Head of Counselling

Botany Downs Secondary College; Auckland; On-site; NZD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Botany Downs Secondary College is seeking a Head of Counselling to lead the school’s counselling service within the Student Support Services Team. This permanent 42-week position reports to the deputy principal responsible for student services and focuses on proactive wellbeing across a diverse student body.

You will provide professional leadership for counselling, shape strategic direction for wellbeing, and build strong relationships with students, staff and families while coordinating

Qualifications

• Hold current membership with the New Zealand Association of Counsellors (NZAC) or an equivalent professional body.
• Provide visible, trusted leadership, building strong relationships with students, staff and the senior leadership team.
• Experience providing individual counselling to young people, preferably in a secondary school setting.
• Work collaboratively and build positive relationships with students, caregivers, colleagues, school leaders, and the wider pastoral care network.
• Experience facilitating restorative conversations and processes with young people, caregivers, and staff.
• Experience assessing support needs, making appropriate referrals, and liaising effectively with external agencies.

Responsibilities

• Provide professional leadership for the counselling service and contribute to the strategic direction of student wellbeing across the school.
• Lead the counselling service and shape a coordinated, proactive, and responsive wellbeing agenda.
• Collaborate with students, caregivers, colleagues, school leaders and the wider pastoral care network.
• Facilitate restorative conversations and processes with young people, caregivers and staff; assess needs and referrals.

Skills

Counselling leadership

School counselling

Collaboration

Restorative practice

Education

Registered teacher

Job description

Secondary (Years 7–15) / wharekura, Guidance counsellor
English, Health and physical education, Learning languages, Mathematics and statistics, Science, Social sciences, Technology, Te reo Māori, The arts

Start term 1, 28 January 2027 (or earlier by negotiation).

Term-time only.

Are you an experienced counselling leader who is passionate about helping young people thrive? We are seeking a Head of Counselling to lead our counselling service and join our collaborative Student Support Services Team. This permanent position is for 42 weeks each year: the 40 school term weeks plus 2 weeks during term breaks. The successful applicant may also be a registered teacher and will report to the deputy principal responsible for student services. This pivotal role provides the opportunity to shape a coordinated, proactive, and responsive counselling service that supports the wellbeing and success of our diverse students.

As Head of Counselling, you will provide professional leadership for the counselling service and contribute to the strategic direction of student wellbeing across the school. You will:

• hold current membership with the New Zealand Association of Counsellors (NZAC) or an equivalent professional body
• provide visible, trusted, and collaborative leadership, building strong professional relationships with students, staff, and the senior leadership team
• have experience providing individual counselling to young people, preferably in a secondary school setting
• work collaboratively and build positive relationships with students, caregivers, colleagues, school leaders, and the wider pastoral care network
• have experience facilitating restorative conversations and processes with young people, caregivers, and staff
• have experience assessing support needs, making appropriate referrals, and liaising effectively with external agencies.

Applicants need to be living in New Zealand and have the right to work in New Zealand.