Job Details
Department:
Student Aff Student Wellness-640701
Career Area :
Student Services
Posting Open Date:
09/02/2026
Application Deadline:
09/23/2026
Open Until Filled:
No
Position Type:
Permanent Staff (EHRA NF)
Working Title:
Director of PATH Services
Appointment Type:
EHRA Non-Faculty
Position Number:
01000814
Vacancy ID:
NF0009996
Full Time/Part Time:
Full-Time Permanent
FTE:
1
Hours per week:
40
Position Location:
North Carolina, US
Hiring Range:
Commensurate with education and experience
Proposed Start Date:
10/12/2026
Be a Tar Heel!
A global higher education leader in innovative teaching, research and public service, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill consistently ranks as one of the nation’s top public universities . Known for its beautiful campus, world-class medical care, commitment to the arts and top athletic programs, Carolina is an ideal place to teach, work and learn. One of the best college towns and best places to live in the United States, Chapel Hill has diverse social, cultural, recreation and…
professional opportunities that span the campus and community. University employees can choose from a wide range of professional training opportunities for career growth, skill development and lifelong learning and enjoy exclusive perks for numerous retail, restaurant and performing arts discounts, savings on local child care centers and special rates on select campus events. UNC-Chapel Hill offers full-time employees a comprehensive benefits package , paid leave, and a variety of health, life and retirement plans and additional programs that support a healthy work/life balance.
Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit
UNC-Chapel Hill’s Prevention, Advocacy, Therapy, & Harm Reduction (PATH) program serves as a vital co-curricular and Student Success partner in supporting students and the broader campus community regarding substance use education and prevention, risk awareness and mitigation, confidential therapeutic services and case management, and a robust collegiate recovery program. Through partnerships with other campus departments, community agencies, student organizations, and peer mentors, we use evidence-based public health and social work strategies to foster an environment that creates, emphasizes, and supports healthy choices and positive decision-making. We utilize a whole-person, student-centered, non-judgmental, and supportive approach, and are seeking experienced professionals to join our interdisciplinary team.
Position Summary
PATH Prevention, Advocacy, Therapeutic Support & Harm Reduction is UNC Chapel Hill’s comprehensive substance use services program within the Division of Student Affairs/Student Success, delivering an integrated continuum of care spanning population-level prevention, evidence-based clinical interventions, referrals and case management, risk mitigation and harm reduction strategies, and collegiate recovery support to UNC-Chapel Hill’s more than 32,000 students.
Reporting to the Executive Director of Health and Wellbeing, the Director of PATH Services provides strategic leadership, administrative oversight, and operational direction for the University’s comprehensive substance use prevention, intervention, and recovery program. This position establishes PATH’s strategic plan, goals, measurable objectives, and evaluation framework; directly supervises four professional staff (an Administrative Assistant, a Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist, a Prevention & Harm Reduction Coordinator, and a Recovery Programs Coordinator); manages the program budget across multiple fund sources (state allocation, student fees, grants, and philanthropy); and serves as the University’s principal subject matter expert, internal consultant, and external voice on substance use health, policy, and student welfare.
The Director holds clinical credibility sufficient to provide meaningful oversight of PATH’s clinical services including SBIRT, brief motivational intervention, clinical substance use counseling, warm-handoff referral, and re-entry case management while operating as a public health systems leader who works upstream to shift campus culture and downstream to support individual students. The Director builds and sustains relationships across a wide range of constituencies, including students in recovery, residence life and Greek life, staff, parents, campus health and counseling partners, senior University leadership, and community coalition partners, adjusting register and approach for each.
Standard work schedule Monday through Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm, with regular on-campus presence expected for student accessibility, staff supervision, and partner engagement. Occasional evening and weekend availability required, particularly during high-risk campus periods (orientation, move-in, homecoming, major athletic events, spring break, finals). Some regional and national travel expected for professional conferences and coalition participation.
This is the inaugural leadership role for PATH, which is newly established and aspires to become a national model among public flagship universities. The Director is responsible for naming, branding, and institutionally anchoring the program.
Minimum Education and Experience Requirements
Relevant post-Baccalaureate degree required (or foreign degree equivalent); for candidates demonstrating comparable independent educational or instructional activities associated with the delivery and/or management of student support functions, will accept a relevant Bachelor’s degree (or foreign degree equivalent) and at least 1 year of relevant experience in substitution.
