Director of Counseling Services

Director of Counseling Services

Department: Student Life
Reports To: Dean of Students
FLSA Status: Exempt
Employment Status: Full-time, 12-month position

Position Summary

The Director of Counseling Services provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for Spalding University’s comprehensive counseling, and wellness initiatives. This position promotes holistic student well-being through proactive education, prevention, and direct services that address mental and emotional health. The Director leads the campus wellness strategy, supervises staff, graduate assistants and practicum students within the Counseling Center.

The Director also provides direct clinical mental health services to students, including assessment, counseling, and crisis intervention, while fostering collaborative partnerships across the university to create a culture of care, resiliency, and belonging.

Primary Responsibilities

Leadership and Administration

• Lead the development and implementation of a comprehensive wellness strategy aligned with Spalding’s mission and values.
• Oversee operations of the Counseling Center and related wellness programs, ensuring quality, ethical practice, and compliance with state and federal laws.
• Develop and manage departmental budgets, policies, and procedures.
• Supervise and evaluate professional staff, graduate assistants, and practicum students;
• Lead campus-wide wellness education and prevention initiatives, including mental health awareness, stress management, suicide prevention, substance abuse prevention, and resilience programming.
• Manage and triage mental health crises including suicidal/homicidal ideation, hospitalization referrals, and safety planning.
• Maintain records, data reporting, and assessment efforts to measure the effectiveness of services and inform continuous improvement.

Clinical and Direct Service

• Provide short-term individual and group counseling, crisis assessment, and intervention for students.
• Offer consultation to faculty, staff, parents, and campus partners regarding student well-being.
• Ensure continuity of care by maintaining relationships with community providers and referral networks.
• Support student academic success through documentation for accommodations and coordination with the Accessibility Resource Center.

Campus and Community Engagement

• Partner with academic deans, residence life, athletics, and student engagement to integrate wellness education throughout the student experience.
• Serve as a resource and trainer on issues related to student mental health, wellness, and crisis response.
• Collaborate with local health agencies, hospitals, and community organizations to enhance available resources for students.
• Participate on institutional committees and task forces that advance student retention, inclusion, and wellness initiatives.
• Represent Spalding University at professional conferences and within higher education networks related to health and wellness.

• Professional Degree in counseling or related field required (Social Work, Mental Health Counseling, Psychology)
• Independent licensure (e.g., LCSW, LPCC, LMFT, or equivalent) in the state of Kentucky or eligible for immediate transfer.
• Minimum 3 years of prior, related experience required.
•  Experience with college/young adult populations strongly preferred
• Previous supervisory experience
• Comprehensive knowledge of clinical theories, diagnoses, interventions, treatment planning and therapeutic outcomes.
• Ability to demonstrate superior clinical and therapeutic skills and to foster positive therapeutic relationships with a diverse population of students.
• Rich understanding of social, developmental, and psychological issues and challenges faced by diverse populations of students within a higher education setting.
• Ability and willingness to develop knowledge of College Counseling Center Service Models
• Demonstrated ability to effectively present outreach programming on mental health topics
• Strong organizational and administrative skills
• Willingness to work evenings and weekends as required
• Skills in strategic thinking, relationship building, communication, and organization
• Maintain all relevant ethical, legal, and professional standards of practice for Professional

Competencies

• Commitment to student development and holistic wellness.
• Integrity, professionalism, and discretion in all matters of confidentiality.
• Effective team builder with the ability to lead change and inspire collaboration.
• Demonstrated ability to balance clinical responsibilities with administrative oversight.

Physical and Mental Demands

The role involves both sedentary work (such as counseling and administrative duties) and movement across campus for meetings and outreach. Must be able to respond to crisis situations and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

CONTACT:

All applications are made through the Paycom Applicant Tracking System.

ABOUT SPALDING UNIVERSITY:

Spalding University offers a comprehensive package including medical, dental, vision, Spalding matching contribution up to 5% to your 403b/Roth retirement plan, generous Paid Time Off program, Parental Leave, paid holidays, paid life insurance and long-term disability, paid time for volunteering, and more.

Situated in the heart of downtown Louisville, Kentucky’s largest city, Spalding University combines a rich social justice history and a commitment to community service as we attract students who desire a high-quality education in a very personalized setting. An engaged faculty serves nearly 2,000 students at the bachelors’, master’s and doctoral levels, providing real-world learning in liberal and professional studies.

Faculty, staff and students are united by the institutional mission: Spalding University is a diverse community of learners dedicated to meeting the needs of the times in the tradition of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth through quality undergraduate and graduate liberal and professional studies, grounded in spiritual values, with an emphasis on service and the promotion of peace and justice.

With a focus on service and leadership, Spalding offers all students a mission-driven connection to community and comprehensive learning resources while striking a distinctive balance serving the educational needs of both the traditional student and the working student. In addition, our unique 8-week class delivery format affords students scheduling flexibility amidst other life responsibilities.

Spalding aspires to become the first choice for students of compassion and service.  Celebrated for a rigorous yet nurturing environment, emulated for interdisciplinary collaborations, and acclaimed for contributions to the community. 

Spalding University is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. The University complies with all federal, state and local equal employment opportunity laws. It is the University’s policy not to discriminate against any individual or group of individuals and to provide equal employment opportunity to all qualified persons regardless of race, color, national origin, age, disability, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, military status, veteran status or other protected status. All job offers are contingent upon successful completion of a criminal background check.