Director of the Counseling Center

Salary for Announcement

The minimum of the pay range for this position is $90,600. We anticipate the qualified candidate to be placed between $90,600 - $120,950. The salary of the finalist(s) selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, experience, education, specialty and training.

The above salary range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

Position Summary

The Director of the Counseling Center is a visionary mental health administrator who leads a comprehensive university counseling center, providing both direct and indirect services to students, and consultation and outreach to the Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU) community. The position is responsible for strategic planning, resource development and allocation, and administrative and clinical supervision within the Counseling Center. Additionally, and in collaboration with key colleagues, the Director consults and strategizes on student mental health priorities and initiatives that span the University related to risk reduction, academic partnerships, and addressing health disparities.

Metropolitan State University of Denver is a unique, access-oriented campus community that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. We are a designated Hispanic Serving Institution located in downtown Denver. Our student population consists of nearly 50% first-generation students and over 45% students of ethnic/racial minority backgrounds.

We create an equitable learning and working environment with individuals who consistently demonstrate commitment to equity and inclusion. We value the diverse identities and perspectives of our students, faculty, and staff and recognize that to achieve a just and equitable society, diversity must go beyond simple representation. It requires critical inquiry and dialogue and a commitment to action. We strive to provide a culture of belonging where all community members feel valued to achieve personal and professional success.

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Duties/Responsibilities

Oversight and administration of the University's Counseling Center (60%)

• Responsible for ensuring the Center is fully functional and responsive to student needs, including triage/emergency responses, as well as standard therapeutic services for student clients.
• Works collaboratively with staff in managing essential daily operations such as emergency and non-emergency telephone calls, responding to "quality of care" concerns that are expressed by clients, and case management and referral services.
• Actively builds relationships with relevant colleagues to engender trust and promote knowledge about Center service offerings.
• Works to ensure the Center's services are meeting the diverse student body's needs in an equitable manner, with attention to access and outcomes related to race/ethnicity, gender identity, age, sexual orientation, and ability. As needed, adjusts program offerings and/or experience to drive towards equitable access and outcomes.
• Develops the staffing model that best suits the University's needs, given available resources. As needed, develops and executes strategies to cultivate additional resources (i.e. writing grants, fundraising).
• Supervises a team of 6 professional staff psychologists, two Associate Directors, three Graduate students and an administrative assistant/office manager; engages in ongoing performance management, prepares annual performance plans and mid-year and annual evaluations.
• Oversees telehealth vendor and client information system contract.
• Provides leadership for staff meetings and other retreat and strategic planning meetings.
• Ensures that Center staff receive requisite training to address key mental health trends and issues as well as compliance with APA standards, federal statutes such as FERPA, Title IX, and the Cleary Act, and Colorado mental health statutes.
• Collaborates with the Health Center at Auraria, Student Care Center, Phoenix Center at Auraria, Dean of Students Office, and Access Center staff on student matters involving ADA requests, psychotropic medications, high level student concerns, and/or behavioral matters impacting students and/or the community.
• Oversees regular file audits in keeping with professional standards.
• Oversees Center marketing and communications to educate students and colleagues about the Center and relevant offerings; oversees management of the Center's website in partnership with the center's administrative support.
• Ensures that Center services and impact are appropriately assessed, with attention to understanding the efficacy of treatment as related to student safety, wellbeing, equity, and academic success; benchmarks program(s) for comparison with peer and/or other Colorado institutions, as needed.
• Manages and drafts Center policy and/or protocols, ensuring corresponding manuals and documents are updated annually.
• Reviews all proposals for research with Counseling Center clients. Completes the Center's IRB Protocols.
• Ensures that the physical environment is conducive to professional work, in conjunction with university and/or campus and Facilities Management colleagues.
• Has budgetary oversight of the Center's annual budget and reserves; responsible for day-to-day fiscal tasks such as setting up purchase orders, vendor payments, and balancing the budget in partnership with the office administrative support.

