Director of Counseling & Psychological Services

Director of Counseling & Psychological Services

 

California State Polytechnic Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona), a nationally ranked and innovative public university known for its hands-on, real-world education, invites nominations and applications for the position of Director of Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS). This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced and student-centered mental health leader to guide a dedicated team of professionals serving a diverse and vibrant student body. Cal Poly Pomona seeks a director who will champion a culture of inclusion, transparency, and equity; strengthen alignment between the division and CAPS and Survivor Advocacy Services (SAS); balance accountability with compassion; and foster team cohesion and a shared commitment to holistic student well-being.

 

Reporting to the Senior Associate Vice President for Equity and Belonging, the director will provide strategic leadership and clinical oversight for mental health services for approximately 26,000 students. The successful candidate will be a visible and engaged campus partner, offering significant clinical experience, skills in organizational development and change management, current college mental expertise, and an established record of effective leadership and supervision.

 

Position Summary:

The Director of Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) will provide direct oversight for a team of over 10 clinicians, two survivor advocates, administrative staff, and an associate director.

In addition to the above job duties, the Director:

• Provides overall administration and strategic direction of the Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) and Survivor Advocacy Services (SAS)
• Assesses CPP’s student counseling and survivor advocacy needs to develop and facilitate each unit’s services and programs
• Engages in personnel management and fiscal planning
• Innovates, designs and implements programs and services designed to specifically support the goals of the Division of Student Affairs
• Formulates, implements, and evaluates polices and procedures
• Manages and oversees the departmental budget
• Prepares annual reports and handles special projects
• Provides clinical supervision for non-licensed counselors
• Involved in development of campus-wide policies and procedures regarding student health and wellbeing needs  
• Provides therapy, outreach, consultation, crisis intervention, and training
• Must actively and visibly embrace a community mental health approach to move CAPS in that direction and away from a private practice model

 

Required Education and Certifications

• Master’s degree in psychology or a related field
• Must be a fully licensed mental health clinician in good standing with the state of California. Acceptable credentials include: Licensed psychologist, LCSW, LMFT, and/or LPCC
• Valid CA Driver’s License

 

Required Experience and Skills

• Minimum of three years of successfully leading a university counseling center or mental health organization in a similar setting of comparable scale and complexity; including experience supervising a diverse team of professionals of licensed and unlicensed clinicians
• Demonstrated expertise with clinical mental health models, accreditation standards, and policy and procedures related to the field of psychology
• Knowledge and experience with integrated with health and wellbeing models
• Evidence of success in supervising and evaluating employees, resolving conflicts, and encouraging team cooperation among diverse staff
• Background in developing and facilitating programs, outreach services, consultation, and mediation interventions
• Expertise and/or experience in crisis intervention and working with a broad range of presenting problems and constituencies
• Skill in data collection, needs assessment, and analyzing metrics to assess effectiveness and improve quality of services
• Robust and culturally responsive clinical skills that meet the needs of a multicultural, multigendered, and multi-aged clientele; ability to use these skills in a variety of situations within their leadership
• Superior oral and written communication skills; including demonstrated ability to develop effective oral presentations, facilitate an open exchange of ideas, and write clear and concise notes, documents, and reports
• Superior interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate with and respond to multiple constituencies and make meaningful connections at all levels of an organization
• Demonstrated ability make independent decisions, exercise sound judgment, and to multi-task and set priorities
• Knowledge of Electronic Medical Record Systems, such as (Point and Click)

 

Preferred Experience and Skills

• Previous experience working in a University Counseling Center and with Behavioral Intervention Teams

 

Application Process

Cal Poly Pomona has partnered with Keeling & Associates (K&A) in this search process. To be considered for this position, all candidates must submit an official application through the Cal Poly Pomona Careers site at https://apptrkr.com/6443610. Confidential inquiries and nominations should be addressed to LeAnna Rice at [email protected]. A confidential review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the appointment is made. All application materials submitted by September 8, 2025, will be given full consideration.

A complete application package will include:  

• A letter of interest addressing how the candidate’s experiences match the position requirements;  
• A current CV/resume;  

 

Salary and Total Rewards

The anticipated hiring range for this position will be $150,000-$161,708 annually, commensurate with qualifications and experience.

The CSU system offers employees a comprehensive benefits package typically worth 30-35% of your base salary. For more information on programs available, please see the https://www.calstate.edu/csu-system/careers/benefits/Documents/employee-benefits-summary.pdf.

 

Equal Employment Opportunity

Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, Cal Poly Pomona provides equal opportunity in employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities. Cal Poly Pomona complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws, and CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices.