Director of Counseling and Wellness Services

LOCATION

This position is fully on-site and requires a regular presence in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Remote or hybrid work is not available for this position.

JOB SUMMARY

The Director of Counseling and Wellness Services provides leadership for campus-wide student mental health and wellness and services and initiatives, supporting student success through primary prevention, early intervention, and coordinated care. This role is responsible for the development, implementation, and assessment of mental health and wellness programming and interventions for Arkansas Colleges of Health Education (ACHE) students. Working collaboratively with ACHE leadership, academic departments, student organizations, campus housing, and community partners, the Director fosters a supportive and inclusive environment that promotes student mental health and well-being. The position also provides and supervises direct clinical counseling services for students and supports mental health training and consultation for campus and community members.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide oversight and supervision for on-site primary prevention counseling and distance counseling as needed for students.
• This position will also provide referrals for additional concentrated mental health services as needed.
• Provide and support direct student wellness and mental health interventions for students dealing with cognitive, social, interpersonal communication skills or emotional behaviors which interfere with their success.
• Collaborate with leadership to promote student success through development, implementation, and tracking of campus-wide student wellness programming, including wellness initiatives and activities.
• Support Success and Leadership course in conjunction with the Office of Academic Affairs.
• Lead the evaluation and continuous improvement of external student wellness partnerships by assessing effectiveness, utilization, and outcomes, while serving as the primary administrator for third-party contracts, ensuring compliance, value, and alignment with institutional goals.
• Oversee and manage student wellness communications and workflows, including monitoring and responding to the Be Well Form submissions and maintaining a dedicated student wellness email inbox to ensure timely, appropriate follow-up.
• Provide guidance and leadership for student organizations to encourage student wellness activities and monitor effectiveness.
• Provide individual and group counseling to students in the educational environment
• Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with students, faculty, staff, and other constituent groups in the support of student success.
• Effectively and regularly collaborate with Academic Affairs, Academic Support and other student-facing departments for effective and appropriate campus programming for students.
• Evening and weekend hours may be required.
• Minimal travel may be required.
• Other duties as assigned by the Executive Director of Student Support Services or their designee.

QUALIFICATIONS AND CREDENTIALS

Education and Experience

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree in counseling, psychology, or social work with special training in guidance and behavioral counseling. 
• Must have Arkansas license (LCSW, LMSW, LPC, LAC).
• Ability and credentials, appropriate to work in a clinic setting.
• Experience in education, health care, or social work.
• Outstanding interpersonal communication skills, both written and verbally.
• Ability to express empathy while maintaining professional ethical standards.
• Exceptional writing and analytical skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in Psychology or Counseling. 
• Three (3) to five (5) years of experience in higher education or student counseling environments.
• Prior work with health professions graduate students.
• Knowledge of accreditation standards relevant to health professions education.
• Demonstrated supervisory experience.
• Experience working with online, hybrid, or international student populations.

Required knowledge, skills, and abilities

• Demonstrate proficiency in computer skills, i.e. Microsoft Office.
• Display professionalism for the college in all communication and interaction.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and privacy.
• Ability to prioritize and organize numerous and varied assignments.

ABILITIES AND COMPETENCIES ESSENTIAL TO THE FUNCTION OF THE JOB

Communication and Comprehension

ACHE is in full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and does not discriminate with regard to applicants or employees with disabilities and will make reasonable accommodations when necessary. The following are essential abilities and physical requirements for all positions at the college.

• Ability to orally communicate effectively with others with strong interpersonal skills and customer service orientation.
• Ability to work cooperatively with colleagues and supervisory staff at all levels.
• Ability to understand oral and written information, using the English language, and organize thoughts and ideas into effective forms of communication.
• Ability to make decisions which range from moderate to a significant impact on the immediate work environment, as well as outside contributors.
• Possess public communication skills that allow professional representation of ACHE to a variety of business and community customers and associates.
• Strong organizational skills.

Problem Solving

• Intuitively able to reason, analyze information and events, and apply judgment in order to solve problems of both a routine and complex nature.
• Expertise in negotiation.

Physical and Sensory Abilities

• May be exposed to short, intermittent, and/or prolonged periods of sitting and/or standing in performance of job duties.
• May be required to accomplish job duties using various types of equipment/supplies to include, but not limited to pens, pencils, calculators, computer keyboards, telephone, etc.
• May be required to transport oneself to other campus offices, conference rooms, and on occasion, to off-campus sites to attend meetings, conferences, workshops, seminars, etc.
• May require significant travel or work away from campus.
• Requires attendance at events representing ACHE both within as well as outside of the college setting.
• Frequently required to work at a desk, conference table or in meetings of various configurations.
• Frequently required to see for purposes of reading matter.
• Frequently required to hear and understand speech at normal levels.
• Occasionally required to lift items in a normal office environment.
• Frequently required to operate office and presentation equipment.

If you need assistance in the application process because of a disability, or any other reason, please contact Vicki Broadaway, Vice President of Human Resources, at 479.308.2287 or [email protected].

Arkansas Colleges of Health Education is an equal opportunity employer.