Personal Counselor

POSTING DATE: April. 20, 2022

CLOSING DATE: May 11, 2022

POSITION TYPE: EHRA Faculty, FLSA Exempt, 1.0 FTE, 11 Months

HIRING SALARY RANGE: Commensurate with education and experience

The North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM) invites applications for a full-time Personal Counselor at its new campus in Morganton, North Carolina. Position is an 11-month, permanent-track position with full benefits through the State of North Carolina.

NCSSM and the Counseling Services division foster an environment of collaboration across departments and divisions and support community-engaged service and research. NCSSM is proud of the diversity of its student body and we seek to attract an equally diverse applicant pool for this position. NCSSM is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer, and we are strongly committed to increasing faculty and staff diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as an individual with a disability, or status as a protected veteran. If you are an individual with disabilities requiring accommodations in the application and interview process, please contact us at hr@ncssm.edu.

NCSSM Counseling Services is committed to creating an environment that celebrates the unique stories and voices of each member of our community, recognizing all dimensions of identity (e.g., ethnicity, culture, race, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, age, physical and mental abilities, religious beliefs and socioeconomic background). Our approach to mental health and wellness integrates physical, emotional, academic, spiritual, social, and cultural well-being. We support students’ adjustment to the NCSSM community, individual personal growth, academic endeavors, and the transition to college or other life pursuits.

Description of Duties:

The position reports to the Morganton Director of Counseling and Wellness and is responsible for providing counseling services.

Provide personal counseling to students utilizing a variety of best-practice, evidence-based theories, techniques, skills and strategies; Provide crisis intervention to students with acute needs and chronic mental health needs; Assess students in crisis for possible harm to self or others, providing necessary follow-up with family/guardian and NCSSM community; as well as collaborate and refer to mental health providers; Share on-call response to students experiencing significant mental health related concerns; Develop individualized support plans to meet the emotional, personal, and academic needs of students and assist in the implementation of those plans; Develop safety plans with students; Support families in identifying and accessing mental health providers; Collaborate with mental health providers to address student needs; Facilitate parent/guardian-student meetings; Facilitate group counseling sessions with students;  Collaborate and facilitate communication with students, parents, teachers, faculty, staff, medical personnel, administrators, and mental health professionals to ensure that students' emotional, residential, academic, and other needs are supported;   Develop and provide professional development opportunities for faculty and staff in support of student wellness; Provide academic counseling; Participate in residential school programs including social events and activities; This position is required to work on site. 

Knowledge and Abilities:

Individual and group counseling skills, techniques and strategies that promote personal and social growth and academic success; Knowledge of American School Counselor Association Ethical Standards for School Counselors; Knowledge of legal, ethical and professional issues related to minors, students, and school setting; Knowledge of mandatory reporting laws; Knowledge of individual and group counseling theories and best practices; Skilled in human development and growth mindset; Ability to utilize technology and other resources to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of  practices, policies and procedures; Ability to utilize technology effectively and assist in the planning, organization, implementation of the NCSSM school counseling program and support student needs; Ability to demonstrate a high level of professionalism, initiative, resourcefulness, and personal accountability; Ability to interact in a positive manner with diverse constituents including students, faculty, staff, and the public while upholding the intent and integrity of NCSSM policies and procedures; Ability to communicate effectively in writing and verbally with internal and external constituents and build relationships to deliver a high level of service; Ability to function as an integral member of a professional and diverse team.

Minimum Education and Experience:

A Master’s degree in Counselor Education or a related field is required.

Preferred: Licensure as a mental health professional; minimum of two years experience working with students in an educational setting at the secondary or college level.

Please attach a cover letter and a resume to the online application before submitting.

About NCSSM:

North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM) challenges academically talented students from across the state with a comprehensive curriculum including highly specialized courses in science, technology, engineering/computer science, and mathematics. NCSSM opened in 1980 as something of an academic experiment: Would something excellent happen if we gathered together a highly motivated and diverse student body with a critical mass of equally motivated, accomplished, credentialed, and diverse faculty within a space dedicated to the power of the scientific method? Four decades later, NCSSM has built a firmly rooted reputation as an academic powerhouse, educating intellectually gifted students from every corner of the state, representing rural and urban communities, and all socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds. Eleven states and several countries worldwide have since used NCSSM as the model for their own programs.

