Chief Counselor, Department of Student Services

Описание

Chief Counselor ensures the quality and effective administration of the NU psychological counseling services, including the promotion of students' and staff's psycho-emotional well-being through counseling and therapeutic work, the provision of crisis psychological assistance, the organization of educational events on mental health issues, and the implementation of preventive measures aimed at enhancing psychological support and fostering a positive psycho-emotional climate within the educational environment.

The Chief Counselor performs the following duties and responsibilities:

1. Organization of the psychological counseling services:

1.1. Coordination of psychologists’ work, distribution of responsibilities, including crisis consultations and post-crisis support for students.

1.2. Daily monitoring and control of timely and accurate completion of online spreadsheets, databases, and software to ensure proper data reflection on dashboards and allow Department leadership to monitor the number and status of conducted activities.

1.3. Development of internal regulatory documents related to psychological support services; assistance with maintaining documentation, regulations, and methodological materials. Ensuring timely updates and relevance of methodological materials, regulations, and standards of the Psychological Counseling Service.

1.4. Planning and distribution of the budget of the Psychological Counseling Service. Monitoring the utilization of budgetary funds and preparing financial reports related to the Unit's activities.

1.5. Planning of monthly and annual activities of the Psychological Counseling Service, developing schedules, monitoring and analyzing conducted activities, and preparing summary reports.

1.6. Ensuring compliance with confidentiality standards and protection of personal data when maintaining documentation and working with databases.

2. Provision of psychological support through counseling:

2.1. Conducting individual counseling sessions for students, entering data and results into the appropriate software/database.

2.2. Conducting group counseling sessions for students.

2.3. Providing emergency consultations according to the duty schedule and offering crisis psychological assistance.

2.4. Monitoring and analysis of initial assessment consultations conducted during duty shifts and triage sessions.

2.5. Conducting psychological diagnostics using modern methods, tools, and standardized tests, with accurate input of results into the relevant software/database.

2.6. Maintaining records of counseling sessions and analyzing the dynamics of requests.

3. Educational and Preventive Activities:

3.1. Ensuring the development of informational materials (articles, brochures, leaflets) on psychological topics for students and staff.

3.2. Designing training and seminar programs aimed at improving the mental health of students and staff, and conducting them according to approved schedules.

3.3. Organizing and conducting educational events such as workshops, seminars, and training sessions on students’ mental health and preventive programs to reduce anxiety, promote stress resilience, prevent emotional burnout, and more.

3.4. Holding meetings, discussion clubs, and informational sessions on psychological topics to enhance students’ psychological literacy.

3.5. Conducting educational events for fellow psychologists based on the results of completed professional development programs, as well as sharing up-to-date knowledge, new methods, and best practices in psychological counseling.

4. Participation in the organization and delivery of crisis psychological assistance to students:

4.1. Developing, organizing, and conducting training sessions for students and staff on crisis response and methods of providing psychological first aid. Organizing and conducting drills and simulation trainings on crisis response.

4.2. Preparing informational leaflets and methodological recommendations for students and staff on psychological safety and response protocols in crisis situations.

4.3. Providing emergency psychological support to students and staff in crisis situations when needed.

4.4. Monitoring the post-crisis support of students who have experienced difficult life situations (loss, trauma, violence, etc.).

4.5. Holding interdisciplinary commission meetings to discuss students requiring active supervision and case review. Maintaining a database of crisis cases for analysis and improvement of response algorithms. Keeping records and analyzing the dynamics of crisis-related requests. Providing reports to University leadership on students with a history of crisis, number of consultations, reasons for seeking help, and recommendations.

4.6. Collaborating with the psychiatrist from the university clinic and/or medical assistance services, as well as the city mental health center, to monitor and support students who require ongoing observation.

4.7. Cooperating with structural divisions, administrative units, and external agencies to coordinate crisis response activities.

5. Professional competency development:

5.1. Regular professional development through participation in seminars, conferences, training programs, workshops, intensives, and master classes.

5.2. Sharing professional experience with colleagues, participating in expert meetings, round tables, and discussion clubs. Engaging in professional associations and communities, contributing to the development of the University’s Psychological Counseling Service.

5.3. Organizing and undergoing professional supervision and intervision sessions to improve the quality of counseling and diagnostic work.

5.4. Participating in psychological research aimed at studying the psycho-emotional well-being of students and staff at the University.

5.5. Developing, adapting, and implementing new psychological methods and approaches to enhance the mental well-being of students and staff within the educational environment.

5.6. Mastering and applying modern digital technologies in psychological counseling and diagnostics (e.g., online counseling, use of specialized software, use of artificial intelligence in psychology).

6. Psychological awareness and information work:

6.1. Monitoring and managing the service’s website and social media accounts.

6.2. Reviewing informational email distributions.

6.3. Developing a social media presence strategy for the Unit and managing official accounts in accordance with the University's internal regulations.

