Young Adult Vocational-Educational Counselor

Overview

The Young Adult (YA) Vocational/Educational Counselor provides education and career counseling services to young adult cancer patients, with a focus on barriers related to school, work, and financial toxicity. The role conducts structured assessments, provides individualized counseling and resource navigation, and supports patients in understanding and pursuing academic and workplace accommodations. This position develops and delivers educational/vocational programming and maintains relationships with internal and external organizations. The counselor also tracks program delivery and outcomes to inform program evaluation, quality improvement, and related research activities.

This is a hybrid role at our Longwood campus location. Please submit a cover letter with your application.

Located in Boston and the surrounding communities, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is a leader in life changing breakthroughs in cancer research and patient care. We are united in our mission of conquering cancer, HIV/AIDS, and related diseases. We strive to create an inclusive, diverse, and equitable environment where we provide compassionate and comprehensive care to patients of all backgrounds, and design programs to promote public health particularly among high-risk and underserved populations. We conduct groundbreaking research that advances treatment, we educate tomorrow's physician/researchers, and we work with amazing partners, including other Harvard Medical School-affiliated hospitals.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provides individualized counseling to young adult patients regarding educational planning, career exploration, and return-to-school/return-to-work decision-making, incorporating patient goals and psychosocial considerations as part of the comprehensive Young Adult Program.
• Conducts vocational/educational needs assessments and career interest/skills assessments; develops individualized plans.
• Supports navigation of education-related logistics, including school applications, coordination of academic accommodations, and connection to disability/accessibility offices as appropriate; helps patients understand documentation needs and communication strategies.
• Assists patients with work-related concerns, including workplace accommodations, leaves of absence, and return-to-work planning.
• Provides resource navigation related to financial concerns tied to education and employment, including identifying scholarship and financial aid resources and connecting patients to programs that may reduce financial burden.
• Designs, implements, and delivers educational, vocational, and financial programming for young adult patients; maintains current resource materials and ensures content is accessible and relevant; maintains relationships with internal and external organizations as appropriate.
• Develops and maintains tracking and documentation processes to evaluate program utilization and outcomes; contributes to quality improvement and collaborates with staff/faculty on research or program evaluation initiatives, including preparing summaries or reports as requested; participates in onsite programming and occasional events outside regular business hours as needed.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to support patients around educational and vocational decision-making.
• Ability to conduct structured needs assessments and translate findings into programming.
• Knowledge of common academic accommodations and accessibility supports, and workplace accommodation concepts.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to communicate effectively with patients, caregivers, clinicians, and multidisciplinary partners.
• Excellent written communication skills, including documentation, resource materials, and program communications.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple patient needs and program responsibilities concurrently.
• Ability to work independently, prioritize effectively, and exercise sound judgment regarding escalation, consultation, and referral.
• Strong collaboration skills.
• Ability to develop and implement a new program.
• Comfort using common software tools (e.g., Microsoft Office/Outlook) and databases/tracking systems; ability to learn new systems as required.
• Demonstrated commitment to confidentiality, professionalism, and culturally responsive practice when working with diverse populations.

Minimum Job Qualifications:

Bachelor's Degree in Psychology, Social Work, Higher Education, Public Health, or related field required. Master's Degree in Psychology, Social Work, Higher Education, Public Health, or related field preferred. 2 years of relevant experience providing counseling, advising, or case management in healthcare, higher education, vocational rehabilitation, or related setting; experience working with adolescents/young adults and/or individuals with serious illness required.

License/Certification/Registration Required:

Relevant licensure/certification preferred as appropriate to scope of practice preferred.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

No

Patient Contact:

Yes

Special Working Conditions:

Role will be on site at Longwood.

At Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, we work every day to create an innovative, caring, and inclusive environment where every patient, family, and staff member feels they belong. As relentless as we are in our mission to reduce the burden of cancer for all, we are committed to having faculty and staff who offer multifaceted experiences. Cancer knows no boundaries and when it comes to hiring the most dedicated and compassionate professionals, neither do we. If working in this kind of organization inspires you, we encourage you to apply.

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is an equal opportunity employer and affirms the right of every qualified applicant to receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, national origin, sexual orientation, genetic information, disability, age, ancestry, military service, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law.  

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Pay Transparency Statement

The hiring range is based on market pay structures, with individual salaries determined by factors such as business needs, market conditions, internal equity, and based on the candidate’s relevant experience, skills and qualifications.

For union positions, the pay range is determined by the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

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