Counsellor

Job Description

The Counselor provides holistic, faith-integrated counseling to support students in overcoming academic, personal, emotional, and spiritual challenges, while actively promoting their overall well-being, retention, and growth into ethical, servant-hearted leaders, thereby directly advancing the University’s mission of character formation and the 2025-2035 Strategic Plan’s core priority of student-centered transformation in a compassionate and Christ-centered environment. Reports to the Dean of Students.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications

• Minimum of a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Social Work and Social Administration, or Guidance and Counseling.
• Must be below 45 years of age.
• Professional membership and/or certification shall be an added advantage.

Personal Competencies

• Deep faith in Jesus Christ, with training in Christian counseling to blend spiritual and psychological support compassionately.
• Empathetic, non-judgmental listening skills with proficiency in therapeutic techniques like cognitive-behavioral therapy.
• Crisis management abilities, with cultural competence for Uganda’s diverse student body.
• Organizational skills for program development using tools like counseling software.
• Commitment to confidentiality, ethical practice, and relentless service, embodying the university’s values of compassion and pursuit of knowledge.

Experience

• At least 5 years of experience in student counseling, preferably in a University context.

Responsibilities

• Conduct individual, group, and crisis counseling sessions to support students facing stress, mental health issues, academic difficulties, or spiritual doubts.
• Design and facilitate wellness programs, workshops, and peer support groups on topics like resilience, time management, and faith-based coping strategies.
• Collaborate with academic staff, chaplaincy, and external professionals to identify and intervene with at-risk students, ensuring timely referrals.
• Maintain accurate, confidential records of counseling interactions in compliance with ethical guidelines and university policies.
• Integrate Christian counseling approaches, such as prayer and scripture-based guidance, while respecting diverse beliefs.
• Contribute to student affairs policies, including orientation sessions on mental health and holistic development.
• Evaluate counseling program effectiveness through student feedback and outcome tracking, reporting to the Dean for continuous improvement.

Additional Information

Note: Foreign applicants will be responsible for their own work permit and related fees.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit their applications online with supporting documents. Address to: University Secretary, Bishop Stuart University. P. O. Box 09, Mbarara.