Senior Counsellor/Social Worker (Educator)

The Senior Counsellor/Social Worker (Educator) is a critical position that assists the Deputy Director in strategic thinking and planning of the Academy that is aligned to the SOS Organisational vision and mission.

To future-proof and move the SOS Academy towards the Centre of Excellence – the go-to resource and subject matter expertise in suicide prevention, intervention and postvention, SOS Academy needs to remain plugged in with the key/ big players involving in the training and equipping of the Social Services, Community Services and Health Care.

This position would require the Candidate to have skillsets in strategic thinking, planning, partnership and engagement, courseware development, course management, trainee management, trainer management, training quality assurance, learning and development. He/she would be managing Executive level staff, and thus having managerial skills is important.

Candidates should possess formal qualifications and professional experience in counselling or social work, with a strong foundation in clinical practice. It would be a strong advantage if the candidate also brings in subject matter expertise, and practical experience of professional development in an organisation, mental health, crisis management and/or suicide.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Curriculum Development & Enhancement

• Design, review, and update training materials on programmes offered by SOS, for both in-house and external (suicide prevention, crisis response, counselling and mental health awareness)
• Develop interactive and engaging learning experiences, including case studies, simulations, and role-playing exercises to facilitate transfer of learning
• Work closely with subject matter experts, psychologists, and trainers to design and develop curricular training materials and assessment tools for various learning programmes

Quality Assurance & Compliance

• Ensure all training content meets organisation policies, ethical guidelines, accreditation requirements, and industry best practices
• Monitor and evaluate training effectiveness through feedback, assessments, and post-training evaluations
• Implement improvements based on data-driven insights to enhance learner engagement and outcomes
• Oversee Adult Educator development and performance to ensure quality training delivery

Training Delivery & Facilitation, Assessment and Learner Support

• Conduct in-person, online, and hybrid training sessions tailored to diverse learner groups
• Use interactive teaching methods, including case studies, role-playing, and group discussions, to enhance learning.
• Adapt training delivery based on participant needs and learning styles
• Conduct assessments (written or role play) for WSQ courses, SSG-funded or AIC-funded courses

Stakeholder Engagement

• Collaborate with the Business Development and Communication teams in SOS to promote training programmes to key audiences
• Lead the strategic expansion of training programmes by proactively assessing emerging skill gaps, sector developments, and future workforce demands
• Collaborate with Business Development to curate training or partnership proposals and materials for collaborations with government agencies, social service agencies, and corporate organisations.
• Work closely with trainers, mental health professionals, and advocacy groups to strengthen course offerings. Support partnerships with universities, mental health organisations, and community groups to expand training reach.

Staff/ Volunteers Learning & Development Strategy

Work closely with HR and Volunteer Management to:

• Lead the development and implementation of a structured staff/ volunteer learning and development framework, ensuring continuous professional growth.
• Conduct training needs analysis (TNA) to assess competency gaps and develop tailored programs for different levels of employees.
• Implement a competency-based learning model that integrates technical skills, core skills, emotional resilience, and leadership skills.

Others

• As recommended by Deputy Director – potential involvement in projects that increases or enhances Organisational missions and impact

Relevant Experience:

• Degree in Psychology, Social Work, Counselling, Education, Public Health etc
• ACLP
• DDDLP OR other relevant certification in courseware design and development
• 3+ years of experience in curriculum development, instructional design, or adult education, preferably in the mental health or social services sector
• Experience in suicide work, mental health or social service related

Behaviour Traits & Attitude:

• Knowledge of instructional design principles and e-learning methodologies.
• Excellent writing, communication, and project management skills.
• Passionate about mental health advocacy and suicide prevention efforts.
• Knowledge of training grants, workforce development initiatives, or L&D trends is an advantage
• Strong understanding of suicide prevention strategies, crisis intervention, and mental health frameworks.