Counselor - Tenure Track

Priority Consideration Day: October 8, 2025

Located in the scenic Puget Sound area with Mount Rainier in the distance, Tacoma is the third largest city in Washington State with a thriving and diverse community of over 200,000 residents. Tacoma Community College (TCC) was built on the ancestral territory of Coast Salish peoples, specifically the Puyallup and Squaxin Island Tribes. The 1854 Medicine Creek Treaty forcibly removed them to Reservations to make way for colonizers; we recognize the privilege of utilizing this land has come at great cost. We honor the resilience of the Puyallup and Squaxin Island people, who still live here, defend their rights, and contribute greatly to the well-being of our community. Our institution aims to increase partnerships and community ties with the local indigenous populations. Moreover, TCC stands in solidarity with Black Lives Matter and the Black community by further strengthening collaboration with the Black Student Union as well as community entities such as the Tacoma-Pierce County Black Collective, the Tacoma Urban League, and local black-owned businesses. In addition, we strongly support the Stop Asian Hate movement and have an active Asian Pacific Islander Student Club as well as an Asian and Pacific Islander Faculty and Staff Coalition. TCC is committed to developing more culturally responsive curricula by infusing and incorporating more educational content focused on the lives, experiences, and contributions of Native, Black, Asian, and other marginalized communities. We continually strive to become an anti-racist institution.

To grow our workforce, we are seeking creative, collaborative faculty who are reflective of the diverse community we serve. Tacoma Community College is a public Associate- and Bachelor's-granting institution that serves a student-body of approximately 12,000 students. Our students are 27% students of color, 60% female, and have a median age of 26. We embrace our identity as a community college. Our faculty are engaged in innovative work to improve student retention and program completion, and community success. According to the Community College Survey of Student Engagement, TCC ranks high on measures of active learning and academic challenge, thanks to our creative and scholarly faculty.

We are specifically focusing on improved support for traditionally marginalized populations, including Black/African- American, Indigenous, People of Color, Dreamers, justice-involved, immigrants and refugees, Veterans, people with disabilities, and the LGBTQ+ community. To this end, TCC seeks applicants who:

• Value intellectual curiosity and innovative teaching
• Welcome difference and model respectful interaction with others
• Recognize and honor the important role that diversity brings to an educational community
• Have experience teaching or doing research in Native/Indigenous communities.
• Are committed to educating a racially and socioeconomically diverse student population
• Are committed to teaching in a community college setting
• Care deeply about student success
• Intentionally support and promote efforts related to equity, diversity, and inclusion
• Honor TCC's mission promoting equitable access to educational opportunities
• Reflect the diversity of our community

Tacoma Community College Counseling Department is seeking a full-time tenure track Counselor to join our team.

This position is governed by a collective bargaining agreement with representation by AFT- WA and is subject to union shop provisions. The annual salary is based on a 176-day contract, with optional summer hours.

This position is a full-time, nine-month faculty appointment and is expected to work 5 days per week with the option to add a summer contract. TCC Counseling provides both in person and telehealth counseling services to students.

Pay Scale: $74,495-81,995 (Salary placement is based on the CBA Article 4.00)

• The Search process will be conducted in Fall 2025 with potential start date for Winter Quarter 2026.
• The Screening Committee will begin reviewing candidates' materials at the end of September/beginning of October, with interviews to convene in October
• Please see the Hiring Process Overview section below for more search process transparency.

POSITION SUMMARY

This full-time tenure-track position will provide mental health counseling and developmental support to students through a comprehensive, student-centered counseling approach. This position will primarily conduct individual mental health, career, and group counseling services. Additional functions will include assisting students in identifying career pathways and/or programs, support to navigate the college experience well resourced, case management assistance, and conducting crisis interventions to address concerns related to health and well-being. This position will also develop and facilitate workshops and programs to various classes and groups around campus, providing consultation, training, and support to employees, serve on various committees and taskforces across campus, and teach classes for credit.

Similar to other counselors within the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges system (SBCTC), TCC counselors fall under a unique category of full-time faculty who work under the faculty contract while also functioning as members of a department outside of Academic Affairs who provide specialized care for students. We are housed in the Student Affairs Department. The ideal candidate will be able to meet the needs of this dual role centering mental health and wellness of our students.

As a college representative, the individual will work closely with campus and community agencies, and resources that provide additional academic and personal support services. This position reports to the Dean of Retention and Student Success underneath the Vice President for Student Affairs.

• Provide culturally competent and socially-just personal, mental health, career, and educational counseling for individual students
• Support underrepresented, marginalized students, including students of color, first-generation college students, disabled students, LGBTQIA, veterans, international students, English language learners, etc. using culturally responsive interventions.
• Maintain current knowledge and practical skills that address social justice and BIPOC related issues
• Maintain appropriate and ethical licensure, documentation, and consultation for services provided
• Collaborate, coordinate and/or facilitate campus-wide initiatives with added focus to address wellness and BIPOC issues
• Create, organize, and deliver outreach activities/events, group counseling and mental health and wellness workshops for a diverse student population
• Provide student advocacy, case management, and refer students to appropriate campus and community resources
• Administer and interpret career assessment, aptitude, interns, and personality tests to help students with career decision making and goal setting
• Provide academic and career advising and mentorship, as needed
• May provide credit bearing and non-credit bearing instruction related to supporting holistic student development in areas of human development, wellness, and proactive skills and resources, in an active learning environment, using a variety of modalities
• Consult and collaborate with faculty and staff regarding student success and wellness
• Provide crisis intervention and response to urgent student needs
• Uphold and contribute to counseling departmental operations to include goal setting, implementation of methods to evaluate and assess program effectiveness, and modification to policies and procedures to enhance the overall efficiency of the counseling department.
• Use technology to provide students with counseling information, referrals, and other documentation
• Serve on college committees and participate in college governance.
• Perform related duties as assigned and needed

