Professional Counselor I

Texas A&M University System; Kingsville (TX); On-site; USD 50,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition assistance

Wellness programs

Retirement benefits

Job summary

Texas A&M University–Kingsville is seeking an entry‑level Professional Counselor I to provide personal, academic, career, and substance use counseling to students under supervision. The role develops advanced skills in assessment, crisis response, outreach, and program development in a university setting.

The position emphasizes collaboration with experienced staff to support student success and well‑being, with occasional after-hours obligations to meet campus programming needs.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Counseling or Guidance, Social Work, Counseling, Clinical Psychology, or related field.
• Practical/field placement relevant to college counseling or supervised experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide personal counseling and crisis intervention services to individuals, couples, and groups.
• Provide academic, career, alcohol, and other drug counseling to individuals and groups.
• Conduct assessments and administer, score, and interpret psychological tests as appropriate.
• Maintain accurate and timely clinical documentation and case management activities.
• Participate in after-hours crisis intervention on-call rotation as needed.

Skills

Counseling

Crisis intervention

Mental health assessment

Interpersonal communication

Education

Master’s degree in Counseling or related field

Job description

Job Title

Professional Counselor I

Agency

Texas A&M University - Kingsville

Department

Student Health & Wellness

Proposed Minimum Salary

Commensurate

Job Location

Kingsville, Texas

Job Type

Staff

About Texas A&M University–Kingsville

Texas A&M University–Kingsville (TAMUK), the oldest institution of higher learning in South Texas and a proud member of the Texas A&M University System, stands as the region’s premier university. TAMUK offers the widest range of academic programs and degrees in South Texas, provides exceptional learning and residential facilities, conducts impactful research, awards substantial scholarships, and has awarded more than 80,000 degrees in the institution’s 100-year history. The university is recognized for its unwavering commitment to student success, meaningful research, and deep community engagement. With a welcoming campus culture and strong regional partnerships, TAMUK offers faculty and staff a unique opportunity to make a lasting difference in the lives of students and the broader South Texas region.

Location: The University is located in historic Kingsville, a friendly, safe city of 25,000 that is the home of the legendary King Ranch. Corpus Christi and its beaches are just 40 miles to the northeast, and the border with Mexico is 120 miles to the south at Brownsville or 119 miles to the west at Laredo.

For more information, here.

Position Overview

The Professional Counselor I is an entry-level counseling position designed for emerging mental health professionals seeking to build clinical expertise in a supportive, collaborative university environment. Working under general supervision, the Professional Counselor I provides personal, academic, career, and substance use counseling services to students while developing advanced skills in assessment, crisis intervention, outreach, consultation, and program development.

This position offers a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact on student success, well‑being, and retention through individual and group counseling, wellness promotion, crisis response, and campus collaboration. The Professional Counselor I works closely with experienced counseling professionals and contributes to a culture of care, resilience, and student-centered support.

The ideal candidate is passionate about helping students thrive, committed to professional growth, and comfortable working in a dynamic environment that occasionally requires evening, after‑hours, and weekend responsibilities to support student needs and university programming.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Clinical Counseling Services

• Provide personal counseling and crisis intervention services to individuals, couples, and groups.
• Provide academic, career, alcohol, and other drug counseling to individuals and groups.
• Conduct assessments and administer, score, and interpret psychological tests and inventories as appropriate.
• Maintain accurate and timely clinical documentation, counseling records, referrals, and case management activities.
• Participate in an after‑hours crisis intervention on‑call rotation and respond to urgent student mental health concerns as needed.

Consultation and Collaboration

• Serve as a resource to students, faculty, and staff regarding student mental health, academic concerns, career development, and substance use issues.
• Consult with university stakeholders regarding students who may benefit from counseling or supportive interventions.
• Respond to inquiries regarding counseling services, programs, policies, and available resources.
• Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with campus departments and community partners to strengthen student support services.

Outreach, Education, and Prevention

• Design, coordinate, and facilitate psychoeducational programming focused on mental health, wellness, resilience, and student success.
• Develop and deliver presentations, workshops, and trainings for students, faculty, staff, and campus organizations.
• Assist with outreach initiatives, awareness campaigns, and educational programming that promote mental health and well‑being across campus.
• Develop educational materials and support classroom, conference, and community presentations.
• Demonstrate flexibility in scheduling and participate in occasional evening and weekend presentations, outreach events, and special programs.

Supervision and Student Development

• Assist in the mentorship and daily guidance of counseling practicum students.
• Co‑facilitate case consultation, supervision discussions, and educational training opportunities for practicum students.
• Support the development of future counseling professionals through collaborative learning and professional role modeling.

Research, Assessment, and Program Enhancement

• Participate in applied research, assessment, and program evaluation initiatives that support continuous improvement of counseling services.
• Contribute to the dissemination of research and evaluation findings through presentations, publications, or other professional activities.
• Assist in the development and enhancement of counseling center programs and services.

Administrative and Organizational Support

• Assist with departmental operations, projects, and administrative responsibilities as assigned.
• Support strategic initiatives and organizational goals that advance Counseling Center and university objectives.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Other Duties as Assigned

• The above represents the major duties, responsibilities, and authorities of this job, and is not intended to be a complete list of all tasks and functions. Other duties may be assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Education – Master’s degree in Counseling and Guidance, Social Work, Counseling, Clinical Psychology, or related specialty.
• Experience – Practical/field placement relevant to college counseling or supervised experience.

