Junior School Psychologist - 1 Year Leave Replacement - 2026-2027

 

Junior School Psychologist (Pre-K – J4 / 4th Grade)

 

Position Type: 1-Year Leave Replacement, Full-Time, Exempt, Union Position (Covered by Collective Bargaining Agreement)

Reporting Relationship: Reports to the Junior School Principal

 

As of: August 2026

 

Founded in 1947, the United Nations International School (UNIS) is a Pre-K through Grade 12 independent school in Manhattan, serving a diverse, global community. About half of UNIS families are affiliated with the United Nations, while the rest are internationally minded New York–based parents. Guided by the ideals of the United Nations, UNIS provides an inclusive learning environment where rigorous international programs foster academic excellence, creativity, innovation, and cross-cultural communication, inspiring students to help build a peaceful, compassionate, and sustainable world. 

UNIS seeks a Junior School Psychologist for a one-year Leave Replacement position. Guided by the UNIS Mission and Guiding Principles, the successful candidate will play an integral role in fostering an optimal physical, mental, emotional, and social climate for learning among early childhood and elementary students. Working collaboratively with the Student Support Team, the Junior School Psychologist will focus on early intervention, foundational social-emotional development, and supporting the unique learning needs of students from Pre-K through 4th grade. This position reports to the Junior School Principal. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Early Childhood & Elementary SEL & Mental Health Delivery

• Foundational Skill Building: Support students at early developmental levels as they build core social skills, empathy, and tools for appropriate emotional management.

• Observation & Strategy Formulation: Observe young learners in their classroom environments to provide teachers with actionable, age-appropriate strategies.

• Intervention & Support: Identify, assess, and provide short-term, play- or talk-based interventions and resources to address behavioral and social-emotional issues affecting academic performance.

• Team Facilitation: Serve as a primary facilitator for divisional Student Success Team (SST) meetings to strategize for individual student progress and strengthen classroom culture.

• Screening & Assessment: Participate in school-wide screenings, benchmark assessments, and the review of outside psycho-educational evaluations to help parents understand their child’s profile.

2. Consultation, Training, & Parent Partnership

• Developmental Guidance: Help teachers, administrators, and parents understand early child development and how it impacts learning and behavior.

• Collaborative Interventions: Consult with learning support, guidance personnel, and classroom teachers to develop targeted accommodations based on individual student needs.

• Parent & Faculty Workshops: Design and facilitate workshops focused on early childhood/elementary cognition, social-emotional growth, and positive parenting guidance.

• Home-School Carryover: Partner closely with families and outside providers to ensure a consistent, supportive program for students across both school and home environments.

3. Community Liaison & Culture Building

• Inclusive Culture: Collaborate with teachers to implement community, culture, and character-building programs that foster tolerance and appreciation of diversity from an early age.

• Integrated Services: Act as a liaison with community agencies and mental health professionals to provide integrated support services to young children and families.

4. Information Management & Compliance

• Documentation: Maintain accurate electronic and paper records of services provided in accordance with New York State laws.

• Accommodation Tracking: Prepare, update, and securely distribute student accommodation lists to ensure relevant faculty are aware of student needs.

• Policy Input: Assist in creating and revising school-wide mental health, safety, and wellness-related policies (e.g., anti-bullying, kindness, emergency response protocols).

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS

• Licensure: Maintain appropriate New York State doctoral license and certification in school psychology, clinical psychology, or educational psychology.

• Experience: 3+ years of educational experience as a School Psychologist preferred, with a strong emphasis or preference for early childhood/elementary settings and international environments.

• Assessment Skills: Proficiency with a variety of age-appropriate psycho-educational and behavioral assessment tools (cognitive, achievement, and social-emotional measures).

• Key Competencies: Excellent communication and listening skills, authentic empathy for childhood concerns, strong crisis intervention judgment, and the ability to build immediate rapport with young children, parents, and faculty.

COMPENSATION

• Compensation ranges from $105,374 to $113,693 commensurate with years of experience as outlined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement (salary is prorated for part-time or temporary positions), pending the completion of collective bargaining negotiations currently underway.

APPLICATION PROCESS

All candidates must submit an electronic application via the school website: https://www.unis.org/about-unis/employment. Supporting documentation, such as a cover letter and resume, must be uploaded to the electronic application.  Paper and emailed applications and documents will not be accepted from external candidates. Review of applications will begin immediately and will be ongoing.

 

In accordance with the guidelines of the International Taskforce on Child Protection, the United Nations International School adheres to a rigorous standard of recruitment practices and background checks, emphasizing the protection, safety, and welfare of our students. 

 

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION & BELONGING

Research shows that women and people from underrepresented groups often apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. We recognize that it is highly unlikely that someone meets 100% of the qualifications for a role. If much of this job posting describes you, then please apply for this role.

 

The United Nations International School provides equal opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, height, weight, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, mental or physical disability, pregnancy, alienage or citizenship status, marital status or domestic partner status, genetic information, genetic predisposition or carrier status, gender identity, HIV status, military status and any other category protected by law in all employment decisions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, compensation, training, promotion, upgrading, demotion, downgrading, transfer, lay-off and termination, and all other terms and conditions of employment.