Associate Director, Counselling Services

Staff - Non Union

Job Category
M&P - AAPS

Job Profile
AAPS Salaried - Counsellors/Psychologists, Level D

Job Title
Associate Director, Counselling Services

Department
Team A | Counselling Services | Student Health and Wellbeing | VP Students

Compensation Range
$8,785.08 - $13,703.08 CAD Monthly

The Compensation Range is the span between the minimum and maximum base salary for a position. The midpoint of the range is approximately halfway between the minimum and the maximum and represents an employee that possesses full job knowledge, qualifications and experience for the position. In the normal course, employees will be hired, transferred or promoted between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range for a job.

Posting End Date
April 18, 2024

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the day prior to the Posting End Date above.

Job End Date

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career. 

Job Summary

This Associate Director, Counselling Services role has a special focus on providing leadership to counselling programs that promote equitable access, culturally relevant and responsive services for equity deserving students. This portfolio may include oversight of counselling staff within the Indigenous Mental Health and Wellbeing, Beyond Tomorrow Scholars, sexual orientation and gender identity and other population-focused areas. Contributes a systems-level, anti-racism perspective to the work of building health equity and cultural safety for UBC students across Student Health and Wellbeing. As a member of the clinical staff of Counseling Services, the Associate Director also provides a comprehensive range of counselling services for students at UBC. Candidates with lived experience as part of an equity deserving group are encouraged to apply

Organizational Status
The AD, Counselling Services reports to the Director, Counselling Services. Provides leadership, guidance and support to 8-10 clinical staff comprised of counselors, social workers and psychologists across Counselling Services. Works collaboratively as a member of a team of professionals, actively participating in and contributing to the development and delivery of effective and efficient counselling services. Works in collaboration with campus and community partners, Faculties and other University departments, student organizations, and staff in other areas of Student Services.
Work Performed

Leadership and Strategic Initiatives

• Provides strategic direction and oversight to the development and implementation and mental health and wellness services and programming for Indigenous, Black, LGBTQA+ students based on human rights and social justice principles, Truth and Reconciliation recommendations, best practices in the field of Indigenous mental health, and community consultation

• Managing and supervising staff, who may provide counselling and wellness services for equity deserving students
• Counselling students, providing crisis support and well-being psychoeducation
• Developing promotional materials on mental health and wellbeing
• Creating and delivering introductory sessions for staff/faculty, students and the public regarding counselling services available for equity deserving students
• Contributes to the operational and strategic priorities of Counselling Services and Student Health and Wellbeing, as directed
• Meets regularly with the Director of Counselling Services and leadership teams to set objectives, establish priorities and develop strategies to improve operations. 

Service Integration and Collaboration

• Is responsible for leadership to implement change initiatives to improve collaboration and facilitate integration of services for Indigenous students provided by Counselling Services with services provided across Student Health and Wellbeing.

• Is responsible for identifying strategic partnerships and building relationships and partnerships with other campus departments such as the First Nations House of Learning, Housing, SVPRO, International Student Development, Managers Student Services, Centre for Accessibility and Faculties.

• Collaborates with clinical and administrative support staff to enhance current strategies and develop new strategies to continuously improve services for Indigenous students. 

• Represents Counseling Services at on-campus events and off-campus meetings of professional organizations. 

• Maintains liaison relationships with Indigenous community partners, university partners and local and national mental health care resources. 

Program Planning and Evaluation

• Envisions, designs and delivers new innovative support opportunities for equity deserving students

• Works to ensure that counselling environments are culturally sensitive and responsive

• Uses data to inform leadership, across Student Health and Wellbeing, on implementation of changes to programming for the benefit of UBC students

• Produces or contributes to proposals, reports and relevant research

Staff Management and Development

• Develops and implements new initiatives and organizational changes to meet evolving needs within Counselling Services and Student Health and Wellbeing in collaboration with the Director and leadership teams, and in consultation with community partners

• Provides leadership, guidance and support to a team of 8-10 clinical staff comprised of counselors, social workers and/or psychologists in Counselling Services.

• Sets performance goals in collaboration with clinical staff reports and plans and approves professional development, monitors progress and conducts annual staff evaluations to ensure annual benchmarks and performance goals are reached

• Addresses performance concerns when required

• Plans and approves professional development activities for Staff in Counselling Services

• Provides clinical supervision and performance evaluation of assigned practicum students and/or pre-doctoral interns

Clinical Duties

• Participates in the management and oversight of all clinical services components to ensure optimal access and quality of services. This includes oversight of client flow, effective scheduling and resource utilization, therapy groups, case management, intake assessment and incoming/outgoing referral processes. 

• Responds to clinical services issues as they arise including management of crises and other urgent requests for service. Uses knowledge and judgment to adjust service delivery processes and levels to meet demands. 
• Maintains a clinical caseload which may include the following: crisis assessment and response, individual and group psychotherapy, clinical consultation, outreach programming, and clinical supervision of practicum trainees and/or post-doctoral interns

• Performs other duties consistent with the mandate of Counselling Services as requested.

Consequence of Error/Judgement
Poor professional judgment or unethical practice would be extremely detrimental to student wellbeing and in some cases could be life threatening. It would also have a significant negative impact on public relations for Counselling Services and the University and in some cases result in legal liability for the University.
Supervision Received
Must be able to act with a high degree of autonomy and independence in the leadership and management of the Indigenous Mental Health and Wellbeing portfolio, as well as the provision of psychological services, while adhering to Counselling Services policies and procedures and the ethical standards of the profession. Acts independently within established clinical and ethical guidelines. Reports to the Director of Counselling Services and works within a model of collegial consultation and collaboration under the direction of the Director of Counselling Services.
Supervision Given
Recruits, hires, mentors, and supervises, 8-10 clinical staff direct reports comprised of psychologists and/or counsellors. Also provides clinical supervision and performance evaluation of assigned practicum students and/or pre-doctoral interns
Minimum Qualifications
Ph.D. in Counselling Psychology or a related field. Eligible for certification as a Registered Psychologist in British Columbia. Minimum of nine years of related experience in clinical counselling with at least three years of management experience.
- Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own

- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Counselling Psychology or a related field
• Registered under the Regulated Health Professions Act (eg. Registered Psychologist, Social Worker, Mental health Nurse) or eligible for registration within one year in BC.
• Minimum 9 years of related experience in clinical counselling with at least 3 years of managerial or supervisory experience.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience, including lived experience will be considered.
• Must have a deep commitment to the principles and values of creating inclusive campus communities. and serving the needs of equity-deserving client populations.  Proven sensibility and appreciation of the role that race, gender identity, sexuality, disability and social background play in the experience of health and wellbeing required.
• Experience working with diverse Indigenous, Black and/or LGBTQA+ populations required.
• Experience in a university or college counselling centre experience is an asset.
• Demonstrated interpersonal qualities that facilitate cultural safety, community relationship building and organizational change
• Training and experience in clinical supervision is an asset
• Appropriate coursework and training in individual and group counselling; human development cross-cultural counselling and diversity; personality theory and diagnosis and treatment of psychopathology
• Expertise and experience in treatment of a wide range of post-secondary student concerns including adjustment, stress, depression, anxiety, cross-cultural practices, relationship difficulties, career/life planning and transition issues and trauma preferred.