6.4. Ensuring timely publication of up-to-date information about the Unit’s work, events, and educational materials aimed at raising awareness about mental health.

6.5. Monitoring user feedback, responding promptly to user inquiries, and moderating comments to uphold ethical standards and protect the University’s reputation.

6.6. Overseeing the preparation and dissemination of informational materials, brochures, and handouts on mental health issues for students and staff.

6.7. Developing and distributing educational materials aimed at preventing mental disorders, reducing stigma, and raising awareness of mental health within the University community.

7. Analytical work and reporting:

7.1. Developing strategies for the advancement of the University’s Psychological Counseling Service; analyzing the needs of students and staff for psychological support; identifying trends and problem areas in service provision and proposing solutions.

7.2. Monitoring service requests, analyzing trends and counseling effectiveness; preparing and presenting statistical data, reports, and analytical briefs to University leadership and structural units.

7.3. Monitoring the effectiveness of psychological services, analyzing trends, developing proposals for improvement, and presenting suggestions to leadership; implementing modern technologies (e.g., online consultations, digital tools).

7.4. Collaborating with University administrative structures, medical institutions, and municipal mental health services to address crisis situations comprehensively.

7.5. Maintaining service records and providing analytical information to University leadership.

7.6. Timely and high-quality completion of other tasks assigned by University leadership within the scope of official duties.

Education requirements (level, field, licenses, professional certifications, etc.):

• Higher-professional, preferable from the higher education institutions with English language of instruction. Higher education in psychology, medicine, healthcare and/or other related specialties.
• An academic degree of candidate/doctor of Sciences or a master's degree, PhD, obtained in foreign countries, a master's degree are preferred.

Priority areas of specialties:

- healthcare;

- psychology and psychotherapy;

- science;

- sphere of management (welcome)

Work experience requirements:

• A minimum of 7 years of professional experience as a psychologist or psychotherapist in educational institutions, medical facilities, or private practice, supported by official documentation (e.g., registration certificate).
• A minimum of 5 years of experience with a master's degree in a relevant field.

Knowledge, skills, and competencies requirements:

Knowledge:

• Knowledge of regulatory and legal documents of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the field of medical and social assistance for individuals with mental disorders
• Knowledge of the Ethical Code of Psychologists of the Republic of Kazakhstan
• Knowledge of the University's internal regulations related to psychological support
• Knowledge of mental health information systems and MS Office programs (Excel, PowerPoint)
• Ethical standards and legislation: professional ethics, confidentiality, and client rights
• Theoretical foundations of psychology
• Psychodiagnostic methods: tests, projective techniques, questionnaires, interviews, observation
• Fundamentals of psychotherapy and psychocorrection: methods for working with personal crises, stress, anxiety, and emotional disorders
• Fundamentals of conflict resolution: principles of conflict resolution and mediation technologies
• Psychological counseling: core models and techniques for working with clients

Skills:

• Skills in working with information systems in the field of mental health.
• Skills in data analysis and reporting in psychiatric counseling.
• Skills in organizing and administering the processes of the psychological counseling service.
• Psychodiagnostics – application of tests, analysis of obtained data, preparation of psychological reports.
• Counseling – conducting individual and group consultations, formulating recommendations.
• Psychological correction – development of development programs, trainings, and corrective sessions.
• Working with different client categories – adolescents, adults, people in crisis.
• Conflict resolution – negotiation and mediation techniques.
• Public speaking skills – conducting trainings, lectures, and group work.
• Documentation management – preparation of reports, conclusions, and work plans.
• Teamwork – collaboration with colleagues, doctors, educators, and social services.
• Emotional resilience – ability to maintain professionalism in stressful situations.
• Skills in interacting with government authorities and inspections.
• Skills in counseling and training staff on medical and social assistance for people with mental disorders.

Competencies requirements:

• Organizational skills – ability to coordinate the work of a team of psychologists and establish effective administrative processes.
• Ensuring accuracy of documentation and adherence to deadlines.
• Communication skills – effective interaction with management, staff, and external bodies.
• Client orientation – building convenient and transparent psychological support services for students and staff.
• Responsibility – ensuring compliance with labor laws and internal regulations.
• Flexibility and stress resilience – ability to work under high workload and changing conditions.

Language requirements:

• Fluent proficiency in Kazakh, Russian, and English for professional business correspondence, preparation of analytical materials, and effective communication with internal and external partners.

Recruitment and selection process
Recruitment and selection at Nazarbayev University include the following process: preliminary selection based on experience and qualifications, assessments (e.g. technical skills/capabilities, aptitude, personality, work samples, in-basket exercises, and informal interviews), and motivation.

Formal interviews form the final stage of the selection process.
They are typically based on organizational values and behaviors and conducted in English.
You are encouraged to share your views and values  to identify how they fit into  Nazarbayev University core values