Associate Director Peer Leadership

PeopleAdmin, Inc.; Columbia (SC); On-site; USD 70,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement programs

Paid tuition

Dependent scholarships

Annual leave

Sick leave

13 paid holidays

Paid parental leave

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

University of South Carolina seeks an Associate Director of Peer Leadership to oversee counseling and mental health initiatives for students in Columbia, SC. This role emphasizes crisis response, program development, and collaborative leadership across CAPS, SAAS, and campus partners.

The position requires a master’s degree and 3+ years of related experience, with licensure eligibility in SC within six months. Strong supervision, evaluation, and data-driven program management are essential.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a job-related field and 3+ years of related experience.
• Licensed or license eligible as LPC, LISW-CP, or LMFT in SC within 6 months of hire.
• Preferred: program development, supervision of staff/graduate students, and crisis intervention experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide a broad range of counseling and psychological services to students, including individual, couples, and group therapy.
• Provide crisis and emergency services as needed and connect with referral resources.
• Lead development and management of peer leadership programs, ensuring evidence-based, data-driven approaches.

Skills

Diversity & inclusion

Organizational skills

Crisis management

Collaboration across departments

Project management

Education

Master’s degree in a related field

Job description

Benefits

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

College/Division Division of Student Affairs and Academic Support

Department

Department SAAS UHS Counseling and Psychology Services

State Pay Range

State Pay Range G11

USC Market Range

USC Market Range MRI - $69,913 $87,391 $104,870

Anticipated Hiring Range

Anticipated Hiring Range $69,913 - $87,391

Location of Vacancy

Location of Vacancy Columbia, SC

Link to USC Market Title https://uscjobs.sc.edu/titles/143089 Job Level M0 - Managerial Business Title (Internal Title) Associate Director Peer Leadership

Part/Full Time

Part/Full Time Full Time

Hours per Week 37.5

Work Schedule

8:30 am – 5:00 pm, Monday – Friday

Willing to work occasional evening and weekend hours required for campus events, programs, or emergencies.

Must be willing to work a flexible schedule to meet the needs of the department.

Basis

Basis 12 months

Job Search Category

Job Search Category Student Services

About USC

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.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BALBcUSl7ck

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.

Job Duties

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

Position Attributes

Employees in Safety-Sensitive or Security-Sensitive positions will be subject to pre-employment and post-employment drug testing in accordance with University policy HR 1.95 Drug and Alcohol Testing.

Safety Sensitive or Security Sensitive Yes

Hazardous weather category Essential

Posting Detail Information

Number of Vacancies 1

Desired Start Date Job Open Date 03/19/2026

Job Close Date 04/24/2026

Open Until Filled No

Required Documents

• Cover Letter
• Resume

Optional Documents

• List of References and Contact Information