Military & Family Life Counselor - Adult Embedded-Charleston AFB, SC

VetJobs • North Charleston, SC

3d • $59,922 - $100,280 • Onsite

About The Position

Provides the full breadth of Military and Family Life Counseling (MFLC) consultation and counseling services to a military command structure, service members, and their families as an embedded counselor assigned to a dedicated military unit. Services include non-medical, short-term, solution-focused, walk-around counseling; assessment, brief counseling and consultation; action planning; referrals and follow-up; and training and health and wellness presentations. The counselor consults with command regarding behavioral health issues while taking the unit’s culture and mission into account.

The counselor works with the Regional Supervisor or Regional Director, installation personnel, and military branch Points of Contact (POCs) to deliver services within scope and in response to installation needs. The role cultivates relationships with commanders, unit personnel, installation POCs, community resources, and military populations, while maintaining client confidentiality and ensuring MFLC services are visible and accessible.

The position requires entering activity data daily through a smartphone or web application while maintaining confidentiality. The counselor responds to critical incidents, surges, and special requests as directed and approved, flexing their schedule to address urgent needs. Duties also include managing duty-to-warn and restricted-reporting situations according to Department of Defense protocols; participating in individual and group supervision, training, quality improvement and other contract activities; and supporting customer or company initiatives, studies, and pilot programs. Additional duties may be assigned.

Requirements

• Master’s degree from an accredited graduate program in a mental health-related field.
• Valid, unrestricted independent counseling license from a state, the District of Columbia, a U.S. territory, or a commonwealth, authorizing independent counseling practice.
• Less than 2 years of post-licensure clinical experience.
• Intermediate-level competency with technology and software, including Microsoft Suite, internet navigation, smartphone and tablet use, applications, and video-conferencing platforms.
• Ability to engage and communicate with military members or children as assigned and respond quickly to emergent situations in varied locations.
• Ability to traverse short or long distances on installations, including rugged or uneven outdoor terrain, inclines, stairs, and grass, and to work in outdoor weather and other military base conditions.
• Ability to travel to locations outside military installations in varied physical environments when required.
• Ability to meet site-specific work requirements; some assignments may require specified immunizations or vaccinations and proof of receipt.
• Ability to prove U.S. citizenship and speak fluent English.
• Understanding, sensitivity, and empathy for service members and their families, with the ability to develop trusting helping relationships and work effectively with people from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Pass a National Agency Check and Inquiries (NACI) clearance, Installation Records Check (IRC), Criminal History Background Check, and FBI Fingerprints Check; some units additionally require secret-level clearance.
• Possess a valid U.S. state vehicle operator’s license unless specifically waived by the FEDSIM COR.
• May be required to pass tests for and obtain a U.S. military vehicle operator’s permit for commercial sedans and similar vehicles for TDY locations, if required.
• Must be local or willing to become local to Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina.
• Must be licensed at the independent level in a state as a Mental Health Counselor, Therapist, or Social Worker.

Responsibilities

• Provide non-medical, short-term, solution-focused, walk-around counseling to eligible service members and family members at assigned locations.
• Conduct assessments, brief counseling and consultation, action planning, referrals to resources, linkage to resources as appropriate, and follow-up as indicated.
• Deliver training and health and wellness presentations and activities as requested or directed.
• Consult with the assigned unit’s command regarding behavioral health issues, taking the unit’s structure, culture, and mission into account.
• Coordinate with the Regional Supervisor or Regional Director, installation personnel, and military branch POCs to ensure services are within scope and meet installation needs.
• Cultivate and maintain professional relationships with commanders, unit personnel, installation POCs, command POCs, community resources, and military populations.
• Maintain visibility within the assigned brigade or regiment so MFLC services are accessible, while protecting confidentiality.
• Enter counselor activity data daily through a smartphone or web application while maintaining client and service member confidentiality.
• Respond to critical incidents, surges, and special requests as directed by the POC and approved by the OSD program manager; flex the schedule for urgent requests as needed.
• Manage duty-to-warn and restricted-reporting situations according to DoD protocol and consult with the Regional Supervisor or Regional Director.
• Participate in regular individual and group supervision and communicate installation trends and issues to Regional Supervisors.
• Participate in in-service training, Quality Improvement committees, and other contract activities as assigned or appropriate.
• Participate in customer- or Magellan-directed initiatives, studies, and pilot programs, including related certification, training, documentation, counseling integration, and technology use.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• May be eligible for short-term incentives.
• Comprehensive benefits package.
• Health, life, voluntary, and other benefits and perks supporting physical, mental, emotional, and financial wellbeing.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level