Professional Counselor

This position may be eligible for Hybrid Work, working remotely for up to two days per week after the initial 90 days of employment.

Salary Range: $58,809/year or higher, commensurate with experience and/or education

JOB SUMMARY 

The Professional Counselor provides counseling services to assist students identify, mitigate and/or remove barriers that impede their ability to reach their academic, career, and personal goals.

DUTIES 

• Responsible and accountable for a caseload of at-risk students (i.e., probation, suspension, repeaters, early alert) by providing counseling on disciplinary probation or suspension, as referred by the Dean of Student Services, to address behaviors in violation of the Student Code of Conduct
• Responds to early alert referrals requiring counselor intervention and work with faculty to assist students who may be experiencing academic or personal challenges
• Responds to a crisis and Campus/College-critical incidents requiring counseling services (e.g., classroom/group debriefing, supportive counseling)
• Provides community resources and follow-up as needed

MARGINAL DUTIES 

• Performs other duties as assigned

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES 

Direct Reports:

• May supervise part-time employee(s)

Delegation of Work:

• May occasionally assigns work to subordinate(s)

Supervision Given:

• Provides recommendations on hiring employees, scheduling work hours, and granting time off

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES 

Knowledge:

• Knowledge of trends, issues, and accepted practices relevant to the position
• Knowledge of MS Office programs
• Knowledge of Information Management Systems
• Knowledge of Counseling Theory

Skills:

• Candidates must have strong analytical and problem-solving skills, as well as excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Flexibility to meet priority deadlines and unexpected events

Abilities:

• Ability to effectively communicate with a wide range of individuals and constituencies in a diverse university community
• Ability to exhibit a detail-oriented focus and is committed to a high level of service to students
• Ability to understand the critical importance of confidentiality and ability to maintain confidentiality at all times

WORK LOCATION AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS 

Primary Work Location:

• Works in an office environment

Physical Demands:

• Work is normally performed in a typical interior work environment, which does not subject the employee to any unpleasant elements
• The position is physically comfortable; the individual has discretion about walking, standing, etc.
• The work environment involves minimal exposure to physical risks

EEO/AA

Required Education:

• Master's degree from an accredited institution in counseling, higher education, social work, psychology, human services, and marriage and family therapy

Required Experience:

• Minimum of one (1) year of job-related experience

License/Certification:

• Counseling licensure (i.e., LPC, LMFT, LCSW, LPC-A, LMFT-A, or Licensed Psychologist)

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS 

• Higher education counseling is preferred

About University of Houston Downtown

Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2024, the University of Houston-Downtown (UHD) is the second-largest university in Houston and has served the educational needs of the nation’s fourth-largest city since 1974. As one of four distinct public universities in the University of Houston System, UHD is a comprehensive, four-year university led by President Loren J. Blanchard. Annually, UHD educates approximately 14,000 students, boasts more than 66,000 alumni, and offers 45 bachelor’s degrees, 12 master’s degrees, and 19 online programs within four colleges: Marilyn Davies College of Business, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Public Service, and College of Sciences and Technology. UHD has one of the lowest tuition rates in Texas.

U.S. News and World Report ranked UHD among the nation’s Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Applied Administration and Best Online Master’s Programs in Criminal Justice, as well as a Top Performer in Social Mobility. The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse ranked UHD one of the best colleges in the U.S. for its 2024 rankings, with notable distinctions:  No. 1 for diversity (tied) and No. 3 for student experience. TheStockWatcher.com called UHD a “notable institution providing high-quality online MBA programs. … UHD ensures that its graduates are well-prepared to succeed in their chosen career paths.”

UHD is one of the four distinct and separate components of the University of Houston System, which also includes the University of Houston, University of Houston-Clear Lake, and University of Houston-Victoria. Instructional Sites operated by UHD are University of Houston-Downtown Northwest, University of Houston-Downtown at Lone Star College Kingwood, and University of Houston-Downtown at Lone Star College CyFair.

The University is designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, a Minority-Serving Institution, and a Military Friendly School. For more information on the University of Houston-Downtown, visit uhd.edu.

The University of Houston - Downtown is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action institution and recognizes protected classes of race, color, sex (including pregnancy), genetic information, religion, age (40 and above), national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or status, and gender expression as required by federal law. Veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.