Overview
CCS is part of the Division of Student Affairs and contributes to the mission to support the academic and personal success of NIU students as we promote their welfare and persistence through the college experience in preparation for their lives after graduation. Staff in the Division of Student Affairs are committed to serving students as we follow core values of student-centered service, collaborative partnerships focused on student success, inclusive communities striving for equity and social justice, professional growth and competency development, and ethical and efficient stewardship of resources.
CCS is accredited by the International Association of Counseling Services (IACS) and we offer an APA-accredited doctoral internship program with three internship positions (on accredited inactive status for the 2024-2025 Academic Year). We also offer a practicum training program for 3-5 students each year. CCS staff embrace all aspects of diversity and promote awareness, sensitivity, cultural competence, and advocacy across all services as well as in our work with campus and community partners. CCS is a collaborative and team-oriented work environment that values self-care, work/life balance, and having fun while doing this important and challenging work.
About NIU Northern Illinois University is located in DeKalb, IL, 65 miles west of Chicago and 30-40 miles from many west suburban communities. With a current enrollment of more than 15,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students, the mission of NIU is to empower students through educational excellence and experiential learning as we pursue knowledge, share our research and artistry, and engage communities for the benefit of the region, state, nation, and world. Nearly 60% of undergraduate students in fall 2023 identified as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC), and 52% identified as first-generation students. CCS clients reflect this diversity and the percentages above closely match the percentages of clients seen for mental health support. |
Position Summary
The Director of Counseling and Consultation Services and Chief Mental Health Officer is responsible for the design, implementation, strategic planning, vision, and evaluation of a comprehensive counseling and consultation program for the campus community. The Director represents the department and the mental health needs of students to the NIU community, establishes departmental goals and objectives, supervises, and evaluates departmental staff, and has fiscal responsibility for the department.
The Director must be able to exercise excellent judgment and have the ability to analyze complex scenarios when dealing with multifaceted mental health and emergency situations. Counseling and Consultation Services also hosts an APA-accredited internship program (on accredited, inactive status for the 2024-25 academic Year) and maintains full lACS accreditation. NIU is a JED Campus and recently began work to implement a strategic plan around campus-wide mental health and holistic wellness. The Director will be the primary coordinator responsible for the strategic plan, working collaboratively to achieve the objectives and goals. The Director reports to the Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs. |
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Overall leadership and responsibility for the operation of a comprehensive counseling center with services including but not limited to initial consultation appointments; individual and group therapy; crisis intervention and the mental health response to campus emergencies; consultation; training; educational programming and outreach; and research and data collection in collaboration with external institutions or entities, as well as internal systems.
- Assume leadership as the chief mental health officer for the campus community including but not limited to serving on the Student of Concern/Behavioral Intervention Team and the Student Threat Assessment Team.
- Recruitment, selection, supervision, evaluation, and professional development of all departmental staff.
- Establishment of collaborative relationships with, and provision of consultations to, university personnel, students, and pertinent others.
- Provide direct services as a licensed mental health professional as required and necessary.
- Review and implementation of appropriate departmental risk management policies and procedures.
- Program development, implementation, and assessment, in conjunction with periodic documentation of the needs of NIU students.
- Budget development and management per university guidelines and procedures.
- Participation in departmental, divisional, and university committees as assigned.
- Other duties as assigned.
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Minimum Required Qualifications (Civil Service)
N/A |
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) (Civil Service)
N/A |
Specialty Factors (Civil Service)
N/A |
Preferred Qualifications (Civil Service)
N/A |
Minimum Required Qualifications (SPS)
- Master's degree in counseling, psychology, or social work.
- Licensed or immediately eligible for licensure in IL at the highest level in the field (LCPC, LMFT, or LCSW).
- Minimum of five (5) years of clinical experience with increasing administrative and staff supervision responsibilities.
- Minimum of one (1) year (12 months) of experience with human resources, budget management, and risk management practices.
- Minimum of three (3) years of strong experience in professional consultation, crisis intervention, and development of collaborative relationships
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Additional Requirements (SPS)
- Demonstrated administrative leadership.
- Ability to work in a multicultural environment.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
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Preferred Qualifications (SPS)
- Doctoral degree in Counseling, Counselor Education and Supervision, Counseling Psychology, or Clinical Psychology (Ed.D., Ph.D., or Psy.D.) highly preferred.
- Licensed or fully eligible for licensure in IL as a Clinical Psychologist.
- Minimum of three (3) years of clinical and administrative experience in a College or University Counseling Center highly preferred.
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Physical demands/requirements
- General office requirements.
- Long periods of time seated.
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