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master's degree from an accredited college or university in Counseling or closely related field, including a supervised counseling practicum
  • Graduate coursework should include counseling theory and practice, diagnosis and assessment/psychopathology, multi-cultural counseling, ethics, and supervised counseling practicum
• License eligible as a Mental Health Counselor, Psychologist, Clinical Social Worker, or Marriage and Family Therapist in the State of Washington. Agency-affiliated counselors considered sufficient experience.
  • **Please note having proof of licensure as required by the WA Department of Health (DOH) to provide counseling will be a condition of employment
• At least 1 year of post master's degree counseling experience by hire date. Associate-level licensure/experience is acceptable to apply
• Experience providing mental health and wellness counseling to BIPOC clients, first-generation students, veterans, LGBTQ clients, international students, people with disabilities, and students with mental health issues.
• Demonstrate cultural humility when working with diverse teams and populations.
• Ability to value diversity and equity by recognizing personal biases, adapting to culturally diverse situations, and demonstrating a commitment to equity, inclusion, and respectful interactions with persons of diverse ethnic, cultural, socioeconomic, or educational backgrounds.
• Proficient with student management software with technology, including software programs for communication, data collection, and decision making; this includes Microsoft Office Outlook, Word, and Excel, and other integrated database applications (e.g., ctclink, Canvas, etc.).

• Fully licensed as a Mental Health Counselor, Marriage and Family Therapist, Social Worker, or Psychologist in the State of Washington
• Demonstrated competencies in multicultural counseling
• A strong understanding of college student development theory and experience in providing counseling and/or other related services in an educational or similar setting.
• Experience providing crisis intervention and response to trauma.
• Expertise in providing culturally responsive mental health services to diverse client populations, including BIPOC students, first-generation students, veterans, LGBTQ students, international students, people with disabilities, and students with mental health issues.
• Some teaching and/or facilitation experience
• Commitment to providing ethical mental health care, maintaining licensure, and continuing education needs for professional and field growth/development
• Experience with communication systems like Electronic Health Records and/or willingness to learn
• Understanding of and commitment to the mission of a community college.
• Experience and understanding of a community college student population.
• Bilingual and Multilingual skills are encouraged to apply

• Successful completion of a criminal history background check.
• Proof of licensure is required by the WA Department of Health (DOH) to provide counseling

The Successful Candidate Must Demonstrate:

• Adaptability to work with complex systems in a fast-paced and dynamic environment
• Experience in developing, implementing, evaluating, and adjusting counseling sessions, outreach programs, workshops, and/or course curriculum to increase retention and success
• An ability to provide ethical, confidential, and evidence-based mental health practice and pivot to other needs/requirements in the academic setting
• Agility in navigating resources and case management support for student needs
• Strong ethics, integrity, and sound professional judgement
• Capacity to be self-directed and work independently while balancing the cooperative nature and needs of a team environment
• Show the ability to collaborate effectively with instructional and administrative departments
• Possess an interest in, knowledge of, and commitment to the education and professional development of our diverse students and staff
• An ability to communicate effectively through a variety of mediums, including case documentation, outreach messaging, and public speaking
• Commitment to clinical professionalism, confidentiality, and maintaining ethical standards of care
• Pass a criminal history background check

Complete application packages must include the following:

1. Tacoma Community College online application.
2. Resume and cover letter describing how your educational background and experience align with the responsibilities and qualifications of this position.
3. Unofficial copies of transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.
4. Statement/Writing 1: Diversity Statement- At TCC, we celebrate our diverse community, and we believe our people are our greatest asset. We stand for social justice, implement best practices to advance equity, diversity, and inclusion, and collaborate to dismantle systemic racism. Please attach a statement (maximum 750 words) describing how you have demonstrated your commitment to diversity and social justice and how this will inform your work as a counselor at TCC.
5. Statement/Writing 2: Counseling Philosophy Statement- Within TCC Counseling we appreciate autonomy, valuing each person's unique background and experiences, and providing counseling services and care from a variety of modalities and approaches to serve diverse people's needs. Please attach a statement describing your approach and philosophy to counseling and how this will inform your work as a counselor at TCC.
6. At least three professional references with contact information. References are typically contacted after interviews.
7. Copy of your WA State DOH Licensure to provide counseling in WA will be a condition of employment; requested in later stages of process

Upon submitting your material via the TCC Employment Portal, a search committee will review all eligible applicants' materials who meet the minimum qualifications and have all their application material in. Selected applicants may be asked to engage in multiple interviews as part of the hiring process.

• Initial Interview via Zoom
  • The initial interview will be a classic interview style with questions and answers.
  • Candidates are encouraged to bring and ask questions of the search committee
• Secondary Interview- On Campus
  • Those selected into the second-round interviews will have a more comprehensive process. They will entail:
    • Another round of classic narrative question and answer style interview including scenarios/case study style questions
    • A teaching or facilitation demonstration opportunity based on a prompt
    • A counseling role play to demonstrate your skills needed for this role
    • Another opportunity for candidates to ask questions to the search committee
• Third Round Interview with Leadership (Modality is Schedule Dependent)
  • Candidates selected for the final stages will be asked to meet with members of our Leadership Team who ultimately make hiring decisions
  • References would likely be called in this stage of the process
• Offer & Hire are contingent on background check- Tentative Start Date is the start of Winter Quarter 2026