Required Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience
Progressively responsible post-master’s experience in substance use prevention, intervention, and recovery supports. Demonstrated supervisory or management experience, including hiring, training, evaluating, and supporting professional staff. Demonstrated experience working in or closely with higher education settings at the four-year or graduate level, with understanding of college student development and campus culture. Demonstrated experience with collegiate recovery programming and working knowledge of ARHE standards. Demonstrated experience with program development, implementation, and assessment, including designing evaluation strategies and using data to improve programming. Demonstrated experience managing departmental or program budgets from multiple fund sources, including grants, student fees, and/or state allocations. Demonstrated knowledge of clinical/sub-clinical concepts, compliance, and processes related to substance use services, with the ability to support clinical staff.
Working knowledge of evidence-based prevention frameworks (SAMHSA Strategic Prevention Framework, NIAAA CollegeAIM, socio-ecological model). Clinical fluency across the substance use disorder spectrum, including current knowledge of fentanyl contamination risk and opioid overdose response. Understanding of federal and North Carolina legal frameworks governing substance use services in higher education, including FERPA, HIPAA, DFSCA, the NC Good Samaritan/Overdose Prevention Act, and ADA/Section 504 as applied to students in recovery. Must complete FERPA and HIPAA compliance training within 30 days of hire and maintain annual compliance. Responsible for handling sensitive and confidential student health information, requiring discretion and compliance with applicable privacy laws, including 42 CFR.
Knowledge of CAS, NASPA, ACHA, and ARHE standards as applied frameworks for program quality. Exceptional communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills with demonstrated cultural competence. Demonstrated commitment to equity, cultural humility, and trauma-informed service delivery. Demonstrated ability to build and sustain relationships with diverse stakeholders and to communicate data findings accessibly to non-technical audiences.
Preferred Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience
- Doctoral degree (DrPH, PhD, EdD, or DSW) in public health, health education, counseling, social work, higher education, or a related behavioral health field.
- Experience at a Research 1 (R1) or doctoral flagship public university or comparable large, complex institution.
- Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES) or Certified in Public Health (CPH) designation, in addition to clinical licensure.
- Demonstrated experience managing federal or state grants (SAMHSA, HRSA, or state opioid settlement-funded programs), including grant writing, compliance monitoring, and reporting.
- Experience designing, implementing, and coordinating campus or community coalitions or collective impact initiatives, or working as a primary partner within one.
- Published or presented program evaluation findings, research, or policy work at peer-reviewed venues or national professional conferences (NASPA, ACHA, ARHE, CADCA, or equivalent).
- Familiarity with NC statewide behavioral health infrastructure, the NC Division of Mental Health/Developmental Disabilities and Substance Use Services, and the Orange County/Chapel Hill treatment provider landscape.
- Experience in fundraising, donor stewardship, or development, including writing donor proposals and engaging individual donors and foundations.
- Demonstrated leadership in the field at state or national levels: committee service, association leadership, or peer mentorship of emerging professionals.
- If professional licensure applies to your training, your standing must be current, or expected within 6 months of hire: Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist (LCAS) in North Carolina, or LCAS-Associate with an approved supervision plan and documented pathway to full licensure. Equivalent out-of-state clinical licensure (LCSW, LPC, LMFT, LADC, or equivalent) with demonstrated addictions specialization accepted, with NC licensure or endorsement expected within 12 months of hire.
Special Physical/Mental Requirements
Primarily sedentary office work involving continuous sitting, talking, hearing, and computer use, with frequent standing, movement across campus, and facilitation of in-person programming. Occasional physical activity associated with community events and outreach tabling. Ability to move up to 25 lbs. with or without accommodation.
Role regularly involves exposure to emotionally challenging content (student disclosures of trauma, addiction, crisis, grief, and loss); candidates are expected to maintain a sustainable professional practice including peer consultation and clinical supervision where applicable.
Campus Security Authority Responsibilities
This position is designated as a Campus Security Authority in accordance with the Clery Act. This position will be required to report Clery crimes to the Clery Compliance Manager and complete annual training about reporting responsibilities.
Organization
The nation’s first public university is at the heart of what’s next, preparing a diverse student body to become creators, explorers, innovators and leaders in North Carolina and throughout the world. Carolina’s nationally recognized, innovative teaching, campus-wide spirit of inquiry and dedication to public service continue the legacy that began in 1795 when the University first opened its doors to students.
Here, in one of America's most beautiful college settings, we offer exceptional careers in richly diverse fields. Come explore what UNC-Chapel Hill has to offer you.
