Mental Health Counselor - Full-Time One-Year Non-Tenure Track

Our Opportunity
*Priority review of applications will take place on July 30, 2025*
South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) seeks candidates for the 2025-2026 academic year to fill a Mental Health Counselor - Full-Time One-Year Non-Tenure Track position . The effective date of employment will be September 2025. Successful candidates will possess the interest, skills, and abilities to help college teams lead the state in innovative and collaborative learning experiences designed to optimize student success. This is a full-time, one-year, non-tenure-track position with a total salary of $71,230. This salary includes 177 contract days (35 hours per week) throughout the academic year.

South Puget Sound Community College is committed to increasing its cultural diversity with an emphasis on equity and inclusion among its professional staff. A firm understanding of antiracist policy development coupled with the skills to eliminate barriers that harm underrepresented people is a college requirement. The students that we serve come from a variety of backgrounds. On average, 43% of SPSCC students are people of color. We strongly encourage members of the underrepresented groups, veterans, and bi- or multi-lingual individuals to apply for this position to help meet the needs of our diverse students and service district.
And if that isn't enough? We also offer:

• A healthy work/life balance for our employees with the opportunity for flexible work schedules and remote work depending on position and college needs
• Fine dining in the Percival Room , offering vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free choices as part of our Culinary Arts and Baking & Pastry Arts programs
• The Clipper Coffee Corner serving Batdorf & Bronson coffee and a selection of delicious food items from our baking/culinary students
• A brand new Health & Wellness Center
• FREE Bus service every 15 minutes to downtown Olympia and beyond
• FREE parking on our campuses permits are not required
• On-campus child care
• Percival Creek which runs beneath our campus footbridge, provides year-round beauty and views of Chinook, Coho, and chum salmon pass through each fall
• Many walking paths that are marked and on nicely paved sidewalks
• SPSCC promotes wellness with a variety of different workshops and events on campus
• Lots of activities with our Artist & Lecture series , which are FREE for staff and faculty
• Many community events in the Kenneth J. Minnaert Center for the Arts
• Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) that offer an opportunity for SPSCC employees to gather and connect around issues that define them personally, and which affect their work at the College and their professional development. Current Employee Resource Groups include:
  • Staff and Faculty of Color (SFOC) ERG - an employee network which strives to create an intentional and relational foundation for community and trust building across different groups through shared values.
  • The LGBTQIA+ ERG creates a space for LGBTQIA+ staff and faculty at the college to share resources, build support and community, and work towards greater equity and accessibility.

What You'll Do

The Faculty Mental Health Counselor will:

• Provide short-term mental health counseling for a diverse student population regarding issues that impact their academic progress, including mental illness, emotional well-being and developmental concerns.
• Provide culturally informed, competent, and responsive cross-cultural mental health counseling (i.e., differences in ethnicity, religion, gender expression, sexual orientation, income, disability, or other social factors).
• Provide individual, group, crisis intervention, and emergency services support to students.
• Maintain current information on community mental healthcare and local area resources and facilitate student referrals.
• Maintain current information on college resources and facilitate effective student referrals.
• Design curriculum, provide instruction and evaluate workshops to facilitate student development and mental health awareness.
• Provide instruction for guest lectures integrated into credit-bearing classes.
• Adhere to Washington State Law and ethics code pertaining to your profession to include: maintain licensure, pursue continuing education, complete clinical charting, seek consultation as needed and manage student safety concerns.

Faculty members will work with other faculty, staff, and administrators:

• Consult with staff and faculty regarding student mental, emotional and behavioral concerns.
• Work effectively with students, staff, and community members from diverse academic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Collaborate and consult regarding campus-wide student mental health promotion activities using a public health model (i.e., needs assessment, programming/policy work, and evaluation).
• Participate in department and college-wide committees, projects, and governance.
• Support the colleges mission by creating a work environment of mutual respect and fairness while encouraging creative and critical thinking.
• Remain knowledgeable of college philosophies, policies, and procedures described in the college catalog, handbook, and other publications.

Qualifications You Possess

Minimum Qualifications:

• Masters degree in counseling, psychology or social work (clinical focus) from an accredited institution.
• Licensed to practice independently as a LMHC or LICSW in the State of Washington.
• A demonstrated understanding and working knowledge of the theory and practice of mental health counseling to treat mental illness and support student development.
• 2 years of full-time clinical work experience post-masters degree.
• Experience with the following modalities of mental health counseling: individual, group and crisis intervention.
• Experience working collaboratively and coordinating responsibilities and services effectively in a team setting.
• Ability to provide culturally-informed, competent and responsive cross-cultural mental health counseling (i.e. differences in ethnicity, religion, gender expression, sexual orientation, income, disability or other social factors).
• Demonstrated experience or participation with persons from diverse backgrounds such as sexual orientation, racial, ethnic, religious, linguistic, gender, age, socio-economic, physical and learning abilities, and a commitment to an inclusive and equitable working/learning environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous college counseling center experience.
• Experience developing, conducting, and evaluating classroom and/or group presentations for adults.
• Understanding of, and commitment to, the mission of a community college.

To Apply

Applications must be completed online and include the following attachments:

1. Cover letter addressed to the Screening Committee highlighting your ability to perform the responsibilities and competencies described in the job posting.
2. Current resume/CV showing all educational and professional experience, which demonstrates how you meet the minimum and any preferred qualifications.
3. Copies of unofficial transcripts from institutions of higher education.

Top candidates will be notified directly to interview for this position. Selection will be based on the applicant's knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties listed in this job posting as identified in the materials requested above. Applications with comments directing the reader to see attachments will be considered incomplete. Veterans Preference Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and are wishing to claim Veterans Preference should redact their personally identifiable information from a copy of their United States Department of Veterans Affairs honorable discharge documentation and email to ... u with the job number for which they are applying in the subject line. Background Check Condition of Employment Employment with the college is contingent upon the successful completion of a comprehensive background check. Any adverse information will be considered on a case-by-case basis and does not automatically preclude a candidate from employment. Bargaining Unit This position has been designated as a bargaining unit position represented by the South Puget Sound Federation of Teachers, AFT/AFL-CIO, Local 4603. South Puget Sound Community College values diversity and is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Educator South Puget Sound Community College provides equal opportunity in education and employment and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, creed, religion, or status as a veteran of war. Prohibited sex discrimination includes sexual harassment (unwelcome sexual conduct of various types). SPSCC provides reasonable accommodations for qualified students, employees, and applicants with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Federal Rehabilitation Act. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies, Title II and Title IX, Samantha Dotson, Executive Human Resource Officer /Title IX Coordinator, ..., ..., Building 25, Room 220, 2011 Mottman Rd SW, Olympia, WA 98512; South Puget Sound Community College is a smoke-free/drug free environment. Applicants needing accommodation in the application process in an alternative format may contact the Human Resources office at ....