Head of Student Wellbeing and Lead Counselor

Workplace Circumstances

• Environment: Educational (schools / universities etc.)
• Languages: English, Khmer
• Location: Phnom Penh

Position Summary

AUPP Liger Leadership Academy is seeking an experienced and caring counseling leader to guide student wellbeing across our Kindergarten to Grade 12 school, including our residential program for Grades 7 to 12. Reporting to the Head of School, the Head of Student Wellbeing and Lead Counselor will provide strategic, operational, and clinical leadership for pastoral care, safeguarding, and student mental health. This role leads a team of counselors, nurses, and a social worker and serves as the school’s Designated Safeguarding Lead, helping every student feel safe, supported, and able to thrive.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Provide strategic, operational, and clinical leadership for pastoral care, safeguarding, and mental health frameworks across Kindergarten to Grade 12
• Develop, implement, and monitor student wellbeing policies and procedures
• Lead and supervise the School Counselor(s), Nurse(s), and School Social Worker, ensuring a unified approach to student health, welfare, and family support
• Maintain a small clinical counseling caseload focused on Primary School students
• Serve as Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and chair the Child Protection Group
• Ensure compliance with Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS) regulations on student wellbeing and safeguarding
• Ensure student wellbeing services meet and support international accreditation standards, including WASC and BSA
• Work closely with the Head of Residential, the Principals, the Senior Management Team, and parents as required

Benefits

• Paid Leave – Annual
• Paid Leave – Illness
• Policy - No Harassment or Discrimination
• Policy – Provident Fund / (NSSF)
• Support Service - Free Health Checkups
• Training – Health & Safety
• Training – In-House Programs

Languages

• English - Fluent is required
• Khmer - Good is preferred

Qualifications

• Master's Degree in Counseling or Counseling Psychology, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Social Work, Psychology is required

Work History

• Experiance in Educational (Schools, Universities) for 5 to 10 years is required

General & Technical Skills

• Child and adolescent development, including social, emotional, and cognitive stages from early childhood through Grade 12
• Child safeguarding and child protection principles, procedures, and reporting obligations
• Evidence-based counseling approaches for young people, such as cognitive behavioral, solution-focused, and trauma-informed practice
• Mental health conditions common in children and adolescents, including anxiety, depression, self-harm risk, and grief
• Crisis intervention, risk assessment, and safety planning
• Social-emotional learning (SEL) frameworks and whole-school wellbeing models
• Ethical standards for counseling, including confidentiality, informed consent, and record keeping
• Cultural considerations when supporting students and families from diverse backgrounds, including Cambodian community and family structures
• Referral pathways to external mental health, medical, and social services in Cambodia
• Residential and boarding student welfare, where applicable

Soft Skills

• Sound clinical judgment
• High emotional intelligence
• Cultural sensitivity
• Discretion with confidential information
• Collaborative team player