Undergraduate Enrollment: 19,117
Graduate/Professional Enrollment: 10,894
Total Student Enrollment: 30,011
Founded: 1789, as the first state university in the United States
Type of Institution: Public, four-year
Undergraduate Admission: 15,961
Graduate/Professional Enrollment: 10,039
Total Student Enrollment: 26,000
Faculty: 3,000
Percentage of faculty who hold Ph.D.s or the highest degrees in their field: 94 percent
Faculty/student ratio: 1/14
Location: UNC is located in the heart of Chapel Hill, the best college town in America! It's a friendly town of about 40,000 in the geographical center of North Carolina. Chapel Hill is at the western point of the Research Triangle, an area of about one million people, comprised of Chapel Hill, the cities of Durham and Raleigh, and the Research Triangle Park, home of many corporate offices and scientific research centers. Carolina is about 30 miles from the state capital, Raleigh, and 20 minutes from Raleigh-Durham International Airport.
Chapel Hill's main street, Franklin Street, borders the campus and offers shops, coffee houses, cafés, movie theaters and houses of worship. The town has a historic district, museum, library, parks, malls, and many recreational facilities.
Origins of Carolina's students: 82 percent of UNC's freshmen are from North Carolina and 18 percent are from out-of-state. Our students come from 42 different states and our international students represent 37 countries.
Size of freshman class: Approximately 3,400
Class size: Barely five percent of undergraduate classes contain more than 100 students; two-thirds of undergraduate classes have fewer than 30 students. Forty-one percent have fewer than 20 students, including First Year Seminars, in which first-year students work closely with professors.
Sports and athletic programs: UNC is an NCAA Division I school with 28 varsity teams. Carolina is the proud home of the Dean Smith Center, Kenan Stadium, Carmichael Auditorium, Koury Natatorium, and many other fine athletic facilities. Students join more than 60 intramural and club sports, which include baseball, bowling, crew, golf, lacrosse, rock climbing, rugby, tae kwon do, and ultimate frisbee. The Student Recreation Center offers weight training, aerobics, stair machines, and all the equipment you would expect to find at a great health club! Carolina offers a newly renovated outdoor pool and indoor pools, a golf course, tennis courts, and the longest zipline in America!
Number of residence halls: Incoming undergraduates will live in one of Carolina's 29 residence halls, which are wired for Internet access and cable television. housing.unc.edu
Scholarships and financial aid: About 40 percent of UNC-Chapel Hill students receive scholarships and/or some form of financial aid. studentaid.unc.edu
Special research institutes: Institute for Research in Social Science, Institute of Outdoor Drama, Morehead Planetarium, Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise, Institute of Government, Institute of African American Research.
Career services: On-campus counseling, job fairs, résumé writing service, internships, placement services. www.unc.edu/depts/career
Technological facilities: Students find multiple uses for Carolina's state-of-the-art technological resources. They can access Carolina's computer services through Academic Technology and Networks, which manages academic computing, e-mail, microcomputing labs, interactive media presentation, video and classroom support, and a help desk. The MetaLab oversees the development of SunSITE, one of the world's busiest digital library and electronic publishing projects.
Students may open e-mail accounts, and many use campus computer resources to construct personal Web pages. Students in residence halls have hardwired network connections to the Internet and cable television in their rooms. At the ATN Training center, students may take classes on software packages and utilities. Computer labs are available for student use all over campus.
Carolina Computing Initiative: Beginning with the freshman class of 2000, undergraduates must purchase laptop computers. The University has arranged for IBM to offer computers at excellent prices. Students, faculty, and staff will enjoy cost savings, higher quality compatible equipment, and better technical support through CCI. www.unc.edu/cci
The Study Abroad program allows students to live and learn in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific Rim, Africa, and the Americas. www.unc.edu/depts/abroad
The Honors Program offers special seminars, research programs, and the chance to design your own independent studies. www.unc.edu/depts/honors
Carolina students spend time in public service through student organizations, the Campus Y, the Carolina Center for Public Service, and courses that incorporate community service.
UNC's chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, a national collegiate honor society, is the oldest in North Carolina, dating from 1904. There are many other honorary societies at Carolina.
UNC offers ROTC programs in all branches of national military service.
Through the First Year Seminars program, first year students will understand what it means to study at a premier research university. They will learn from faculty members and share in their research in seminars of no more than 20 students.
Life outside the classroom: More than 370 clubs, teams, and student organizations offer something for everyone! You can choose from among musical and dramatic performing groups, publications, ethnic and religious clubs, the Campus Y and other service organizations, fraternities and sororities, and pre-professional organizations. Whatever your interests, you will find others at Carolina who share them! www.unc.edu/depts/union/student/listintr.htm
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