POSITION PROFILE                                                                              

Reporting to the Director, Student Affairs, the Wellness Coordinator is a member of the Student Affairs team and is primarily responsible for the development, implementation, and assessment of initiatives designed to support a healthy campus community for students. They develop and oversee outreach initiatives that involve students, liaise with campus and community partners, and design and deliver wellness and prevention education and strategies for students and student leaders. The Wellness Coordinator works in collaboration with SJU student programs and services, the Well-Link Team, relevant University of Waterloo partners, and with community resources to ensure students have access to, and knowledge of, all well-being supports and services available both on and off campus.  

Why St. Jerome’s University?

At. St. Jerome’s University, we embrace and celebrate the philosophy of educating the whole person – intellectually, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Our commitment to academic excellence and to the integration of knowledge, research, and experiential learning allows us to inspire learning and discovery not only in our students but also in those with whom we interact. We foster a respectful, inclusive community that is centered on the well-being of our students and the promotion of the common good, consistent with the ideals of the contemporary Roman Catholic Church.

How will you contribute as the Wellness Coordinator?

• Develop, implement and evaluate initiatives that enhance the mental health and wellness of SJU students, on topics such as: stress and anxiety, healthy relationships, consent and sexual violence, celebrating diversity, substance abuse, healthy eating and body image, exploring sexuality, healthy routines and behaviours, community care, etc.
• Explore and integrate strategies that reduce barriers and inequities for students to access mental health and wellness resources, especially those in equity deserving groups
• Keep current on trends, demands and approaches to proactively promote student mental health and wellness, and reduce reliance on crisis management and direct counseling intervention
• Develop student-centered performance indicators to measure success of initiatives, and report results to Director, Student Affairs, the SJU Community and other campus partners
• Develop and maintain partnerships within SJU and across UW and the affiliated institutions of UWaterloo to facilitate and encourage a culture of wellness for students
• Lead a circle of care team within SJU and facilitates meetings to discuss complex SJU student cases, and determine appropriate next steps to support those students
• Act as a point of contact for staff, faculty, and student leaders working with students in distress or managing complex needs related to their mental health and wellness
• Collaborate with colleagues and support the development and delivery of training and education that builds the capacity of all SJU employees to support a culture of wellness for students, consistent with the mission of the University
• Provide triage-based assessment, manage peer-to-peer support, and develop referrals for students seeking mental health and wellness resources
• Advocate for students requiring intervention from other service providers both on and off campus

As a successful Wellness Coordinator, you possess:

• Master’s degree in a mental health-related field (e.g. public health, health promotion, community-health, nursing, counseling psychology, social work etc.) required.
• 2+ years of combined experience in relevant field
• Experience working in a post-secondary setting related to student affairs and/or student wellness preferred
• Excellent knowledge of relevant legislation related to health care and mental health i.e. PHIPPA
• Demonstrated ability to uphold requirements for confidentiality as outlined in legislation and professional codes of conduct
• Experience in project management, program development, and managing multiple priorities
• Strong collaboration, initiative, and sound judgment
• Appreciation for and understanding of whole-person student development
• Highly developed interpersonal  skills
• Ability to exercise diplomacy, tact, and discretion
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Ability to deal with diverse issues in a dynamic and changing student environment
• Training in risk and threat assessment, non-violent crisis intervention, suicide intervention, sexual violence prevention and response, mental health intervention, and solution-focused approaches are strongly preferred
• Understanding of the social determinants of health
• EDI training and experience an asset
• Ability to obtain a Vulnerable Sector Check

The Way We Work & Live

Employees have opportunities to participate in our community, work within cross-organizational teams, demonstrate their commitment to learning and development, and contribute to the University’s mission. As a federated university with the University of Waterloo, St. Jerome’s University employees, just like our students, enjoy the advantages of a small community while have the opportunity to participate and contribute to the greater community.

St. Jerome’s University is located on the traditional territory of the Attawandaron, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our University is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land promised to the Six Nations that includes ten kilometres on each side of the Grand River. We give thanks for the privilege to work and live on this land, and we are committed to building respectful relationships with Indigenous people and communities, to enhance our knowledge, and learn how we can have an active role in reconciliation. 

To Apply: Please send your application to sjuhr@uwaterloo.ca by Sunday, December 11, 2022, Attention: Jessica Vorsteveld, Director, Student Affairs

The University respects, appreciates and encourages diversity. Applications from all qualified individuals are encouraged.