Psychologist, Department of Student Services (maternity leave cover)

Company Description

Nazarbayev University Department of Student Services

Job Description

Responsibilities (tasks, key areas of responsibility, and functions):

1. Providing psychological assistance through counseling

1) Conduct individual counseling sessions for students and enter data and counseling outcomes into the appropriate software/database.

2) Conduct group counseling sessions for students.

3) Provide urgent counseling and crisis psychological assistance according to the duty schedule.

4) Conduct initial assessment consultations and triage during duty hours.

5) Perform psychodiagnostics using modern methodologies and tools, and enter the results into the system.

6) Maintain records of counseling activities and analyze the dynamics of requests.

2. Educational and Preventive Activities

1) Development of informational materials (articles, booklets, memos) on psychological issues for students and staff.

2) Development and implementation of training and seminar programs aimed at improving the psychological well-being of students and staff, according to an approved schedule.

3) Organization and implementation of educational events such as workshops, seminars, and training sessions within preventive programs focused on students’ psychological well-being, as well as the prevention of anxiety, stress, and emotional burnout.

4) Conducting meetings, discussion clubs, and informational sessions aimed at improving students’ psychological literacy.

5) Conducting educational events for fellow psychologists based on the results of training within professional development programs, as well as exchanging relevant knowledge, new methodologies, and best practices in the field of psychological counseling.

3. Participation in the organization and provision of crisis psychological assistance for students:

1) Development, organization, and implementation of trainings for students and staff on methods of responding to crisis situations and providing initial psychological aid. Conducting drills and simulation-based crisis response trainings.

2) Development of memos and methodological guidelines for students and staff on psychological safety and algorithms for responding to crisis situations.

3) Providing urgent psychological assistance to students and staff during crisis situations, when necessary.

4) Providing post-crisis psychological support to students who have experienced difficult life situations (loss, trauma, violence, etc.).

5) Participation in the work of interdisciplinary commissions regarding students requiring active monitoring and assessment of their condition. Maintaining a database of crisis situations, analyzing and improving response algorithms, analyzing the dynamics of received requests, and preparing reports. Submitting information on students in crisis (case history, number of consultations, reason for seeking help, recommendations) to the administration.

6) Interaction with the clinic’s psychiatrist and/or medical assistance service, as well as the city mental health center, in order to monitor and observe the condition of students requiring active supervision.

7) Collaboration with structural units, administration, and external organizations to coordinate work in crisis situations.

4. Development of Professional Competencies

1) Systematic professional development through participation in seminars, conferences, training programs, workshops, intensives, and master classes.

2) Exchange of professional experience with colleagues, participation in expert meetings, round tables, and discussion clubs. Contributing to the development of the University’s psychological service by engaging in the work of professional communities and associations.

3) Undergoing professional supervision and intervision to improve the quality of counseling and diagnostic work.

4) Participation in psychological research aimed at studying the psycho-emotional state of university students and staff.

5) Development, adaptation, and implementation of new psychological methods and approaches aimed at improving the psychological well-being of students and staff in the educational environment.

6) Acquiring and applying modern digital technologies in psychological counseling and psychodiagnostics (online counseling, use of specialized software, working with artificial intelligence in psychology).

5. Administrative and Analytical Work

1) Timely and accurate completion of online tables, databases, and software tools to present data on the number and status of events conducted under the leadership of the University Department, for visualization in a dashboard.

2) Compilation, analysis, and submission of statistical data, reports, and analytical summaries to University leadership and structural units.

3) Development and maintenance of documentation related to psychological assistance activities, including regulations, methodological materials, and internal normative documents pertaining to the psychological service.

4) Participation in budget planning and allocation processes.

5) Ensuring compliance with confidentiality and personal data protection regulations when working with documentation and databases.

6) Participation in the development of strategies for the advancement of the University’s psychological service, as well as in analyzing the psychological support needs of students and staff.

7) Monitoring the effectiveness of psychological assistance provided, analyzing trends, and developing proposals for improving work processes.

Qualifications

Education requirements (level, field, licenses, professional certifications, etc.):

1) Higher professional education; education in English-language institutions is preferred.

2) At least a master's or specialist degree in Psychology, Pedagogy and Psychology, or Psychotherapy.

3) Preferably, a certificate of at least one year of professional training in a psychotherapy approach (e.g., cognitive-behavioral therapy, gestalt therapy, psychodrama, transactional analysis, psychoanalysis, etc.).

4) Preferred Specializations:

• Psychology
• Psychotherapy
• Pedagogy and Psychology
• Psychological Counseling

Work experience requirements

1) Experience of at least 3 years as a psychologist or psychotherapist in educational institutions, medical organizations, or private practice (confirmed by a registration certificate) is preferred;

2) one year of experience is sufficient with a master's degree.

Additional Information

Knowledge, skills, and competencies requirements:

Knowledge:

1) Ethical norms and legislation: professional ethics, confidentiality, client rights

2) Theoretical foundations of psychology: developmental, social, clinical, cognitive, educational, and crisis psychology

3) Psychodiagnostic methods: tests, projective methods, questionnaires, interviews, observation

4) Basics of psychotherapy and psychocorrection: approaches to personal crises, stress, anxiety, emotional disorders

5) Basics of conflictology: principles of conflict resolution, mediation technologies

6) Psychological counseling: main models and client interaction techniques

7) Knowledge of the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On the Status of Nazarbayev University, Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools, and Nazarbayev Fund,” as well as legislative and other regulatory legal acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the field of healthcare and medicine.

Skills:

1) Psychodiagnostics – test use, data analysis, creating psychological conclusions

2) Counseling – conducting individual and group sessions, providing recommendations

3) Psychological correction – developmental work, trainings, designing correctional programs

4) Working with various client groups – adolescents, adults, people in crisis

5) Conflict resolution – negotiation, mediation techniques

6) Public speaking – conducting trainings, lectures, group work

7) Documentation – preparing reports, conclusions, work plans

8) Teamwork – collaboration with colleagues, doctors, teachers, and social services

9) Emotional stability – stress resistance, professional composure

Competencies:

1) Empathy and ability to build trust

2) Analytical and critical thinking

3) Self-regulation and crisis resilience

4) Flexibility in selecting working methods

5) Self-development and learning orientation

6) High ethical responsibility

Ability to motivate and support clients

Language requirements:

Fluent command of Russian, Kazakh, and English for effective business correspondence, HR documentation, analytical materials, and interaction with staff, consultants, and partners.

Recruitment and selection process
Recruitment and selection at Nazarbayev University include the following process: preliminary selection based on experience and qualifications, assessments (e.g. technical skills/capabilities, aptitude, personality, work samples, in-basket exercises, and informal interviews), and motivation.

Formal interviews form the final stage of the selection process.
They are typically based on organizational values and behaviors and conducted in English.
You are encouraged to share your views and values  to identify how they fit into  Nazarbayev University core values