HEAD: Counseling & Careers Development Unit

Department: Counselling and Careers Development Unit

A vacancy exists for the position of Head of Department: Counselling & Career Development Unit. Suitable candidates are invited to apply.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic management and collaborative leadership to CCDU, aligning the Unit's strategy, annual plans, programs, and services with the priorities of the University and the Division of Student Affairs.
• Lead accessible, inclusive, and high-quality counselling, mental health, psychosocial, career development, employability, graduate recruitment, and student employment services responsive to the needs of Wits students.
• Lead CCDU's contribution to the implementation, review, and development of the Wits Mental Health Strategy and Career Services Strategy.
• Ensure sound professional governance, ethical practice, confidentiality, quality assurance, risk management, and compliance with applicable legislation, professional standards, and University policy.
• Lead, manage, and develop the Unit's multidisciplinary staff, including workload allocation, performance management, professional development, teamwork, and an accountable, affirming work environment.
• Manage the Unit's financial, human, infrastructure, technology, and operational resources, including budgets, procurement, contracts, policies, procedures, and business continuity arrangements.
• Build effective internal and external partnerships; represent CCDU and the University at relevant forums; and contribute to thought leadership in student mental health, career development, employability, and student success.
• Lead monitoring, evaluation, research, needs assessment, and reporting, using data and student feedback to improve services and demonstrate impact.

Requirements

• Master's degree in Clinical Psychology, Counselling Psychology, or Clinical Social Work.
• Current registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa as a psychologist or with the South African Council for Social Service Professions as a social worker, as applicable.
• At least eight years of relevant work experience, including substantial experience in counselling or psychosocial services and progressively responsible management and leadership experience.

Knowledge and experience

• Demonstrated experience in the strategic and operational leadership of a multidisciplinary counselling, mental health, career development, or student support service.
• Sound knowledge of professional and ethical practice, confidentiality, risk management, referral pathways, quality assurance, and the regulatory requirements applicable to counselling and psychosocial services.
• Knowledge of higher education, student mental health and wellness, career development, graduate employability, and the factors that shape student retention and success.
• Proven ability to lead and develop staff, manage performance and workload, and build effective teams within applicable employment relations and University frameworks.
• Strong financial, budgeting, procurement, project, and resource management skills, with sound controls and accountability.
• Strong collaborative and stakeholder-engagement skills, including the ability to work with students, University structures, professional bodies, employers, graduate recruiters, and external partners.
• Excellent judgment, communication, presentation, and report-writing skills, together with the ability to use data and digital systems to improve services and demonstrate impact.

Closing Date: 10 NOVEMBER 2026