Associate Director Peer Leadership
Inside Higher Ed, Columbia, SC, United States
Overview
The position is for Associate Director Peer Leadership in Counseling and Psychiatric Services. Location: Columbia, SC. Full Time, 37.5 hours per week. Work schedule is 8:30 am – 5:00 pm, Monday – Friday, with occasional evenings/weekends as needed. Basis: 12 months. Position Summary
The Associate Director of Peer Leadership is a key member of the Counseling and Psychiatric Services leadership team and oversees the development, implementation, and evaluation of the center’s peer support and peer leadership programs. This position focuses on empowering students to promote emotional well-being, mental health awareness, and outreach through peer-led initiatives. The Associate Director will also ensure that peer leaders are trained in mental health education, crisis response, and campus resource navigation. The role combines program development, student supervision, collaboration with campus partners, and data-informed program evaluation to build a supportive, inclusive, and proactive mental health culture across the university community.
Primary Job Duties
Clinical & Crisis Support Program Development and Management Leadership, Collaborative Partnerships and Supervision Assessment and Reporting General Administrative Duties
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.
Essential Function
Yes
Hours and Time Allocation
Percentage Of Time:
30
Other Job Details
Location:
Columbia, SC Open Until Filled:
No
Required Education and Experience
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 or license eligible as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Independent Social Work in Clinical Practice (LISW-CP), or Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) 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.
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.
Safety/Security
Safety Sensitive Or Security Sensitive:
Yes
Vacancies and Dates
Number Of Vacancies:
1 Job Open Date:
03/19/2026 Job Close Date:
04/24/2026 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. We are only accepting applications submitted by April 24, 2026.
Benefits
USC 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
Quicklink For Posting: https://uscjobs.sc.edu/postings/203669
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, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other bases under federal, state, local law, or regulations.
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The position is for Associate Director Peer Leadership in Counseling and Psychiatric Services. Location: Columbia, SC. Full Time, 37.5 hours per week. Work schedule is 8:30 am – 5:00 pm, Monday – Friday, with occasional evenings/weekends as needed. Basis: 12 months. Position Summary
The Associate Director of Peer Leadership is a key member of the Counseling and Psychiatric Services leadership team and oversees the development, implementation, and evaluation of the center’s peer support and peer leadership programs. This position focuses on empowering students to promote emotional well-being, mental health awareness, and outreach through peer-led initiatives. The Associate Director will also ensure that peer leaders are trained in mental health education, crisis response, and campus resource navigation. The role combines program development, student supervision, collaboration with campus partners, and data-informed program evaluation to build a supportive, inclusive, and proactive mental health culture across the university community.
Primary Job Duties
Clinical & Crisis Support Program Development and Management Leadership, Collaborative Partnerships and Supervision Assessment and Reporting General Administrative Duties
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.
Essential Function
Yes
Hours and Time Allocation
Percentage Of Time:
30
Other Job Details
Location:
Columbia, SC Open Until Filled:
No
Required Education and Experience
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 or license eligible as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Independent Social Work in Clinical Practice (LISW-CP), or Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) 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.
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.
Safety/Security
Safety Sensitive Or Security Sensitive:
Yes
Vacancies and Dates
Number Of Vacancies:
1 Job Open Date:
03/19/2026 Job Close Date:
04/24/2026 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. We are only accepting applications submitted by April 24, 2026.
Benefits
USC 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
Quicklink For Posting: https://uscjobs.sc.edu/postings/203669
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, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other bases under federal, state, local law, or regulations.
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