Position Title
Executive Director, Counseling and Psychological Services

University
George Mason University

Department
University Life

Salary Range

Position Description
Founded in 1972 in the heart of Northern Virginia’s technology corridor near Washington, D.C., George Mason University (Mason) is an innovative, entrepreneurial, public institution with national distinction in a range of academic fields. Mason is a Level 2 Carnegie Classified research institution -- ranked 138th among more than 600 universities nationwide. Mason offers more than 150 degree programs at the undergraduate, master’s, doctoral, and professional levels. The University’s over 33,000 students at campuses in Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William represent all 50 states and more than 134 countries. The Chronicle of Higher Education named Mason one of the “Great Colleges to Work For.”

George Mason University seeks an Executive Director of Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). The Executive Director reports to the Assistant Vice President for University Life and provides leadership and expertise to an IACS accredited center providing psychological, psychiatric, learning, and multicultural services; threat assessment; and an APA-accredited internship/training program. The candidate should be an accomplished collaborator and builder of strategic partnerships with academic affairs, student services, university administration, and appropriate local, state and federal organizations. The Executive Director oversees a comprehensive array of programs and services responsive to the needs of Mason’s diverse student body, faculty, and staff. Services are provided by 34 staff members: professional counseling and clinical psychologists, psychiatrist, psychiatric nurse practitioner, social workers, learning specialists, counselors, graduate interns, externs, and assistants. CAPS closely consults and collaborates with campus stakeholders: Dean of Students, Office of Student Conduct, Office of Student Support and Case Management, University Police, Alcohol Drug and Health Education, Sexual Assault Services, Office of Disability Services, Office of Housing and Residential Life, Student Health Services, Office of the Provost, Center for Psychological Services, the Department of Psychology’s APA-accredited Clinical PhD program, and other academic units.

The Executive Director has responsibility for and is expected to:
• Provide vision and direction to ensure exceptional services, educational resources, and training that are culturally sensitive and consistent with the highest professional ethical standards;
• Facilitate strategic planning leading to quality improvements, efficiencies, and effective delivery of services; foster planning and decision-making informed by internal and external data derived from sound assessment and factors, trends, best and emerging practices;
• Encourage innovation in services and delivery methods to advance new initiatives critical to the success of Mason students and in response to institutional growth and priorities, expansion of programs at distributed campuses, and changing needs of students and the community;
• Maintain oversight of personnel, including recruitment and hiring processes, training and professional development of staff members and graduate interns/externs; and supervision of five direct reports as well as clinical supervision of an intern;
• Carry an individual case load of clients, e.g, 5-6 client hours a week;
• Competently manage fiscal resources (overall budget of $1,836,000), space and equipment;
• Expand utilization of technology in delivering services;
• Ensure compliance with applicable Commonwealth laws governing the provision of mental health services on Virginia campuses and with professional ethics guiding the work of CAPS diverse staff;
• Provide consultation to campus threat assessment teams and processes, including participation in assessment and management of individuals of concern and serving as a resource on crisis response, health, and safety concerns;
• Ensure provision of adequate crisis consultation and coverage within CAPS and the university at large;
• Educate and provide training to the Mason community and specific target groups where appropriate, on national and institutional issues and trends;
• Enhance relationships and foster partnerships with a broad base of campus and community stakeholders that result in improved delivery of services and programs to benefit students and university departments.

The successful candidate will hold an earned doctorate in a mental health care discipline; be licensed in Virginia (or eligible for licensure within one year of appointment); and possess ten years of progressive experience, including management/supervision of staff in higher education mental health. A demonstrated record of organizational/strategic planning, assessment and data-informed decision-making, and stewardship of resources is also expected.

Additional knowledge and competencies considered in the candidate selection process include: collaborative leadership style; understanding of contemporary best practices in the delivery of comprehensive counseling and psychological services; experience in meeting the mental health needs of a diverse undergraduate and graduate student population; experience with threat assessment and management of individuals who come to the attention of the process and with crisis response, health and safety concerns within CAPS and the university at large; familiarity with relevant ethical and legal issues; experience with accredited training programs (APA); effective communication and interpersonal skills; and experience applying and using technology to enhance delivery of programs and services.

Review of applications will begin on June 8, 2012. For full consideration, applicants must apply for position number FA021z at https://jobs.gmu.edu/; complete and submit the online faculty application; and upload a cover letter, resume, and list of three professional references with contact information.

SJG – The Spelman & Johnson Group is assisting with this search. For confidential inquiries, or to nominate an individual for this position, please email Valerie Szymkowicz, Senior Associate, at vbs@sjgsearch.com or call 413-529-2895.

Visit George Mason University’s website at www.gmu.edu

George Mason University is an equal opportunity employer encouraging diversity.

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http://www.spelmanandjohnson.com/jobs/executivedirector_327/

This listing expires on:
8/6/2012