Black Wellness Counsellor

Job ID

73806

Job Title

Black Wellness Counsellor

Regular/Temporary

Regular

Location

Central Campus

Open Date

01/22/2026

Job Type

Short Term Employee

Close Date

02/05/2026

Employee Group

Unifor Unit 1, Staff

Favorite Job

Department

Associate VP Student Affairs

Full/Part Time

Full-Time

Salary Grade/Band

Grade 11

Salary Range

$ $57.23 (hourly)

Job Code

JD0181

Existing Vacancy

Yes - Backfilling as Existing

Contract Duration

12 Months

Target Number of Openings

1

Hours per Week

35

Posting Details

Schedule

35 hours per week, Mon-Fri, 8:30am to 4:30pm. Evenings and weekends as needed.

Education Level

Master's degree in Counselling Psychology, or a related field of study.

Career Level

Requires 3 years of relevant experience.

Job Description

Unit/Project Description:

The Black Student Success centre supports and champions the holistic (academic, personal and professional) success and overall wellbeing of Black/African descent students and fosters a positive Black student and student-athlete experience. Through the centre Black students are connected to programs, people and resources to help nurture their academic and personal growth. The department is made of a dynamic team of Black student affairs professionals who work with campus and community partners to support student success. The new role will be a key member of the Black Student Success team and will work in close collaboration with the Student Wellness team on campus.

Candidates must be Black and are invited to share information in their cover letter about their Black/African ancestry and relevant experience working with Black communities.We especially welcome applications from suitably qualified candidates who identify as male as part of ongoing efforts to build a diverse team of counsellors.

Job Summary:

The Counsellor is responsible for promoting student development, student success, and student retention by designing, and providing a comprehensive range of psychological and educational services to aid students in achieving improved academic performance, enhanced personal and social effectiveness, and appropriate educational and career plans.

Purpose and Key Functions:

• Identify, assess, develop, and implement effective treatment plans.
• Conduct in-depth counselling and therapy interviews and utilize existing theoretical models to interpret information.
• Provide assessments of mental health and risk factors and coordinate referrals with professionals within the Student Wellness Centre and the community.
• Aid clients in identifying and solving emotional and interpersonal problems that may be affecting their academic success, well-being, and bio-psycho-social development.
• Provide psychological counselling services such as personal counselling, group counselling, and crisis counselling.
• Interact and assess the level of risk when students present with indications of harm to self or others, or suicidality.
• Consult with others regarding how to manage difficult or disruptive behaviours.
• Respond and field inquiries from new and existing students by email and phone.
• Engage in problem solving to work through ethical dilemmas.
• Facilitate conflict resolution sessions.
• Provide debriefing to clients after a trauma has occurred.
• Advocate on behalf of students for special academic consideration.
• Nurture and support clients and encourage them to develop self care while finding a balance between multiple demands.
• Persuade clients to seek appropriate professional help and to attend appointments.
• Develop and deliver presentations, information, and training sessions to others.
• Develop and deliver group counselling and psychotherapy materials.
• Write case notes including client's history and treatment plans.
• Write referral reports to other health professionals including general practitioners, psychiatrists, and other specialists.
• Plan and coordinate a variety of events and activities.
• Review, assess, and recommend changes to enhance the effectiveness of service delivery models.
• Maintain and safeguard the confidentiality of client records.
• Participate in professional development activities and remain current with frequent developments in a specialized field of study.

Supervision:

• Ensure adherence to quality standards and procedures for short-term staff and volunteers.
• Provide orientation and show procedures to others.

Requirements:

Master's degree in Counselling Psychology, or a related field of study.

Requires 3 years of relevant experience.

Assets:

• Passionate about the health and success of young Black adults and committed to contributing to a positive student experience
• Knowledge of, and sensitivity to, the intersectional life experiences and needs of Black identified undergraduate, graduate and international students
• Awareness of culturally situated individual and collective approaches to healing
• Knowledge of the origins, ideology and manifestations of Anti-Blackness and Anti-Black racism
• Familiarity with current research about racial trauma; racial battle fatigue and internalized racism and how they impact students in higher education
• Knowledge of Black worldviews, cultures and values
• Experience working collaboratively with Black communities
• Ability to collaborate and liaise with, Black student, staff, faculty and campus organizations
• Experience coordinating events drawing on Black/African diasporic cultures

How To Apply

To apply for this job, please submit your application online.

Employment Equity Statement

McMaster University is located on the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee and Mississauga Nations and within the lands protected by the "Dish With One Spoon" wampum agreement.

The diversity of our workforce is at the core of our innovation and creativity and strengthens our research and teaching excellence. In keeping with its Statement on Building an Inclusive Community with a Shared Purpose, McMaster University strives to embody the values of respect, collaboration and diversity, and has a strong commitment to employment equity.

The University seeks qualified candidates who share our commitment to equity and inclusion, who will contribute to the diversification of ideas and perspectives, and especially welcomes applications from indigenous (First Nations, Métis or Inuit) peoples, members of racialized communities, persons with disabilities, women, and persons who identify as 2SLGBTQ+.

As part of McMaster's commitment, all applicants are invited to complete a confidential Applicant Diversity Survey through the online application submission process. The Survey questionnaire requests voluntary self-identification in relation to equity-seeking groups that have historically faced and continue to face barriers in employment. Please refer to the Applicant Diversity Survey - Statement of Collection for additional information.

Job applicants requiring accommodation to participate in the hiring process should contact:

• Human Resources Service Centre at ext. 222-HR , or
• Faculty of Health Sciences HR Office at ext. 22207, or
• School of Graduate Studies at ext. 23679

to communicate accommodation needs.

Interview Experience

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