University Counselor / Campus Advocate

Position Title: University Counselor / Campus Advocate

Department: Counseling

Advertised Pay: Base is $53,726 potential for a higher entry rate commensurate with experience

Campus Location: Washburn University

Application Deadline:  Application review will begin as applications are received and will continue until the position is filled. Applicants can be assured of full consideration if submitted by: May 29, 2025.

Position Summary: Washburn University is a teaching-focused, student-centered, public institution located in the metropolitan setting of Topeka that has earned national recognition for its high-impact programs for first-generation students. Washburn has a student body of over 5,500 undergraduate, graduate, and law students, a significant and growing number of whom are first-generation and Pell-Grant eligible. The University has created educational pathways for all students to be successful and achieve their educational goals.

Washburn is dedicated to recruiting and retaining a dynamic faculty, staff, and student body and cultivating a robust learning and working environment and curriculum. We employ more than one thousand faculty and staff on our campuses throughout Topeka and strive to offer competitive wages, an excellent benefits program, and a supportive culture and a healthy work/life balance. Washburn seeks to create an environment that reflects our core values for creating positive IMPACT: inclusion, modernization, partnership, achievement, community and transformation. In 2024, Washburn was recognized as one of the best colleges in the nation to work for, according to Great Colleges to Work For® program.

The University Counselor / Campus Advocate will provide outpatient mental health, crisis intervention, and consultation services. In addition, the incumbent will provide victim advocacy services such as providing emotional support and assistance in navigating medical, legal, and other systems as desired by the client. The incumbent will also provide traditional case management services such as coordination of care, obtaining referrals, facilitating access to campus and community resources, etc. The employee may be assigned clients and tasks associated with advocacy, mental health therapy, and/or case management. Assignments will be made by supervisor.

Essential Functions:
• Assess client needs and provide short-term mental health counseling, crisis intervention and safety planning, consultation, and victim advocacy for students, faculty and staff of Washburn University.
• Ensure the timely completion of client records and charting.
• Provide ethical, trauma-informed, evidence based care and comply with applicable policies, procedures and regulations applying to the position and fields of practice (i.e. university, professional, state/federal, etc.).
• Create, present, and facilitate workshops and other programs for various groups, classes, and organizations based on student needs or as requested by faculty, staff, students, and community organizations.
• Organize and facilitate wellbeing and public education initiatives including but not limited to tabling events, managing social media, organizing awareness events, creating marketing materials, etc.
• Contribute to office and campus assessment and data keeping by compiling and contributing individual and departmental data.
• Engage in a collaborative review of departmental processes, procedures, and programs.
• Participate in campus committees, programs, and initiatives as assigned.
Liaison to University units and community partners. Campus partners include, but are not limited to, WU Police, Student Advising, Student Life, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Student Health, Student Conduct, and Title IX. Community partners include, but are not limited to, the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence, YWCA Center for Safety and Empowerment, Shawnee County Sheriffs Department, and New Dawn Wellness and Recovery.
• Provide training, daily direction, and oversight of interns or volunteers.
• Perform additional job-related duties as assigned or as appropriate.

Non-Essential Functions:
• Serve on University-wide and Student Life committees as designated.
• Participate in professional organizations.
• Engage in professional development opportunities with emphasis given to trainings to obtain CE's for license renewal.

Required Qualifications:
• Master's degree in social work, psychology, professional counseling, or marriage and family counseling.
• Degrees in progress must be completed by time of hire.
• Two years of experience providing mental health therapy. Advocacy and case management experience in addition to experience providing therapy is preferred.
• Proven effective clinical, interpersonal, leadership, organizational, and advocacy skills.
• Experience providing trauma informed mental health care.
• Experience working with survivors of sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, sexual harassment, or stalking.
• Familiarity with applicable regulations and confidentiality limitations.
• Currently licensed or eligible to be licensed in the State of Kansas through the Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board as a mental health provider (i.e. LMLP, LCP, LPC, LCPC, LMFT, LCMFT, LMSW, or LSCSW.) Must have completed all licensure requirements at the time of application and obtain a license prior to the date of hire. Clinicians with a temporary license will be considered but will be required to obtain their permanent license within one year of hire.
• Credentialed Advocate through the national advocacy credentialing program. Clinicians without their advocate credentials will be required to obtain credentialing within one year of hire.

Preferred Qualifications:
• Permanent licensure held for a minimum of two years.
• Experience providing crisis intervention services.
• Experience with developing and delivering psychoeducational presentations.

Exempt, Full-time, Mon-Fri,    
Background Check Required