Associate Director of Peer Leadership

Job Family:
Healthcare

Job Function:
Mental Health Counseling

USC Market Title:
Mental Health Counselor

Job Level:
M0 - Managerial

Business Title (Internal Title):
Associate Director of Peer Leadership

Part/Full Time:
Full Time

Hours Per Week:
37.5

Work Schedule:

• Standard working schedule: 8:30am – 5:00pm
• Must be willing to work a flexible schedule to meet the needs of the department.

About University Of South Carolina:
From the Upstate to the Lowcountry, the University of South Carolina system is transforming the lives of South Carolinians through the impact of our eight institutions and 20 locations throughout the state. More than 50,000 students are enrolled at one of eight institutions, including the research campus in Columbia and comprehensive four-year universities in Aiken, Upstate and Beaufort. In addition, our Palmetto College campuses in Salkehatchie, Union, Lancaster and Sumter enable students to earn associate or bachelor’s degrees through a combination of in-person, online or blended learning. All of our system institutions place strong emphasis on service — helping to build healthier, more educated communities in South Carolina and beyond.

Veterans' Preference Statement:
The University of South Carolina is committed to equal opportunity and proudly values the skills and experience military veterans bring to our workforce. Across South Carolina, we are making veterans a priority for employment and recognize their vital contributions to our state and our communities.

Advertised Job Summary:
Associate Director of Peer Leadership
Help shape the future of peer-based mental health and well-being support at the University of South Carolina.
The University of South Carolina’s Student Health and Well-Being seeks a fully independent licensed mental health clinician to serve as Associate Director of Peer Leadership. This high-impact leadership role is for a clinician with strong clinical judgment, experience supervising peer leaders in a collegiate setting, and a passion for expanding peer-based mental health and emotional well-being support. As a key member of the Counseling and Psychology Services leadership team, the Associate Director will guide, train, and mentor student peer leaders while helping shape the next evolution of peer support on campus.

This position offers the opportunity to build on an established foundation, while bringing creativity, structure, and vision to what comes next. The successful candidate will balance direct student supervision with program leadership, support a growing cohort of peer leaders and a graduate assistant, and contribute to curriculum development, outreach, assessment, campus partnerships, and data-informed program improvement. With significant institutional investment in peer support services, this role is ideal for a licensed clinician seeking to leave a lasting legacy by strengthening a proactive, student-centered culture of mental health and well-being at the University of South Carolina.

Primary Job Duties

• Oversee the development, implementation, and evaluation of peer support and peer leadership programs
• Supervise peer leaders
• Lead the design, execution, and evaluation of strategic goals for the program area
• Provide counseling and psychological services to students, including individual, couples, and group therapy
• Provide crisis and emergency services as needed

Perks:

• Competitive salary + some of the BEST benefits you can find!
• Generous annual and sick leave accrual along with 13 paid holidays.
• An engaging and collaborative on-campus environment. Our location is in South Carolina’s capital city, surrounded by amenities, so you will love where you work!
• Opportunities for professional development, including tuition assistance.
• Eligible for enrollment in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Job Related Minimum Required Education And Experience:

• Requires a master’s degree in a job related field and 3 or more years of job related experience.

Required Certification, Licensure/Other Credentials:

• Licensed as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Independent Social Worker in Clinical Practice (LISW-CP), or Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in the state of South Carolina.
• If licensed in another state, must be licensed in the state of South Carolina within 6 months of hire.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Strong background in program development, implementation, and evaluation, with a focus on mental health and wellness initiatives.
• Experience supervising professional staff, graduate students, or peer educators.
• Crisis intervention experience and familiarity with campus crisis response protocols.
• Willing to work occasional evening and weekend hours required for campus events, programs, or emergencies.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Ability to work effectively with students from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, and religious backgrounds.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills.
• Strong crisis management and decision-making abilities.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across departments and engage with external partners.
• Ability to balance multiple responsibilities in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency in using data management and evaluation software for program assessment.

Job Duty:
Clinical & Crisis Support

• Provide a broad range of time-limited counseling and psychological services to students to include individual, couples, and group therapy.
• Provide crisis and emergency services as needed while maintaining awareness of community-wide referral resources.
• Opportunities to engage in outreach and consultation pertaining to developmental, preventative, and mental health topics.

Essential Function:
Yes

Job Duty:
Program Development and Management

• Responsible for the development, implementation and management of peer leadership.
• Ensure that management of programs are evidence-based, data-driven, and informed by current research on mental health in higher education settings.
• Collaborate with university staff to identify campus needs and coordinate the implementation of peer services.

Job Duty:
Leadership, Collaborative Partnerships and Supervision

• Lead the design, execution, and evaluation of strategic goals for program area, aligning efforts with the broader mission and objectives of Counseling and Psychology Services, SAAS and the larger USC mission. Supervise, train, and mentor staff related to the prevention area.
• Foster collaborations with campus partners such as Student Affairs, Residential Life, Health Services, and academic departments
• Opportunities to serve as a representative of CAPS in university-wide committees related to health promotion, crisis response, and wellness initiatives. Ongoing evaluation and monitoring of employee performance

Job Duty:
General Administrative Duties

• Engage in professional development activities in alignment with licensure, professional affiliation, and best practice standards.
• Collaborate with colleagues throughout the college to contribute to departmental initiatives, student services, retention efforts, and overall campus growth.
• Maintain client files, case notes, correspondence and compile information; prepare reports as assigned.
• Participate in all departmental meetings

Job Duty:
Assessment and Reporting

• Oversee the collection and analysis of data related to peer leadership.
• Use assessment data to refine and enhance peer leadership, reporting findings to university leadership and other stakeholders.
• Prepare annual reports on prevention services, highlighting key achievements, challenges, and goals for future growth.

Job Duty:
Other Duties

• Collaborate with leadership and staff to advance the department’s mission and strategic goals.
• Foster cooperative working relationships with faculty, staff, student organizations, and community-based programs.
• Opportunities to provide supervision to graduate level interns and trainees and contribute to the professional development of staff.
• Participate in assigned work groups, task forces, and committees.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support the department’s operations.

Safety Sensitive Or Security Sensitive:
Yes

Number Of Vacancies:
1

Open Until Filled:
No

Special Instructions To Applicant:
Positions are advertised for a minimum of five (5) business days on our job website. After five (5) business days, positions can be closed at the discretion of the department at any time. This employment site is updated on a regular basis. The length of the recruitment and screening process may vary from position to position, depending upon a variety of factors. Should review of your qualifications result in a decision to pursue your candidacy, you will be contacted by phone or email.

The University of South Carolina offers a valuable benefits package including but not limited to:

• Health and Life Insurance
• Retirement Programs
• Paid Tuition
• Dependent Scholarships
• Annual Leave
• Sick Leave
• 13 Paid Holidays (including an extended December holiday)
• Paid Parental Leave
• Professional Development Opportunities

EEO Statement:
The University of South Carolina does not discriminate in educational or employment opportunities or decisions for qualified persons on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender (including transgender), gender identity or expression, genetic information, HIV/AIDs status, military status, national origin, pregnancy (false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, childbirth, recovery therefrom or related medical conditions, breastfeeding), race, religion (including religious dress and grooming practices), sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other bases under federal, state, local law, or regulations.