Kenya

School Counselor (Full time / Part time)

Organization

Shining Hope For Communities

Posted 28 May 2026 Closing date 9 Jun 2026

Role Overview

The School Counselor at Sankoré is responsible for advancing student well-being, belonging, and holistic development across a diverse and complex school community. This role operates at the intersection of academic success, social-emotional health, and community context.

Working under the Head of Support and Belonging, the counselor plays a central role in ensuring that every student is known, supported, and equipped to navigate both school and life. The position requires a practitioner who can operate across individual counseling, systems-building, and community engagement—while remaining grounded in Sankoré’s values of dignity, equity, and student agency.

Core Responsibilities

Student Counseling and Direct Support Provide individual and small-group counseling to students across grade levels, addressing: Social-emotional development Mental health challenges (e.g., anxiety, trauma, stress, identity) Behavioral concerns Peer relationships and conflict Develop and implement individualized student support plans where needed Maintain accurate, confidential records of all counseling interactions Identify early warning signs and intervene proactively Safeguarding and Student Protection Serve as a key point of contact for student safeguarding concerns Identify, document, and escalate cases of abuse, neglect, or risk in line with school policies Work closely with leadership and external partners where necessary Ensure all safeguarding practices are trauma-informed and culturally responsive Whole-School Social-Emotional Programming Design and deliver structured social-emotional learning (SEL) programming Integrate well-being practices into the broader school culture Support the development of life skills including resilience, emotional regulation, and decision-making Collaborate with teaching staff to embed SEL into classroom practice Student Belonging and Inclusion Actively contribute to a school culture where all students feel safe, respected, and included Support students navigating identity, marginalization, and exclusion Work with the Head of Support and Belonging to implement inclusion strategies across the school Facilitate student voice initiatives related to well-being and belonging Family and Community Engagement Engage families as partners in student well-being, particularly in complex or sensitive cases Provide guidance to caregivers on supporting children’s emotional and behavioral needs Navigate diverse family contexts with cultural sensitivity and respect Connect families to relevant external resources when needed Multi-Tiered Support Systems (MTSS) Contribute to the design and implementation of tiered student support systems: Tier 1: Universal well-being and SEL programming Tier 2: Targeted small-group interventions Tier 3: Intensive individualized support Use data and observation to inform interventions and track progress Participate in regular student support reviews with school leadership Collaboration with Staff Serve as a resource to teachers on student behavior, well-being, and classroom dynamics Provide training or guidance on trauma-informed and inclusive practices Participate in multidisciplinary meetings to coordinate student support Support staff in responding appropriately to student needs External Partnerships and Referrals Build and maintain relationships with external service providers (mental health, social services, health systems) Refer students and families to specialized support where appropriate Coordinate follow-up and continuity of care

Contextual Expectations

The Sankoré School Counselor must be able to operate effectively within a diverse and high-need community, where students may face:

Economic instability Family stressors Exposure to trauma Gaps in access to services Complex identity and belonging dynamics

This Requires

Cultural competence and humility Strong ethical judgment The ability to balance empathy with clear boundaries Comfort working across school and community ecosystems

Reporting Line

Reports directly to the Head of Support and Belonging

Qualifications And Experience

Degree in Counseling, Psychology, Social Work, or a related field Professional certification or licensure in counseling Minimum 3–5 years of explicit counseling experience working with children or adolescents in schools. International Schools preferred.[1] [2] Experience in school-based and/or community-based settings strongly preferred Demonstrated experience working with diverse or underserved populations

Core Competencies

Strong counseling and interpersonal skills Ability to build trust with students from varied backgrounds High level of discretion and professionalism Systems thinking: able to operate beyond one-on-one counseling Clear communication with students, staff, and families Crisis management and safeguarding awareness Organizational and documentation rigor

Success in This Role Looks Like

Students feel seen, supported, and safe Early interventions reduce escalation of student challenges Teachers are better equipped to support student well-being Families are engaged as partners, not external observers The school demonstrates a coherent, structured approach to student support Belonging is not abstract—it is visible in student experience is this the case? Not sure if it is for this one up to you - this was in to stave off that one parent who was going to be applying but a certain person who is (kind of?) our boss didn't want to hire.

How to apply

Interested Candidates Should Submit

CV Cover letter highlighting the experience in the area of the specialization

Application Deadline: 9th June 2026

Send applications to: recruitment@shofco.org

Subject Line: School Counselor

Applicants should clearly state in their cover letter whether they are seeking a full-time opportunity, part-time role, or if they are open to both

SHOFCO is an equal opportunity employer. Women, youth, and persons with disabilities are strongly

encouraged to apply.

Job details

Country

Kenya

Source

Shining Hope For Communities

Type

Job

Career category

Other

Years of experience

3-4 years

Theme

Education

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