UC
United Community Services
West Des Moines, Iowa

Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Student Counselor

CounselorNo weekendsPart-Time

Compensation

Pay not listed

The week · per this posting · Monday – Friday

Ask the employer about the pay range, call expectations, nights and shift pattern and time off.

Posted 6mo ago

Job Description

We have a 2 part-time positions available for a Student Counselor (CADC) in West Des Moines, Iowa. This listing is specific to supervision under a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC).

“UCS Healthcare values me as an employee.” “I’m given the latitude to do my job.” “UCS Healthcare is making a difference in our community.” “My supervisor is caring and understanding and is rooting for my success!”

These are just a few quotes from a recent employee survey. Many employers promise competitive salaries and benefits, but more than that is required to provide a fulfilling career. What will? How about an organizational culture of mutual respect? Or maybe a career that is not ‘corporate,’ where profits come before people?

As an integrated healthcare non-profit, we put people first. We pay for a vast majority of your health insurance premium as part of our robust benefits package. We provide real opportunities for advancement and growth while doing work that makes a difference in our communities. We are inclusive and firmly believe that bringing your authentic self to work improves teams and helps our clients thrive.

If you're seeking a workplace that aligns with your values, where your contributions are appreciated, and where you can make a tangible impact, consider joining our team. Rather than waiting for others to catch up with UCS Healthcare, apply with us. Our team members tell us that they are grateful they did. Join us in our mission to create hope for healing and lifelong well-being.

We have a commitment to supporting working parents through our family-friendly policies and practices. We’re seeking to create a workplace that supports employees at work and in life. These practices reflect our belief that when people feel supported as whole individuals, they do their best work and thrive.

Job Title: Student Counselor (CADC)

Reports to: Clinical Supervisor

Job Summary

Assist clients in achieving their treatment goals through individual and group counseling services under the supervision of a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) to gain field experience and meet school or certifying board requirements.

As part of UCS Healthcare, the Student Counselor will comply with all federal, state, and local regulations, as well as UCS policies and procedures, including patient confidentiality, HIPAA/42CFR part 2, and CARF requirements. They will embody UCS Healthcare's core values, work effectively within a team, provide or support patient-centered services, and strive to deliver the highest level of care.

Essential Functions (85%)

  • Conduct initial assessment, admission, and transition planning.
  • Provide individual and group counseling services to clients under the supervision of licensed professionals. Utilize evidence-based therapeutic techniques to support clients in their recovery journey. Implement evidenced based curriculums identified as appropriate by management. Facilitate group therapy sessions to provide clients with peer support and education about substance use disorders. Create a safe and supportive environment for clients to share experiences and strategies for recovery.
  • Maintain a client caseload in accordance with assigned duties.
  • Attend staff meetings, supervision sessions, and training workshops as required.
  • Develop individualized treatment plans. Monitor clients' progress and adjust treatment plans as necessary.
  • Evaluate treatment plans and define goals with patients served as required by level of care.
  • Maintain accurate and timely documentation of client interactions, treatment plans, and progress notes. Complete and maintain accurate records or reports regarding the patients' histories and progress, services provided, or other required information.
  • Regular attendance.

Other Functions (15%)

  • Assess progress of patients served in relation to the treatment applied on an ongoing basis.
  • Collaborate with multidisciplinary team members to provide comprehensive, patient-centered care.
  • Collaborate treatment functions with outside agencies. Coordinate activities with courts, probation officers, community services, or other post-treatment agencies as necessary.
  • Apprise supervisor of problems encountered in caseloads.
  • Participate in continuing education and professional development activities to maintain licensure and stay current with best practices in substance use disorder counseling.
  • Monitor and provide coverage for agency crisis line.
  • Interpret referral paperwork to determine appropriate level of care.
  • Keep employer informed of internship program requirements and needs.
  • Perform additional duties as assigned.

Minimum Required Knowledge, Education, Experience, Skills, and Abilities:

  • Education and experience as required by the school or certifying board for field experience placement and provide proof of enrollment.
  • Must excel in a team environment, adhere to agency policy and procedures, engage in critical thinking, and utilize problem solving skills.
  • Proficient using Microsoft Office Products (Outlook, Microsoft Word, Excel)
  • Communicates information and ideas in a manner that is clear, organized, and detailed.
  • Can assess the accuracy, neatness and thoroughness of the work assigned
  • Acts in an empathetic manner in working with clients who may have multiple problems.

Preferred Knowledge, Education, Experience, Skills, and Abilities:

  • Ability to work with a diverse client population and a variety of treatment modalities (group, individual, in-jail, methadone, correctional/legal system, and so on).

Physical Requirements

  • Accessible by standard company communication methods on a continuous basis during working hours.
  • Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
  • Communicating with others to exchange information.
  • A valid driver's license is required and liability insurance or an equivalent means of personal transportation and coverage as travel within the state of Iowa may be necessary.\

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of

activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties,

responsibilities, and activities may change at any time, with or without notice.

Based on the programming assigned, work hours will vary to meet needs of school, credentialing, and licensing expectations. 16-30 total work hours per week are expected. Those hours can vary from 9 AM to 5 PM Monday-Friday and Saturdays anywhere from 6 AM to 2 PM.

Key Responsibilities

The Student Counselor will provide individual and group counseling services to clients under the supervision of a CADC to support their recovery journey. Responsibilities include conducting assessments, developing treatment plans, maintaining accurate documentation, and collaborating with a multidisciplinary team.

Requirements

Candidates must be enrolled in a program meeting school or certifying board requirements for field experience. Proficiency in Microsoft Office and the ability to work effectively in a team environment are required.

Key Skills

Individual counselingTreatment planningCase managementCrisis interventionEmpathyPatient assessmentMultidisciplinary collaborationHIPAA compliance

Addiction Medicine — Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings this role was benchmarked against, 52% are remote, 20% have no call, 56% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Iowa is 87.8 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 59.8% of Iowa clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

How many Substance Use / Addiction Counselor jobs are remote?
MeasureThis jobMarket
Listed paynot listedSubstance Use / Addiction Counselor median $63k (middle half $55k–$68k)217 comparable listings, Oct 2026
Cost of livingIowa index 87.8US average = 100BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings in Iowa159 active13,726 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Oct 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 52% remote · 20% no call · 56% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Oct 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Top Counselor Jobs

43 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

40 jobs · 32 employers
15
<$90k
7
$90k-110k
7
$110k-130k
8
$130k-150k
3
$150k+

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

34 jobs · 32 employers
401k / retirement match
82% this job
CME allowance
44% this job
Sign-on bonus
26%
Loan repayment
15%
PSLF eligible
9%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

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Work-life snapshot

median 6.1this job 5.7
Better work-life than 50% of Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 1,008 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • No weekends
  • On-site
UC

About United Community Services

Mental Health Care
West Des Moines, IA
51-200 employees

Benefits & Perks

Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Retirement Plan
Paid Time Off
Professional Development

Living in West Des Moines

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$317k
Typical market rent
$1,359/mo
Residents’ average commute
18 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
91.7
State income tax
Up to 6%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Aug 2026), Zillow market rents (Aug 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

BEA 2024 · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.