Required Licenses and Certifications

• Passed the National Counselor Exam (NCE)
• Eligible for LPC‑Associate, LPC, LMFT, LMSW, or LCSW
• Must maintain licensure for continued employment

Preferred Qualifications

• Two or more years of post‑graduate clinical experience in a university or college counseling center
• Experience providing crisis intervention and participating in after‑hours/on‑call rotations
• Experience working with wide‑ranging student populations, including first‑generation students, veterans, and historically underrepresented groups
• Experience conducting outreach, psychoeducation, and wellness programming

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Clinical competency in multicultural counseling
• Ability to multitask and work cooperatively with others
• Adherence to ethical principles and state laws

Other Requirements

Other Requirements and Factors

• This position is security sensitive
• This position will require export‑control authorization prior to starting employment.
• This position requires compliance with state and federal laws/codes and Texas A&M University System/TAMU policies, regulations, rules and procedures
• All tasks and job responsibilities must be performed safely without injury to self or others in compliance with System and University safety requirements
• This is an entry‑level professional counseling position that provides opportunities for clinical growth, mentorship, and professional advancement.
• Standard work hours are primarily weekday business hours; however, flexibility is required to meet student and departmental needs.
• Occasional evening and weekend work is required for outreach initiatives, workshops, presentations, special events, and university programming.
• Participation in an after‑hours crisis intervention on‑call rotation is required.
• May be called upon to assist with urgent situations outside of regularly scheduled work hours.
• Opportunity to receive LPC‑S supervision, when available, at no additional cost to the employee, supporting professional licensure and career advancement.
• Access to ongoing professional development, clinical consultation, training, and mentorship opportunities.
• Eligibility for wellness programs and incentives offered through Texas A&M University‑Kingsville Human Resources, supporting employee health, well‑being, and work‑life balance.
• Opportunity to work within a collaborative, student‑centered environment committed to excellence in mental health care and student success.

Why Join the Javelina Nation?

Texas A&M University–Kingsville offers a supportive, mission‑driven culture focused on excellence in teaching, research, and service. All employees enjoy:

• A welcoming campus community
• Opportunities for professional development
• Competitive benefits through the Texas A&M University System
• A rewarding experience of helping students achieve their academic and career goals

Shared Values: TAMUK employees uphold the Shared Values of Care, Integrity, Pride, Innovation, and Excellence, which form the foundation of the University’s culture and guide its strategic plan. More information on TAMUK’s Strategic Plan and Shared Values can be found here.

4DX :TAMUK employees actively engage in Franklin Covey’s 4 Disciplines of Execution (4DX) activities within their departments. TAMUK utilizes 4DX as the framework for pursuing strategic goals by creating a culture of high performance. This requires participation from all faculty and staff. More information on 4DX can be found here.

Caring Campus: TAMUK employees embody the Institute for Evidence Based Change’s Caring Campus mindset, maintaining a collegial and caring attitude towards students and each other to foster student engagement and a positive, collaborative work environment. More information on Caring Campus can be found here.

Compensation & Benefits

Compensation: Commensurate with experience

Texas A&M University‑Kingsville offers a career filled with purpose and opportunity in addition to competitive wages. In addition to base pay, TAMUK provides eligible employees a comprehensive Total Rewards package designed to support employees’ well‑being, professional growth, and financial security.

BENEFITS (rules, policies, eligibility apply)

With our generous benefit package, robust professional development opportunities, strong retirement programs, and dedication to service excellence, TAMUK is a truly engaging and rewarding place to work.

Insurance:

• Medical
• Dental & Vision
• Life Insurance, Accidental D&D, Long Term Disability, Flexible Spending Account and Day Care Spending Account

On‑Campus Wellness Opportunities:

• TAMUK’s Wellness Program is designed to enrich lives through health and wellness programming that is meaningful and impactful.

Work Life Solutions:

• Counseling, Work Life Assistance, Financial Resources, and Legal Resources

Tuition Benefits:

• Employee Tuition Assistance Program
• Book scholarships
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness

Retirement:

• Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) or Optional Retirement Plan (ORP), dependent on position
• Voluntary Tax Deferred Account/Deferred Compensation Plan

Employee Leave:

• 8+ hours of vacation per month
• 8 hours of sick leave per month
• 8 hours of paid Birthday leave
• 12-15 paid holidays per year

Additional Information

A federal proclamation issued on September 19, 2025, imposes a $100,000 fee on new H-1B petitions filed after September 21, 2025. Texas A&M University‑Kingsville will not pay this fee. If immigration sponsorship may be required for employment, consult with private immigration counsel, at the individual’s expense, is recommended to determine whether the individual’s current immigration status would make a potential offer of employment from Texas A&M University‑Kingsville subject to this fee.

In addition, on January 27, 2026, Texas Governor Abbott issued a moratorium on the filing of any new H-1B petitions unless approved by the Texas Workforce Commission. Accordingly, if sponsorship for employment visa status is required now or in the future, this moratorium may affect the university’s ability to employ the selected final candidate. TAMUK will adhere to applicable regulations regarding visa opportunities.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.