"Director of Counseling Services"

Department:

Retriever Integrated Health (RIH) brings together UMBC’s Health Services and Counseling Center in a collaborative, holistic approach to support student well-being and academic success. Our interdisciplinary team includes compassionate administrative staff and skilled professionals from a wide range of fields—medicine, nursing, psychiatry, psychology, counseling, social work, health education, dietetics, acupuncture, and massage therapy. Together, we provide comprehensive, student-centered care designed to help the UMBC community thrive.

Position Overview:

The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) Retriever Integrated Health is seeking a Director of Counseling Services. This position requires a seasoned clinical leader with demonstrated expertise in building high-performing teams, implementing evidence-based practices, and creating student-centered service delivery models in higher education settings. The Director will work collaboratively with the directors of Medical Services, Health Promotion, Case Management, and Insurance to create seamless pathways for students across RIH services. This role offers the opportunity to lead organizational development, enhance staff professional development, refine clinical operations, and expand counseling center capacity to meet the evolving mental health needs of UMBC’s diverse student population. This position has complete responsibility for the overall management, operation, and performance of the counseling center. The Director brings not only advanced clinical skills and doctoral-level training but also the leadership acumen to guide organizational development, foster a culture of collaboration and accountability, and position the counseling center for long-term success through upcoming AAAHC accreditation and beyond.

Responsibilities:

Leadership & Organizational Development:

• Provide visionary leadership that creates a collaborative, accountable, and student-focused counseling center culture
• Lead organizational alignment efforts to strengthen team cohesion, clarify roles and expectations, and enhance professional standards
• Develop and implement professional development plans that build staff competencies and promote evidence-based clinical practices
• Establish clear performance expectations and accountability structures while supporting staff growth and wellbeing
• Foster an inclusive work environment that values diversity, equity, and belonging among staff and in-service delivery
• Model exemplary clinical practice, ethical leadership, and constructive communication
• Collaborate closely with the directors of Medical Services, Health Promotion, Case Management, and Insurance to create integrated, student-centered care pathways and joint initiatives
• Lead strategic planning initiatives to expand counseling center capacity and innovate service delivery models

Clinical Operations & Quality Improvement:

• Oversee daily operations including intake, triage, scheduling, crisis response, and case management systems in coordination with other RIH services
• Lead continuous quality improvement efforts to enhance clinical effectiveness, operational efficiency, and student outcomes
• Refine clinical protocols, documentation standards, and care pathways to ensure consistency and compliance
• Lead AAAHC accreditation preparation for counseling services in collaboration with the Director of Health Operations, ensuring alignment with national standards and coordinating documentation, staff training, and compliance efforts specific to mental health services
• Gather, interpret, and utilize data to inform strategic decisions, monitor service utilization, wait times, satisfaction metrics, and clinical outcomes
• Implement evidence-based interventions and incorporate emerging best practices in college mental health
• Optimize technology platforms, digital resources, and electronic health record systems to enhance service accessibility

Clinical Service & Supervision

• Maintain an active but limited clinical caseload to remain connected to student needs and model clinical excellence
• Provide clinical supervision emphasizing diagnostic formulation, treatment planning, and complex case consultation
• Serve as clinical resource for high-acuity cases requiring advanced assessment and intervention
• Serve as core member and clinical expert on the Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT), providing threat assessment, risk evaluation, and intervention planning for students of concern in partnership with Dean of Students Office, Housing, Public Safety, and other campus partners
• Serve as primary decision-maker for duty-to-warn determinations, mandated reporting, and legal/ethical consultations requiring advanced clinical judgment and institutional risk assessment
• Maintain clinical competence, professional licensure, and continuing education requirements

Administrative Leadership & Campus Collaboration:

• Collaborate with Business Specialist and Assistant Vice President on budget development, resource allocation, and fiscal planning for counseling services
• Represent counseling services in RIH leadership meetings, university committees, and campus-wide initiatives
• Represent UMBC counseling services in regional and national professional organizations, serving as institutional liaison for collaborative initiatives, benchmarking studies, and best practice consortia
• Partner closely with directors of Medical Services, Health Promotion, Case Management, and Insurance to create integrated wellness programming, coordinate care transitions, and ensure students receive seamless support across all RIH services
• Collaborate with faculty, staff, and student organizations to promote mental health awareness and reduce stigma
• Build partnerships across campus to ensure coordinated, student-centered approaches to wellbeing and academic success
• Ensure compliance with legal, ethical, and institutional standards including FERPA, HIPAA, and duty to warn protocols

Other Duties assigned.

Required Minimum Qualifications:

Education Required:

Doctoral degree (PhD, PsyD, or EdD) in Counseling, Clinical Psychology, Counseling Psychology, Clinical Social Work, or closely related field

Licensure Required:

• Current independent clinical licensure (Licensed Psychologist, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, or equivalent) eligible for practice in Maryland

Experience Required:

7 years of post-licensure clinical experience in college counseling, university counseling centers, or similar mental health settings serving emerging adult populations, with 5 years in progressively responsible leadership roles with direct supervisory and administrative responsibilities

• Demonstrated expertise in organizational development, team leadership, and performance management within mental health or student affairs contexts
• Proven track record leading organizational change, addressing workplace culture challenges, and building cohesive teams
• Experience developing and implementing evidence-based clinical protocols, quality improvement initiatives, and service delivery enhancements
• Strong understanding of mental health needs of diverse college student populations including anxiety, depression, trauma, identity development, and academic stress

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with accreditation processes (AAAHC, IACS, or equivalent) in counseling or healthcare settings
• Background in program evaluation, outcomes measurement, and data-informed decision making
• Familiarity with integrated healthcare models and experience collaborating across medical and mental health services
• Knowledge of digital mental health resources, telehealth platforms, and technology-enhanced service delivery
• Formal training in organizational development, leadership coaching, change management, or conflict resolution
• Specialized expertise in evidence-based treatments for college student populations
• Experience serving on Behavioral Intervention Teams or similar threat assessment committees
• Published work, presentations, or scholarship related to college counseling, clinical practice, or leadership

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Upload a cover letter and a resume.

Salary:

$145,000 - $155,000 depending on qualifications and experience.