Counseling Center Director

The mission of Goodwin University is to educate a diverse student population in a dynamic environment that aligns education, commerce, and community. Our innovative programs of study prepare students for professional careers while promoting lifelong learning and civic responsibility. As a nurturing university community, we challenge students, faculty, staff, and administration to fully realize their highest academic, professional, and personal potential.

Position Description Summary/Purpose :

Provides oversight and direction to the Counseling Center. The Counseling Center provides preventive and outpatient urgent care to students, within applicable laws and regulations of the State of Connecticut. The Counseling Center provides short-term/time-limited broad range of counseling and psychological services, in collaboration with related University departments, to the student community. The Director ensures compliance with state and federal regulations. The Director supervises a full-time counselor and a part-time case manager. The Director will also oversee campus educational programming on a variety of wellness topics.

The position requires extensive cooperative and collaborative relationships with students, faculty, staff and professionals in peer organizations and professional associations. These relationships may involve a very high degree of sensitive and confidential information. The incumbent is expected to represent the University positively and collaborate with academic and student services departments to contribute to retaining students.

The Director supervises all staff in the Counseling Center, ensuring that they adhere to university policies and state and federal laws and regulations regarding the confidentiality and privacy of personal health information.

The Director of The Counseling Center is accountable for leading and managing a comprehensive program of student guidance and counseling through effective performance in these essential functional areas:

Essential Job Functions/Primary Responsibilities :

(The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.)

• Student counseling program development
  • Interpretation of appropriate student assessment instruments
  • Researching potential counseling needs of the University’s students and developing programs and strategies to meet those needs;
  • Developing comprehensive student counseling based on research and assessment information.
• Student counseling and guidance
  • Directing and personally providing professional interpretation to students of their assessment instrument results and their implications for academic and personal plans and strategies.
  • Directing and providing consultation and guidance to students on appropriate personal and social actions.
  • Directing and conducting seminars and orientation sessions for students on academic, wellness and personal strategies.
  • Directing and providing guidance, counseling, and referral services for students in crisis situations.
• Budget and fiscal management
  • Analyzing needed resources and their costs.
  • Developing fiscally sound budgets.
  • Monitoring and evaluating expenses compared to budget and taking needed corrective action.
  • Developing long term strategies for optimizing counseling results for students from allocated financial resources.
• Guidance to faculty and staff
  • Directing and conducting interpretation and evaluation of assessments and interviews to determine appropriate courses of action to assist students in academic, personal, wellness and social situations.
  • Providing guidance and recommendations to faculty and staff on strategies of optimum assistance to students.
• Staff supervision
  • Direct supervision of one full time counselor and one part time case manager

Other Functions :

• Attendance and participation at convocation and commencement ceremonies
• Service on assigned committees and task forces.
• Attendance and participation at committee, staff, informational and professional meetings.
• May involve attendance at evening or weekend events.
• Conducts all work in a safe manner and all work safety practices are followed.
• Performs similar or related work as required, directed or as situation dictates.
• Continues professional development and training; keeps current with trends.
• Assists other department staff as needed to promote a team effort.

Knowledge, Ability and Skill :

• Interest and expertise in working with students with disabilities, including physical, social, and developmental (including autism-spectrum disorders).
• Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the lived experience of BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ young adults or students, particularly in predominantly white institutions.
• Experience providing culturally proficient clinical services to diverse and underrepresented populations, reflecting an understanding of the ways in which race, ethnic identity, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, privilege, and oppression affect therapeutic service delivery.

Qualifications

Minimum Required Qualifications :

• Requires a master's degree in clinical or counseling psychology or social work.
• Connecticut state licensure or Doctoral Degree in clinical or counseling psychology and Connecticut state licensure as a psychologist or other related field.
• Candidates must be licensed to practice independently in CT at date of hire.
• Experience working with college-aged population, knowledge of developmental issues of college students and demonstrated knowledge of and sensitivity to multicultural and disability issues required.

Education, Training and Experience :

• Six years of experience in a college counseling center is strongly preferred.
• Effective therapist with generalist clinical skills and demonstrated experience assessing and intervening with a range of clinical and mental health issues.
• Well-developed administrative and clinical supervision skills.
• Strong assessment and diagnostic experience.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including strong oral, written, and listening communication capabilities.

Special Requirements :

• Valid Drivers License & Insured Vehicle

Physical and Mental Requirements :

Work Environment None Under 1/3 1/3 to 2/3 Over 2/3
Outdoor Weather Conditions X
Work with fumes or airborne particles X
Work near moving mechanical parts X
Risk of electrical shock X
Vibration X

Physical Activity None Under 1/3 1/3 to 2/3 Over 2/3
Standing X
Walking X
Sitting X
Talking & Hearing X
Using hands/fingers to handle/feel X
Climbing or balancing X
Bending, pulling, pushing X
Driving X

Lifting Requirements None Under 1/3 1/3 to 2/3 Over 2/3
Up to 10 pounds X
Up to 25 pounds X
Up to 50 pounds X
Up to 75 pounds X
Up to 100 pounds X
Over 100 pounds X

Vision Requirements:

X Close vision (i.e. clear vision at 20 inches or less)

___ Distance vision (i.e. clear vision at 20 feet or more)

___ Color vision (i.e. ability to identify and distinguish colors)

___ Peripheral vision (i.e. ability to observe an area that can be seen up and down or

left and right while the eyes are fixed on a given point)

___ Depth perception (i.e. three-dimensional vision, ability to judge distances and

spatial relationships)

___ No special vision requirements

Full-Time Employee Benefits:

• Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Pet Insurance
• 401k employer match
• Employee & dependent life insurance
• Great tuition benefits for employee, spouse & dependents
• PTO program
• Flexible work schedules / work from home opportunities

(This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee. It is used as a guide for personnel actions and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.)