds recruitment of VCT counselor
  • Develop Liaison with government, NGO’s 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 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 it relates 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 the purpose of planning and decision making.
• Ensuring counseling center department participates in university wide activities, through attending meetings, trainings, university wide events, membership in committees, appointing staff for membership in different committees, meetings and trainings.
• 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.

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 5.00pm, 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