Staff Counselor (10-month exempt)

Aurora University (AU) is committed to the transformative power of learning by creating a student-centered environment and an equity of experience and opportunity, to ensure that students, faculty, and staff of all backgrounds feel welcome and included. Our culture of collaboration, generosity, and belonging make it a special place for students, faculty, and staff.

AU is grounded in the transformative opportunity it provides to a diverse student body. As a private university with a public mission and a commitment to making a difference in peoples’ lives, AU has a long history of resilience and of providing access to an education that values innovation, focuses on continuous improvement, and has a positive impact on the communities we serve. We are proud of our service to and economic impact on the state of Illinois, where over 80% of our students stay to live and work, where 90% of our students come from, and where we foster strong community partnerships to develop the workforce in areas such as nursing, education, business, technology, and social work.

We are looking for passionate and purposeful individuals who represent the full diversity of Aurora and who demonstrate a sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, ability, identity, and ethnic backgrounds present in our community. When you join the team at AU, you can expect to be part of an inclusive, innovative, and equity-focused community that approaches higher education as a matter of social justice requiring broad collaboration among faculty, staff, students, and community partners.

At AU we believe that continuous learning is a fundamental part of working life, and our goal is for all colleagues on our campus to feel supported and equipped to realize their full potential. We actively support our community by providing all employees with opportunities to engage in professional development activities, as well as a range of tuition and employee benefits that can be found here.

Position Purpose:

The Staff Counselor is responsible for providing direct clinical services within a culturally competent framework and will be expected to participate in campus outreach initiatives and activities, as needed.

Core Competencies:

  1. Represents Aurora University in the most positive manner with prospective, former and current students, clients, suppliers, and the community we serve. Interacts effectively with a diverse group of faculty, staff, students and other customers of our service, learns and uses operating practices of the department and Aurora University.
  2. Upholds the Mission Statement: Aurora University is an inclusive community dedicated to the transformative power of learning. As a teaching-centered institution, we encourage undergraduate and graduate students to discover what it takes to build meaningful and examined lives. We empower our students to achieve lasting personal and professional success.
  3. Handles all information with tact and discretion and recognizes the confidential nature of university business.
  4. Supports learning through performance of essential job functions and performing other duties and functions as necessary or as assigned.

Essential Job Functions:

  1. Provide direct clinical counseling services to university undergraduate and graduate students including screening, assessment, diagnosis, case management, crisis intervention, treatment planning, and treatment implementation.
  2. Provide short-term counseling for individuals and groups, and when appropriate, make referrals to outside providers and services.
  3. Provide counseling services to university students who are enrolled in the Pathways Collegiate Program, which provides neurodiverse students with the support and guidance needed to adjust to campus life, earn their university degree, and make a successful transition to the workplace.
  4. Serve as a campus community mental health expert offering consultative services to faculty, staff, administration, athletic staff, and families in a variety of modalities ranging from informal individual consultation to structured workshops and trainings.
  5. Provide risk assessments and make appropriate recommendations and referrals.
  6. Consult within a multi-disciplinary team including, medical, academic, and administrative professionals.
  7. Provide mandatory assessments after disciplinary violations, and provide substance abuse or behavioral health assessments and recommendations regarding treatment to inform necessary sanctions or corrective actions.
  8. Supervise and oversee MSW student interns.

Essential Job Requirements:

Education:

  • Minimum requirement of master’s degree in a mental health discipline (Social Work, Counseling, or Clinical Psychology), with track to obtain an LSW or LCSW in the state of Illinois within 6 months after employment.
  • Licensed as a mental health provider in the state of Illinois (LSW, LCSW) preferred.

Experience:

  • Clinical experience relevant to working with college students or young adult populations.
  • Experience providing crisis intervention.
  • Well-developed public speaking skills; interest and comfort in providing outreach and consultation to groups.
  • Knowledge and experience with multicultural theory and research, and the application of such research to college counseling center work.
  • Knowledge and experience with providing services to neuro-diverse young adults.
  • Experience and training in trauma response and treatment modalities.
  • The successful candidate will have the ability to manage multiple responsibilities, with a high degree of independent organization, communication, and ethical practice. The chosen candidate will attend to collegiate mental health needs within the framework of the larger mission of higher education and Aurora University. The ability to develop strong collaborative working relationships with all campus constituencies is required.

Special Requirements:

  • Licensed as a mental health provider as outlined by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (www.idfpr.com).

Physical Requirements:

  • Sitting, standing, moving about campus, and computer use.

Benefit-eligible positions offer excellent benefits including health, dental, life, vision, long term disability, a 403(b) retirement plan through TIAA, and tuition remission.

To apply, please send resume, cover letter, and contact information for three references including name, telephone, and email address.

Aurora University
Human Resources
347 South Gladstone Ave
Aurora, IL 60506
jobs@aurora.edu - email

Aurora University is an Equal Opportunity Employer.