University and related service (15%)

• Strategizes on how to address overarching mental health needs facing students, offering both innovative and practical insights about how to address the complex challenges students face.
• Attends and/or participates in university-wide meetings and events to promote mental health and/or to integrate Counseling Center offerings.
• Serves on University and campus wide committees and task forces such as the C.A.R.E. Team, C.A.R.T., and the Auraria Mental Health Committee.
• Provides training and educational workshops to faculty and administrators related to student mental and behavioral health.
• Serves in an on-call capacity for critical incident response.
• Represents the University in applicable meetings and events.

Clinical Responsibilities (10%)

• Provides individual and couples treatment. Conducts thorough initial assessments including high risk issues and crisis cases and provides appropriate and timely interventions. Oversees the provision of clinical services to ensure compliance with ethical guidelines and State regulations. Provides clinical consultation to Faculty, Staff and Students as appropriate. Maintains effective Liaison and Consulting Relationships with Psychiatric Staff at the Health Center.

Supervisory Responsibilities (10%)

• Responsible for supervising staff in delivering student support services for psychological counseling, individual and group therapy, crisis intervention, and consultation and outreach activities for educational and preventive programming. Develop and implement counseling support programs and methods of assessment to enhance student retention and academic success, collecting relevant data on goals, objectives, and outcomes.
• Works with professional staff in developing customized performance plans and providing mid-year and end-of year evaluations in keeping with professional goals and interpersonal growth.

Outreach Responsibilities (5%)

• Provides leadership for staff in developing academic, personal, and diversity workshops that aid in the successful matriculation of undergraduate and graduate students. Encourages staff participation in university-wide Open Houses, New Student Orientations, First Generation Students Programming, and overall retention initiatives.

Required Qualifications

• Completed doctorate from an accredited institution.
• A minimum of 7-10 years of clinical work experience.
• Previous clinical experience with severe and complex mental health issues and diagnoses, including student developmental issues.
• Strong history of partnership and collaboration across organizations.
• Previous experience working with individuals from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
• Licensure as a Psychologist with eligibility for reciprocity as a Licensed Psychologist in Colorado.

Important Note: Successful applicants will ensure their resumes clearly demonstrate that their work experience describes how they meet ALL required qualifications.

Preferred Qualifications

• A preference for completed doctoral degree in counseling/clinical psychology.
• Significant experience working with college students in a college setting.
• Experience in team building and problem solving and proactively anticipating campus community needs.
• A strong contextual understanding of student success work at colleges and universities.
• Strong written, verbal and interpersonal communication, and organizational skills are required as well as computer skills
• A history of involvement in professional organizations and professional development.
• Experience in preparing Self-Studies for IACS' Site Visits and Annual Accreditation Reports.
• Excellent interpersonal skills in being able to communicate with a wide range of people effectively and professionally, on diverse issues.
• Experience working in a collaborative integrated medical model with interdisciplinary health care professionals, including psychiatrists.

Work Hours

• This position primarily operates in-person on campus with opportunities for remote days/work.

Instructions to Apply

For full consideration, please submit the following documents:

• Resume
• Cover letter describing relevant job experiences as they relate to listed job qualifications and interest in the position

Official transcripts will be required of the candidate selected for hire.

If you are an Internal applicant, please apply via the Career tab within the WorkDay Menu

Important Note: Successful applicants will ensure their resumes clearly demonstrate that their work experience describes how they meet ALL required qualifications.

Open Until Filled

MSU Denver is pleased to offer our current and potential employees a wide array of benefit options. To learn more, please visit the following link:

The University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout the employment application process. To request an accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact the Human Resources ADA Coordinator at .

Metropolitan State University of Denver is a unique, access-oriented campus community that values diversity, equity, and inclusion in all its forms. Our student population consists of nearly 50% first generation students and over 45% students of color. We are a designated Hispanic Serving Institution located in downtown Denver.

We create an equitable learning and working environment in concert with individuals who consistently demonstrate commitment to equity and inclusion. We greatly value the diverse identities and perspectives of our students, faculty, and staff and recognize that in order to achieve a just and equitable society, diversity must go beyond simple representation. It requires critical inquiry and dialogue and a commitment to action. We strive to provide a culture of belonging for all community members to achieve personal and professional success.