Campus Social Worker

Employment Opportunity: Campus Social Worker - full-time permanent (35 hours per week) position | Subject to probationary period.

Established in 1789, the University of King's College is Canada's oldest chartered university and is associated with Dalhousie University. A small and extraordinarily lively academic community located in Halifax (Kjipuktuk), Nova Scotia, King's is known nationally and internationally for its interdisciplinary programs in the humanities, including its first-year Foundation Year Program, its professional programs in journalism and its fine arts programs in creative writing. King's is a community in which students, faculty, alumni, and staff work to bring greater understanding, creativity, and compassion to the world.

At King's, we believe that students thrive in a campus culture that is safe, inclusive, equitable and responsive to the diverse needs of our community. Through our Office of Equity & Community Supports, this belief is translated in our work that leads the implementation of multiple strategies & policies that strengthen student wellbeing, safety, and community care. We are advancing a university community where Indigenization, equity, safety, accessibility, student wellbeing, and belonging are embedded in how we learn, work, interact and support one another.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Director of Equity and Community Supports, the Campus Social Worker provides direct social work support, stabilization support, case management, advocacy and systems navigation to King's students experiencing mental health, personal, social, academic or other challenges that may affect their wellbeing and ability to participate fully in university life.

Working from a combination of trauma-informed, strengths-based, anti-oppressive, culturally responsive and harm-reduction approaches, the Campus Social Worker conducts biopsychosocial assessments, develops individualized support plans, coordinates care, responds to students experiencing crisis, and connects students with appropriate university, healthcare and community-based resources. As a member of the Office of Equity & Community Supports, the Campus Social Worker contributes to a coordinated model of student support that recognizes the relationships between mental health, disability, identity, belonging, safety, academic participation and the broader social determinants of wellbeing.

Key Responsibilities

• Participate in shared planning and coordinated service delivery by contributing social-work expertise to portfolio priorities and lead projects that strengthen student wellbeing, access, belonging and institutional responsiveness.
• Provide direct social work support to students through assessment, short-term intervention, case management and wellbeing plans, client-centred advocacy, psychoeducation, resource navigation, referral and follow-up.
• Assess urgent wellbeing concerns, provide stabilization and safety planning, support transitions to and from hospital or community care, and coordinate post-crisis follow-up.
• Maintain a diverse collection of referral options and facilitate referrals to appropriate services within King's, Dalhousie University, the healthcare system and broader community services, providing students with the contextual information and practical support/advocacy needed to successfully access services.
• Support students with wellbeing concerns connected to neurodivergent needs, learning disabilities and related conditions, in accessing appropriate academic accommodations through the Accessibility Centre.
• Facilitate groups, workshops, resource campaigns, and community-building initiatives that reduce isolation, normalize help-seeking and respond to emerging student needs.
• Provide practical consultation to faculty, staff and student leaders regarding student distress, supportive conversations, role boundaries and effective referrals. Develop and deliver education that strengthens early identification, inclusive practice and appropriate response across campus.
• Oversee peer-based student wellbeing initiatives, including the Stay Connected peer support program and Student Wellness Champion Initiative etc.
• Contribute to institutional initiatives, committees and strategic priorities related to mental health, student wellbeing, Indigenization, equity, accessibility, inclusion, community safety and student success.

Qualifications, Knowledge & Experience

• The minimum qualification for this role is a Bachelor of Social Work degree and current registration in good standing with the Nova Scotia College of Social Workers.
• A minimum of three years of relevant professional social work experience providing direct client support, preferably with young adults or post-secondary students.
• Demonstrated experience applying trauma-informed, strengths-based, anti-oppressive, culturally responsive and harm-reduction approaches to social work practice.
• Experience working effectively with diverse populations, including Indigenous, African Nova Scotian, Black and racialized communities, persons with disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, international students and individuals from diverse socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.
• Experience facilitating groups in psychoeducational programming.

Core Competencies

• Crisis intervention and stabilization skills.
• Sound judgment, strong advocacy, and systems-navigation skills.
• Ability to establish rapport while upholding strong professional boundaries.
• Trauma-informed, anti-oppressive and culturally responsive practice.
• Ability to manage sensitive and confidential information with discretion.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within multi-disciplinary teams.

Additional Information

• Closing Date: November 3rd, 2026
• Annual Salary range: $76,907-$105,630
• Includes comprehensive benefits with medical and dental; eligible for enrollment in the Nova Scotia Public Service Superannuation Plan (PSSP).

To apply, please submit your resume and a cover letter to:

Pethrona Russell
Human Resources Manager
University of King's College
6350 Coburg Road
Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 2A1
[email protected]

We thank all applicants for their interest. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

The University of King's College is committed to diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion. We encourage and welcome applications from Indigenous persons (especially Mi'kmaq), persons with a disability, racialized persons, including persons of Black/African descent (especially African Nova Scotians), women, persons of a minority sexual orientation and/or gender identity, and all candidates who would contribute to the diversification of our community.