Personal Counsellor
1-Year Term, Part-time (0.20 FTE / 1 day per week) starting September 2026
One of our core values at St. Michaels University School is respect. With this in mind, we acknowledge that our school rests in the heart of Straits Salish territory, a living culture with its own rites, ceremonies, and unfolding history. We honour the Esquimalt, Songhees, and WSÁNEĆ peoples – whose homelands we share and whom we recognize as our neighbours.
If you are an educator who inspires students, is passionate about holistic learning and is driven to help young people shape their lives, this is a role, a school and a place for you.
Located in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, St. Michaels University School (SMUS) is a Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12 day and boarding school with a global reputation for academic excellence. Our faculty members enjoy small classes, modern facilities, and substantial preparation time that creates opportunities to understand their students and to make a real impact in their lives. Faculty salaries and benefits exceed the local public school districts and are supported by an exciting professional development program. As lifelong learners, and with students at the centre, SMUS faculty are capacity builders by nature and inspiring educators by practice.
Our students from all over the world have opportunities in academics, athletics, arts, leadership, service, experiential and outdoor education, and are inspired by an extraordinary faculty that is committed to academic excellence, character growth and preparing students for what lies ahead in life. The school’s Mission shapes all of these endeavours: Our school seeks the excellence in all of us, with passion and compassion. We are a community shaped by the pursuit of truth and goodness, providing outstanding preparation for life. At St. Michaels University School, we seek to employ and empower individuals who wish to forge impactful relationships and careers that place our students at the centre. We firmly believe that expanding our diversity while adjusting our practice will lead to becoming the community we envision – a place where staff and students share a sense that they fully belong.
The Position:
The Junior School (Junior Kindergarten to Grade 5) is a dynamic and joyful community of learners who create a culture of excellence, think critically and creatively, and are nurtured through supportive relationships in order to reach each child’s potential. Our teaching practice is inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach, inquiry-based learning, and brain research.
We are currently seeking a passionate, experienced, and caring Junior School Counsellor to support the Junior School one day per week. The successful candidate will work closely with our existing Junior School Counsellor, Assistant Director and members of faculty.
Responsibilities include:
- Leading and assisting faculty with classroom based and co-curricular social emotional learning programming.
- Coordinate with faculty and learning support teachers to support students.
- Provide one-on-one and/or group social-emotional support to students in a relaxed, confidential atmosphere, on both a regular basis and/or as individual needs arise.
- Case-management, referral, and follow-up for students or families requiring ongoing social emotional support, including facilitating advocacy and communication among students, families, teachers, and administrators for each student’s unique needs.
- Create and implement educationally sound social-emotional related interventions to foster better wellness and positive learning environments for students and families.
- Provide faculty support for identification, referral, curricular, and family conversations surrounding social emotional needs to provide comprehensive support to the whole child within a school setting.
- Ensure consistent and regular communication with families and Junior School faculty.
- Practising professionalism through ongoing professional development, reflection and continuous improvement.
- Liaising with teaching faculty, parents and administration as an advocate for students.
- Diligence in keeping accurate records of counselling sessions and interactions with students.
The successful candidate will have the following skills, background and interest:
- A Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree, preferably with a specialisation in emotional and social learning, educational psychology or equivalent is required.
- Previous experience providing counselling support in a school-based, student-centred learning environment.
- Familiarity with the BC Curriculum and Independent School experience is an asset.
- A genuine love for working with students and families, a positive sense of humour and optimistic outlook, and a highly collaborative nature for working with other dedicated, team-oriented educators.
- Impeccable integrity, confidentiality, flexibility, and communication skills.
- Demonstrated leadership in collaboration.
- A commitment to pastoral care of students and their well-being.
- Growth mindset and ability to offer and receive professional feedback.
- Experience using Google Classroom and other technology to support learning.
- Experience working in an environment of excellence where a broad spectrum of programs operate simultaneously, demanding a great deal of forward planning and creativity.
- BC Teacher Certification is an asset, but not required.
Daily Rate of Pay:
Daily pay range: $414.22 - $670.41 per day.
Criminal Record Check:
Must pass and maintain a clear Solicitor General criminal record check for the purpose of working with children.
Application Details:
Please apply with a cover letter and resume by 2:00 pm Wednesday, June 17, 2026.
Pay: $414.22-$670.41 per day
Work Location: In person
