Crisis Counselor

Job Title: Crisis Counselor
Bargaining Unit: OPAP
Grade: VI
Salary: Exempt
Application Deadline: Open Until Filled
Priority Screening: February 16, 2025

Position Summary:

SUNY Ulster County Community College, a two-year branch of the State University of New York located ninety miles north of New York City in the Catskill Mountains, is currently accepting applications for a Crisis Counselor.

The Crisis Counselor reports to the Director of Public Safety and Health Services and shares responsibility for the direct mental health services for students, and as a training resource for faculty and staff. The Crisis Counselor works to provide crisis intervention, develops, administers, coordinates, evaluates, and promotes mental health and wellness services; The Crisis Counselor maintains frequent contact with students; college faculty and staff; various college personnel; and representatives and service providers from the community and governmental agencies.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide mental health services, including brief individual and group counseling and mental health assessment and referral services to students with a wide range of mental health needs to support their academic success and retention.
• Provide triage and crisis intervention to students and individuals in need, and act as a resource to faculty and staff. Provide crisis intervention, evaluation and referral to community resources, as well as collaborates with community psychiatric evaluation teams, as needed.
• Follow standard protocols for psychological counseling and adhere to ethical principles as stipulated by the New York State Mental Health Practitioners (Office of the Professions) and/or American Psychological Association and in accordance with laws and regulations pertaining to behavioral health care in the State of New York.
• Assess the mental health needs of students and develop an appropriate plan of brief intervention with the student(s).
• Serve as a resource to faculty, staff, and administration on mental health and wellness issues that may influence student behavior, including but not limited to, motivation, learning process issues, serious mental illness, suicide, violence, stalking, and threats towards others, anger management, conflict resolution, and social/communication skills.
• Educate students, staff and faculty about the maintenance of mental health and wellness with a focus on stress and anxiety reduction.

• Collaborate with the campus community to design innovative programs that promote student mental wellness and support student retention and success. These programs are prevention focused and may include anger management, substance abuse harm reduction, domestic violence awareness, relationship skills development, and suicide prevention.
• Ensure students have knowledge of and equal access to campus-based mental health services through a variety of venues, such as student orientation, ongoing outreach, marketing, and small and large group education.
• Coordinate and maintain collaborative relationships with local mental health agencies.
• Participate in appropriate campus committees and coordinate with other campus committees and groups as needed. Serve as a resource for the campus on issues of mental health and to the applicable committees and/or teams, as needed.
• Review, research, and modify mental health protocols/policies on an annual basis to assure compliance with laws, regulations, and accepted professional standards of practice; gather data to determine campus trends and needs; recommend protocol/policy modifications in response to identified needs.
• Monitor and assist in maintaining the print and electronic/online resources (College website and social media platforms). Assist in ensuring accuracy of print and online publications related to area of responsibility.
• Maintain confidential student information according to FERPA and HIPAA and maintain complete mental health treatment records.
• Other duties that may be assigned by the Director of Public Safety and Health Services.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master's degree from an accredited institution in clinical psychology, counseling psychology, social work, marriage and family therapy, or marriage, family and child counseling, or equivalent.
• Possess a valid license in the state of New York as a Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Licensed Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC), Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), and/or Licensed Clinical Psychologist.
• Two years minimum recent experience as a licensed mental health provider. Demonstrate professionalism and customer service in accordance with the College's values. Demonstrate professionalism, positive working relationships, quality customer service, and the ability to make decisions and solve problems. Maintain confidentiality, positive communication, accurate records, and an organized, safe working environment.
• Exhibit flexibility, willingness to learn, ability to adapt to change and maintain current technology skills.

And

• Commitment to community college goals and objectives of providing quality programs and services for culturally, socio-economically, ethnically, and academically diverse students and students with disabilities; personal qualities to work effectively and with sensitivity in a multicultural environment; awareness of and commitment to the needs of non-traditional and/or re-entry students with diverse abilities and interests.

Salary :

An initial starting salary of $61,800 with an excellent benefits package. This position is contingent upon adequate funding.

Additional Information

SUNY Ulster offers a competitive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision, life insurance, NYS or SUNY TIAA Retirement Plan, SUNY Perks, tuition waivers, including dependent waivers, and tuition assistance.

In addition, OPAP-covered members receive, on an annual basis: 24 vacation days, 12 sick days, 6 personal days, and 12 holidays including 3 floating holidays. In addition, the College is closed on the day prior to Thanksgiving, and between December 26 - January, 1, known as the Holiday Curtailment.

Application Process :

The position is open until filled. However, to ensure consideration, application materials should be received via email by February 16, 2026 at 4:00 pm EST to be given priority consideration. Applications received after the deadline are not guaranteed to be reviewed. SUNY Ulster reserves the right to close, continue, cancel, postpone or restart the recruitment at any time.

Applicants must submit the following materials to be considered for the position:

• Resume or CV
• Cover letter which discusses your qualifications and interest in the position
• Contact information for 3 professional references

Please submit only materials requested. All documents included in your application file become the property of the College. Applicants who fail to submit all required materials will not be considered.

We invite you to be part of a dedicated community of learners in an academic department that puts students first. Please go to the SUNY Ulster website for additional campus community information.

SUNY Ulster is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. The college encourages applications from all qualified applicants. This position is contingent upon adequate funding. Offer and assignment of employment is subject to verification of all information provided on the employment application, credentials, transcripts, fingerprint check, verification of the right to work in the United States and all other required pre-employment conditions are met.

Applicants who are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act and who, due to a disability, require accommodations for completing the application process, testing (if required for the position), or the interview, should notify the Human Resources Office 10 working days before the accommodation is required.

Neither the smoking of tobacco (nor other substances) nor the use of electronic vaporizers is permitted on the campus grounds.

SUNY Ulster does not reimburse applicants for travel, lodging or any other costs incurred by applicant to attend interviews. All interviewing costs incurred will be the responsibility of the applicant. Meeting the minimum qualifications does not guarantee an interview. Internal applicants are not guaranteed an interview.

Conditions of Employment

Employment with SUNY Ulster is not complete or official until applicants meet all pre-employment requirements, and the Board of Trustees has approved. Offer and assignment of employment is subject to verification of all information provided on the employment application, fingerprint check, verification of the right to work in the United States and all other required pre-employment conditions are met.

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