Join the Cowell Center at an exciting time! We have recently reorganized and expanded our team. The Director position has been modified and will now report to the Associate Vice Provost for Student Health, Counseling and Well-Being. The position will supervise four Assistant Directors and will oversee a collaborative leadership model to best support the staff and better serve our students. In the past two years, we have significantly expanded our team and offerings, including a new Therapist in Residence program and expanded group therapy. This is a fantastic opportunity to become part of a thriving, fully staffed team with high morale and a strong commitment to both the center and its students. We are seeking an innovative, collaborative, and intentional leader to guide and inspire this dynamic group.

Benefits include an annual salary up to 200k (top or range), sign-on bonus, ongoing remote/work from home allowances following an onboarding process, 10% retirement contribution (among a full complement of benefits), and temporary housing to reduce stress during the onboarding process. Compensation will be based on education, experience, skills relevant to the role and internal equity.

We know these can be complex jobs, so we are here to set you up for success!


Position Overview

The Director of Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is a senior leader within the Cowell Center and is responsible for providing overall direction, management and clinical leadership and supervision to the culturally diverse and multi-disciplinary Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) staff. This position is both accountable and responsible for ensuring that CAPS vision, policies and practices are in alignment with Santa Clara University’s vision and values. The Director of CAPS is administratively focused and will also provide direct clinical services to a small client caseload. CAPS is committed to the values of multiculturalism, social justice, and student learning, and is dedicated to providing culturally informed, mental health services for SCU’s diverse student population. This position promotes the psychological well-being of the student body and supports best practices of mental health services to students while supporting the vision of the University to make student learning a central goal by facilitating the psychological well-being of the student body.

A successful candidate will be able to showcase a history of working across diverse identities (including but not limited to race, gender, sexuality, and ability status) and demonstrate their commitment to inclusivity. A successful candidate will lead by modeling a deep commitment to cultural humility and equity; and will demonstrate knowledge, understanding, and application of the concept.


About Santa Clara University

Founded in 1851, and located in the heart of Silicon Valley, Santa Clara University blends high-tech innovation with an emphasis on personal, humanistic formation and social consciousness that animate the Jesuit, Catholic educational tradition. The University’s stunningly landscaped 106-acre campus is adjacent to San Jose, the 10th largest city in the U.S., and community members are able to take advantage of the San Francisco Bay Area, one of the most culturally and environmentally diverse regions in the world. Ranked among the top 15 percent of national universities by U.S. News & World Report, SCU has among the best four-year graduation rates in the nation and is rated by PayScale in the top 1 percent of universities with the highest-paid graduates.

With more than 50 majors, minors, and special programs in six schools and colleges, the University seeks to educate citizens and leaders of competence, conscience, and compassion, who cultivate knowledge and faith to build a more humane, just, and sustainable world. At the undergraduate level, Santa Clara offers degrees in arts and sciences, business, and engineering. A substantial graduate program supports degrees in arts and sciences, theology, business, education and counseling psychology, engineering, and law. The University is home to more than 5,850 undergraduate students, 3,000 graduate students, 900 faculty, over 1,050 staff, and more than 104,000 alumni living worldwide.


Qualifications

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

  • Master’s degree required in counseling or clinical psychology from an accredited program in psychology; Doctorate degree (Ph.D., Psy.D., Ed.D.) preferred.
  • 12 years experience in counseling.
  • A minimum of four to six years of progressive experience related to providing and leading mental health services and staff, preferably in a university, college, or higher education setting.
  • Currently licensed in the State of California or another state with the ability to transfer licensure within 12 months to the State of California.
  • Prior experience addressing the needs of a diverse university student population, preferred.
  • Knowledge of Title IX, mental health and disability laws preferred.

KNOWLEDGE:

  • Continuous learner who is on the pulse of local and national trends in student mental health.
  • Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion practices within clinicians’ scope of practice and utilization of resources for our increasingly diverse student population.
  • Demonstrated knowledge in the application of student development theories.
  • Demonstrated knowledge in addressing the needs of a diverse student population. 

SKILLS:

  • Effective mentoring and coaching skills.
  • Exceptional clinical acumen and ability to provide effective clinical supervision.
  • Exceptional interpersonal skills for engagement across campus constituencies – students, faculty, staff, families, and alumni.
  • Effective verbal and written communication skills, including demonstrated presentation skills.
  • Appropriate application of student development theories into CAPS policies and practices.
  • Ability to design and implement exceptional clinical care with appropriately balanced use of available technology platforms.
  • Demonstrated ability to use technology, data, and literature and research in improving the delivery and evaluation of programs and services.
  • Proven track record at recruiting and retaining exceptional clinical staff.


Application Process

Santa Clara University has partnered with Keeling & Associates in this search process. Applications should include a cover letter and resume and must be sent, preferably in PDF format, to recruiting@KeelingAssociates.com. The subject line of the email should read “SCU—Director of CAPS.” Confidential inquiries and nominations should be addressed to Dr. Mark Patishnock, Senior Consultant at Keeling & Associates, at mpatishnock@keelingassociates.com. Applications received by November 21, 2024, will receive full consideration. The process will continue until the position is filled.


EEO Statement

​Equal Opportunity/Notice of Nondiscrimination

Santa Clara University is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action employer fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce and complies with all Federal and California State laws, regulations, and executive orders regarding non-discrimination and affirmative action. Applications from members of historically underrepresented groups are especially encouraged. For a complete copy of Santa Clara University’s equal opportunity and nondiscrimination policies, see https://www.scu.edu/title-ix/policies-reports/