Pastoral Counselor, Secondary

Canadian International School (Singapore) is a leading international school committed to providing an exceptional education grounded in the IB Diploma Programme (IB DP) and IB Middle Year Programme (IB MYP). We foster a supportive and inclusive community where students are encouraged to grow academically, socially, and emotionally. We are currently seeking a dedicated Pastoral Counselor for our Secondary School to support the well-being and personal development of our students.

Job Overview:
The Pastoral Counselor will provide comprehensive counseling services to secondary school students, addressing their emotional, social, and academic needs. This role involves working closely with students, parents, teachers, and staff to create a nurturing environment that promotes mental health and student well-being within the framework of the IB DP and MYP curriculum.

Skills and Qualifications:
- Master’s Degree in Counseling, Psychology, Social Work or related field required.
- Minimum of 3 years’ experience as a counselor within an international school context.
- Strong understanding of adolescent development and issues affecting secondary school students.
- Experience working within the IB Diploma Programme or similar international curricula is highly desirable.

- Evidence-Based Interventions: Proficiency in short-term counseling frameworks such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), and Motivational Interviewing.

- Crisis Intervention: The ability to perform immediate "Triage"—assessing for self-harm, suicidal ideation, or child protection issues (Safeguarding).
- Excellent communication skills with ability to build trustful relationships with students from diverse backgrounds.
- Skilled in individual counseling as well as group facilitation techniques.

- Culturally competent and able to work with culturally diverse staff and students in a bilingual and multilingual setting.
- Ability to collaborate effectively with educators and parents on student welfare plans.
- Knowledge of current best practices in pastoral care and mental health support for youth.

Values and Attitudes:
- Empathetic approach towards student challenges while maintaining professional boundaries.
- Commitment to fostering an inclusive environment respecting cultural diversity among students and staff.
- Proactive mindset focused on early intervention strategies for student well-being.
- Confidentiality sensitivity combined with ethical integrity.
- Passionate about supporting young people’s growth beyond academics into holistic development.
- Collaborative team player who values open communication across departments.

If you are passionate about making a positive impact on young