Field Placement Advisor Job Description

The Wright Institute Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology Program

The Wright Institute, located in Berkeley, California, is hiring a Field Placement Advisor for the Counseling Psychology Program. This position is full-time and in person. The Field Placement Advisor will support Counseling Program students in their field placements and applications for associateships and will provide general assistance to the Director of Field Placement. We are seeking candidates who are motivated to work directly and closely with students. Some evening and weekend work is required. 

Our Counseling Psychology Program provides students with the education and clinical skills necessary to pursue licensure in California as a marriage and family therapist (MFT) or a professional clinical counselor (LPCC). Throughout the two year curriculum, students attend flexible day, evening, or weekend classes. In their second year (or third year if a student is extending their time in the program), students participate in supervised clinical training at external community mental health agencies. The student population is approximately 180 graduate students ranging in age from 21 to 65 and about 35% identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color. 

Position Summary 

The primary responsibility of this position is to support students in their efforts to become licensed as MFTs or PCCs by helping them secure practicum and associate placements, and conveying accurate and up to date information about California licensing rules and regulations. We are seeking candidates who are motivated to work directly and closely with students. 

In person work is required, including some evening and weekend work.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Mentor students with the practicum and associate application process by sharing detailed knowledge of agencies, and assisting students with identifying sites that align with their career interests and goals.
• Foster ongoing relationships with students and graduates in order to facilitate networking, practicum/job placement, and licensure, including job placement and licensure in other states.
• Advise and support students with developing a career path from practicum to associateships to licensure.
• Help to oversee the quality of training and supervision provided at practicum sites which can include site visits, interviewing site supervisors, and evaluating student feedback.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with external training directors and clinical supervisors.
• Work closely with students, supervisors, training directors, and faculty to resolve conflicts that may arise at practicum.
• Identify new volunteer opportunities, practicum sites, post-graduate placements, and employment opportunities. 
• Organize workshops and tabling events to support students with securing supervised field work experience pre-degree and post-degree. 
• Communicate to students accurate and up to date information about licensing rules and regulations as mandated by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) for marriage and family therapists (MFT) and professional clinical counselors (PCC).
• Assist with collecting and reviewing students’ documentation associated with practicum and the licensing process.
• Help maintain the Field Placement, student, and alumni databases.
• Help to build an alumni network; and follow up with graduates to gather data to assist with accreditation requirements, annual reports, and program evaluation and improvement efforts. 
• Collaborate with the administration and other departments as needed including the Dean of Students, DEI office, faculty, and student mentoring team.
• Participate in emergency preparations and Dwight building safety and participate as a member of the Safety Committee.

This position is classified as a full-time, non-exempt position. Weekly hours are not expected to exceed forty hours per week, and are not expected to result in overtime work. Candidates should anticipate a work schedule from approximately 10 am - 6 pm. Because the Counseling Program has both a daytime, evening, and weekend class modality, and at present half the students participate in the weekend modality, you will be expected to exchange a proportion of weekday work hours for evening and weekend work hours in order to engage in person with all students in the daytime and weekend formats on a regular basis. 

We strongly encourage people of every color, orientation, age, gender, origin, and ability to apply. If you are passionate about student services and think you have what it takes to be successful in this role even if you don’t check all the boxes, please apply. We’d appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.

Education:

• Master’s degree in Clinical or Counseling Psychology or related field. Or, pertinent work experience may be substituted for some of the educational requirements provided the level of skill and knowledge base are equivalent.

Qualifications include:

• Working full-time and in-person including some evenings and weekends. 
• Familiarity with the roles and responsibilities of student trainees, clinical supervisors, and the expectations and challenges of supervised clinical experience.
• Knowledge of the legal and ethical requirements in clinical settings.
• Experience with navigating conflicts in a collaborative and professional manner.
• Working collaboratively across multiple constituencies to establish rapport and trust and facilitate teamwork. 
• Prioritizing duties when faced with interruptions, distractions, and fluctuating workload.
• Learning the licensing rules and regulations as mandated by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) for marriage and family therapists (MFT) and professional clinical counselors (PCC).
• Providing clear instructions to students verbally and in writing. 
• Writing progress notes and reports.
• Planning and facilitating informational group meetings and professional development activities.
• Exhibiting humility and a learner’s mindset.
• Entering accurate data into school databases.
• Using Google and Microsoft Suite products.

Physical Requirements: The position requires the ability to sit for extended periods of time and the ability to manage repetitive hand/wrist movements while using a computer keyboard. 

Terms of employment: full-time, in person, non-exempt  

Reports to: Field Placement Director

Location: 1000 Dwight Way, Berkeley, California

Salary: $55k-$70k

Benefits:  In addition to your salary, your benefits package includes a fringe benefit in the amount of 15% of your salary. The fringe benefit may be taken in cash (in which case it would be fully taxable) or allocated among a choice of health insurance, a dental plan, and/or a 403(b) plan. In addition, we have a cafeteria plan that provides a pre-tax savings benefit for the above insurance plans and your other IRS defined medical and childcare expenses. The Institute provides those in full-time positions with group long-term disability coverage. There are 4 weeks paid vacation, accrued at 1.75 days/month; 12 paid sick days, accrued at 1 day per month; and 11 paid holidays.

Application: Please apply at https://www.wi.edu/join-our-team/

Education:

• Master’s degree in Clinical or Counseling Psychology or related field. Or, pertinent work experience may be substituted for some of the educational requirements provided the level of skill and knowledge base are equivalent.

Qualifications include:

• Working full-time and in-person including some evenings and weekends. 
• Familiarity with the roles and responsibilities of student trainees, clinical supervisors, and the expectations and challenges of supervised clinical experience.
• Knowledge of the legal and ethical requirements in clinical settings.
• Experience with navigating conflicts in a collaborative and professional manner.
• Working collaboratively across multiple constituencies to establish rapport and trust and facilitate teamwork. 
• Prioritizing duties when faced with interruptions, distractions, and fluctuating workload.
• Learning the licensing rules and regulations as mandated by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) for marriage and family therapists (MFT) and professional clinical counselors (PCC).
• Providing clear instructions to students verbally and in writing. 
• Writing progress notes and reports.
• Planning and facilitating informational group meetings and professional development activities.
• Exhibiting humility and a learner’s mindset.
• Entering accurate data into school databases.
• Using Google and Microsoft Suite products.

Physical Requirements: The position requires the ability to sit for extended periods of time and the ability to manage repetitive hand/wrist movements while using a computer keyboard. 

About https://www.wi.edu/

In the tradition of the Wright Institute's founder, Nevitt Sanford, the Wright Institute educates "clinicians to society" - clinical practitioners who bring a deep awareness of cultural and social context to the practice of psychology. The mission of the master's program is to prepare and inspire a diverse student body to provide culturally sensitive mental health services that support resiliency, recovery, and social justice.

Connections working at https://www.wi.edu/