What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Counseling & Advocacy Services position at Berklee College of Music?
Job Description:
Berklee is where the world’s most inspired artists come to learn, grow, and create. We're seeking a visionary, student-centered leader to serve as our next Director of Counseling & Advocacy Services—a role that plays a critical part in supporting the well-being, resilience, and success of our diverse and creative student body.
Reporting to the Assistant Vice President of Student Support Services, the Director oversees Berklee’s campus-wide mental health counseling and survivor advocacy programs. Leading a team of dedicated professionals—including licensed mental health clinicians, graduate interns, and a survivor advocate—the Director sets the strategic vision for confidential services rooted in equity, access, and trauma-informed care.
This is a high-impact leadership opportunity for a licensed clinician who brings deep expertise in student mental health, experience in higher education, and a passion for shaping holistic, culturally responsive care for the next generation of musicians, performers, and creatives.
What You’ll Do
This is an exempt, salaried position that requires flexibility for occasional evening and weekend hours, particularly during key campus events such as Commencement, Orientation, Check-In Days, Open Houses, and other student-focused programming. Availability for urgent and unplanned needs—such as student crises or community response efforts—is also expected.
While private practice or outside employment is not prohibited, candidates should thoughtfully consider these scheduling needs when applying for or accepting this role.
Who You Are
Berklee fosters a culture of creativity, innovation, and care—for our students and for each other. We are committed to providing our staff with the resources they need to thrive personally and professionally.
We offer:
Hiring Range: $115,000 to $136,000; salary dependent on relevant experience and education.
Please visit the Total Rewards page to learn more about the benefits of working at Berklee.
This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” employment relationship.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Equal Employment Opportunity at Berklee:
We support an inclusive workplace where everyone excels based on personal merit, qualifications, experience, ability, and job performance. Berklee affirms that inequality is detrimental to our faculty, staff, students, and the communities we serve. Our goal is to make lasting change through our actions. Berklee is committed to providing fair and equitable consideration of all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, ancestry, age, national origin, place of birth, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, genetic information, or status as a member of the armed forces or veteran of the armed forces, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.
As part of this commitment, Berklee will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact the Human Resources Team at hroperations@Berklee.edu or call 617-747-2375.
*Currently enrolled Berklee students are not permitted to apply for staff or faculty positions.*
Employee Type:
Staff
Berklee is where the world’s most inspired artists come to learn, grow, and create. We're seeking a visionary, student-centered leader to serve as our next Director of Counseling & Advocacy Services—a role that plays a critical part in supporting the well-being, resilience, and success of our diverse and creative student body.
Reporting to the Assistant Vice President of Student Support Services, the Director oversees Berklee’s campus-wide mental health counseling and survivor advocacy programs. Leading a team of dedicated professionals—including licensed mental health clinicians, graduate interns, and a survivor advocate—the Director sets the strategic vision for confidential services rooted in equity, access, and trauma-informed care.
This is a high-impact leadership opportunity for a licensed clinician who brings deep expertise in student mental health, experience in higher education, and a passion for shaping holistic, culturally responsive care for the next generation of musicians, performers, and creatives.
What You’ll Do
- Provide strategic and clinical leadership for counseling and advocacy services
- Manage daily operations, staff development, hiring, supervision, and team culture for an 11-person staff
- Lead innovative, artist-centered models of care, including rapid-access counseling, community engagement, and group services
- Oversee crisis response, hospitalization protocols, and postvention planning in partnership with the CARES and BIT teams
- Serve as a key consultant on complex student issues and student readiness for return before and/or after medical leave
- Ensure compliance with legal and ethical mandates, Title IX, and Clery Act regulations
- Build collaborations with key partners across Student Success, Health & Wellness, Equity Leadership, and Academic Affairs
- Maintain data reporting systems and manage the unit’s operating budget
This is an exempt, salaried position that requires flexibility for occasional evening and weekend hours, particularly during key campus events such as Commencement, Orientation, Check-In Days, Open Houses, and other student-focused programming. Availability for urgent and unplanned needs—such as student crises or community response efforts—is also expected.
While private practice or outside employment is not prohibited, candidates should thoughtfully consider these scheduling needs when applying for or accepting this role.
Who You Are
- Master’s degree in social work, counseling, psychology, or a related field
- Current licensure in Massachusetts (LICSW, LMHC, LMFT, or licensed psychologist) or license-eligible at time of hire
- 5–7 years of post-licensure experience, including progressive leadership and staff supervision
- Experience in higher education, particularly with diverse, international, and artistically driven student populations
- Strong commitment to equity, inclusion, and cultural responsiveness in mental health and advocacy services
- Familiarity with trauma-informed care, rapid-access models, and creative approaches to outreach and education
- High emotional intelligence, systems thinking, and crisis response expertise
Berklee fosters a culture of creativity, innovation, and care—for our students and for each other. We are committed to providing our staff with the resources they need to thrive personally and professionally.
We offer:
- Flexible hybrid scheduling and generous PTO
- Tuition benefits for employees and their families
- Access to campus events, concerts, and artistic programming
- A deeply mission-driven, collaborative environment focused on student well-being and artistic excellence
Hiring Range: $115,000 to $136,000; salary dependent on relevant experience and education.
Please visit the Total Rewards page to learn more about the benefits of working at Berklee.
This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” employment relationship.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Equal Employment Opportunity at Berklee:
We support an inclusive workplace where everyone excels based on personal merit, qualifications, experience, ability, and job performance. Berklee affirms that inequality is detrimental to our faculty, staff, students, and the communities we serve. Our goal is to make lasting change through our actions. Berklee is committed to providing fair and equitable consideration of all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, ancestry, age, national origin, place of birth, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, genetic information, or status as a member of the armed forces or veteran of the armed forces, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.
As part of this commitment, Berklee will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact the Human Resources Team at hroperations@Berklee.edu or call 617-747-2375.
*Currently enrolled Berklee students are not permitted to apply for staff or faculty positions.*
Employee Type:
Staff
Salary : $115,000 - $136,000