Today, as in 1980, the mission of NCSSM, an intellectually stimulating, diverse, inclusive, and collaborative community, is to:

educate and nurture academically talented students to become state, national, and global leaders, increase access to high quality public education in North Carolina, and cultivate engaged citizens who will work for the betterment of the world,

through challenging programs, with an emphasis on STEM, driven by the pursuit of excellence and innovation.

Altogether, nearly 1,500 North Carolina students from all 13 congressional districts and nearly all 100 counties are enrolled in one of our three signature programs: our residential diploma program, our online certificate program or our Open Enrollment Distance Education program. Our Open Enrollment courses, taught via interactive video conferencing, expand local offerings to include enrichments and advanced coursework otherwise unavailable in students’ home communities. NCSSM instructors teach live to classrooms statewide daily, broadcasting more synchronous video than any other public provider in the state.

By 2022, NCSSM will expand to an additional campus in Morganton, NC. Funded by the Connect NC Bond, legislative appropriations, and private philanthropic gifts, the campus will initially accommodate 300 additional residential diploma program students as well as increased distance education enrollment.

NCSSM has more than 11,000 alumni, nearly all of whom attended colleges and universities (a great majority within our own top NC public universities) and nearly three-quarters of whom have earned or are seeking a graduate degree. According to a 2019 survey of alumni who attended the school between 1980 and 2018, 64 percent of NCSSM college graduates earn a bachelor’s degree in a STEM field -- over three times the national average for high school graduates. And 58 percent of NCSSM underrepresented minority (URM) graduates earn an undergraduate degree in a STEM field -- nearly four times the national average for URM students. A 2020 economic impact study found that 54 percent of our alumni continue to live and work in North Carolina, catalyzing nearly $1.3 billion in economic activity and making priceless contributions to our quality of life as teachers, physicians, scientists, entrepreneurs and other community leaders. Many of our graduates, the oldest of whom are in their mid-50s, refer to their time at NCSSM as “life-changing” and continue to support their alma mater with charitable gifts, volunteerism, and other purposeful engagement.

Our school is a full constituent of the University of North Carolina System and is governed and supported by the UNC Board of Governors, NCSSM Board of Trustees, NCSSM Foundation, NCSSM Alumni Association, NCSSM Parent Association, NCSSM Faculty Senate, NCSSM Staff Senate, and NCSSM Student Government Association. Notably, a representative from each of our Faculty Senate, Staff Senate, and Student Government Association serve as ex-officio, non-voting members of our Board of Trustees.

NCSSM operates as a free public school open to qualified NC students, regardless of financial means. We generate more than 10 percent of our institutional budget from private donations, a ratio that will likely increase as we undertake a comprehensive fundraising campaign.

Consistent with our founding and governance, the institution is guided by a standing strategic plan. Though goals may shift from time to time, our core beliefs have remained fundamentally unchanged since our establishment:

Our greatest resource is the capability and creative capacity of the human mind. Everyone is unique and has intrinsic value. Diversity and inclusion enrich and strengthen lives and communities. Embracing challenge inspires growth and the pursuit of excellence. Individuals are responsible for their choices and actions. With opportunity, support, and effort all people can realize their full potential. A nurturing community develops the well-being of the whole person. Service to others builds and strengthens our community. Environmental stewardship and resource sustainability are a shared responsibility. A passion for learning throughout life leads to success and fulfillment. Collaboration fosters learning, ignites innovation, and cultivates community. Adhering to high ethical standards is essential for a community to function and flourish. Access to high quality public education is essential to a free, democratic society.

How to Apply:

Submit electronic application, cover letter, and resume via: http://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/northcarolina/. Please create an account, search for the Personal Counselor position vacancy, and submit the online application.

Please complete your application in full. All required Competencies, Work History, and Credentials must appear on the application in the Education and Work Experience sections of the application to receive consideration during the selection process. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing the State Application form in its entirety. “See Attached Resume or an Embedded Text Resume” will be considered incomplete and will not be processed. Degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.

Applicants seeking Veteran’s preference must attach a DD-214 form, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, along with the application. Final candidates are subject to criminal and sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require a motor vehicle check. If the highest degree is from an institution outside of the U.S., final candidates are required to have their degree equivalency verified at www.wes.org or equivalent service. NCSSM participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.

Please refrain from submitting multiple applications. However, if multiple applications are submitted to a posting, only the most recent application received prior to the posting close date will be accepted. There is a 24 hour waiting period before an applicant can re-apply to a position.

If you have questions, please contact Eric Hunsley at eric.hunsley@ncssm.edu

NCSSM is an EEO/eVerify/VEVRAA Employer