Overview:

Reporting to the Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Experience, the Director of Counseling and Career Services (CCS) is a key member of the senior leadership team for the Division of Enrollment Management &

Student Experience. The Director is responsible for the College’s counseling and career development programs, providing vision, leadership, and supervisions for staff in the delivery of services.

The Office of Counseling and Career Services provides direct counseling (individual and group), consultation, training, preventative programming, crisis intervention, and other essential mental health services to all LaGrange College students. Additionally, the Director will supervise and direct career advising to students and alumni regarding the job-search process, interviewing, resume and letter writing, internships, and all other facets of career planning. Manages workshops, seminars, and other presentations to student, faculty, employer, and alumni groups. Coordinates communication with administrators, program directors, and faculty to ensure that the career services department meets the academic programs' needs and desired outcomes. 

The Director will supervise two full-time staff positions: one Assistant Director of Counseling Services, and one Assistant Director of Career Services/Internship Coordinator. The Director will also supervise graduate students fulfilling internship/practicum requirements.

The division of Enrollment Management and Student Experience is a collaborative team that seeks to provide a meaningful and successful college experience to students from a variety of backgrounds and cultures. The ideal candidate will have a collaborative and caring approach to leadership.  This is an ideal position for a seasoned professional seeking to expand and diversify their skills; energetic and motivated candidates are encouraged to apply for this unique opportunity. The Director of Counseling and Career Services is a 12-month position that includes a competitive salary and excellent benefit package.  LaGrange College, the oldest private institution in Georgia founded in 1831, is a vibrant, student-centered liberal arts institution located in beautiful LaGrange, Georgia (45 minutes South of the Atlanta International Airport and within an hour of Auburn, Alabama).

Primary Job Responsibilities:

• Performs supervisory and management duties. Provides leadership and supervision for Counseling and Career Services staff to continuously improve student counseling and careers services support.
• Coordinates the delivery of quality counseling services to meet student needs. Ensures compliance with laws, ethical rules, and regulations. Develops and maintains sound counseling policies and procedures. Utilizes electronic counseling records management system and ensures the confidentiality of counseling records.
• Coordinates the delivery of career readiness programming to prepare students to write a resume, job interviewing, securing internships, and the job search process.
• Serve to create and manage career pathways for current students and alumni with existing alumni and friends of the institution, including bringing these individuals to campus for educational workshops.
• Provide graduate school preparation activities which include curriculum vitae reviews and researching funding opportunities.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of employment and graduate school opportunities.
• Work in collaboration with faculty to provide leadership and direction in the design and implementation of the College’s overall internship and career-based experiential learning program
• Provide workshops to classes, groups of students, academic departments, and student organizations; develop, organize and execute Cultural Enrichment events, workshops, and presentations.
• Compose and update handbooks, guidebooks, and other sources to assist the job searching process, including oversight of the CCS social media platforms.
• Assist in managing the Panther Job Board which includes cultivating job positing and updating employer contact information.
• Prepare an annual outcomes report detailing the usage of services offered by CCS.
• Work in collaboration with Alumni Affairs to prepare an annual survey of graduates and their success in securing employment or admission to graduate programs upon graduation from LaGrange College.
• Serve on various College committees and/or task forces as requested.
• Other duties as assigned by the Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Experience

Minimum Qualifications:

Master’s degree in counseling, clinical psychology, counselor education, social work or a closely related field, doctorate preferred. Must be a licensed professional counselor (LPC). Three years of experience in managing counseling service within a higher education or clinical environment. Possession of or ability to readily obtain Georgia professional counseling licensure.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Must be proficient with word processing, database, spreadsheet, e-mail, and presentation software programs.  Prior experience or ability to learn student information systems (Jenzabar).
• Knowledge of counseling theory, techniques, approaches, and best practices. Knowledge of the regulations governing the practice of professional counseling in the State of Georgia.
• Knowledge of mental health issues.
• Ability to work with a variety of candidates that includes freshman students to 5th+ year seniors, veterans, alumni ranging from entry level to senior level talent, career changers/retirees and non-degree seeking LaGrange College students.
• Knowledge of FERPA regulations for handling confidential and/or student records.
• Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills with demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with community organizations, public/private agencies, faculty, staff, and students.
• Familiarity with employment law and employment recruiting trends.
• Commitment to the mission of church affiliated liberal arts institutions like LaGrange College.
• Demonstrated sensitivity to issues of diversity, inclusion, and social justice in the collegiate setting.
• Proven record of being able to utilize effective time management, organization, prioritization, and attention to detail while performing multiple duties, often under stress.
• Demonstrated understanding of the connection between student affairs and the educational mission of the College.
• Proven record of innovative and strategic thinking as well as a passion for building and adapting programs to meet the changing needs of today’s students