Director, Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program

Wilkes University; United States; On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Wilkes University invites applications for a Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program Director. The role provides academic and administrative leadership, supports CACREP accreditation, and guides program growth in alignment with university goals.

The successful candidate will oversee curriculum development, student engagement, and assessment; teach hybrid and online graduate courses; advise students; participate in admissions and policy review; and collaborate across campus to promote

Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in Counselor Education and Supervision, preferably CACREP-accredited.
• NCC certification and eligibility for PA professional counselor licensure.
• Experience teaching graduate-level courses, online/hybrid preferred.
• Demonstrated commitment to CACREP accreditation processes, scholarship, and service.

Responsibilities

• Provide academic and administrative leadership for the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program and oversee CACREP accreditation work.
• Teach hybrid and online graduate courses; advise graduate counseling students; engage in admissions and policy development.
• Collaborate with university partners, participate in committees, and support program development and enrollment.

Skills

Graduate teaching

CACREP accreditation

Leadership

Communication

Collaboration

Education

Doctoral degree in Counselor Education and Supervision

Job description

Wilkes University invites applications for a Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program Director. Reporting to the Dean of the College of Health and Education, the Program Director provides academic and administrative leadership for the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program and supports its continued growth, quality, and accreditation compliance.

The Program Director oversees program planning, curriculum development and implementation, program policies, student engagement, and academic assessment. The successful candidate will teach hybrid and online graduate courses; advise graduate counseling students; collaborate with University partners to develop and review student-facing policies and services; and participate in admissions, marketing, and other efforts that support program development and enrollment.

A central responsibility of this role is guiding the program's ongoing CACREP accreditation work and ensuring compliance with applicable accreditation standards. The Program Director will also maintain an active record of scholarship, participate in University, College, and program committees, contribute to the counseling profession and community, and provide leadership through effective communication and collaboration. Campus presence and University-funded travel may be required for program needs, including residencies and school retreats.

Candidates must hold a doctoral degree in Counselor Education and Supervision, preferably from a CACREP-accredited program. Candidates who are completing their dissertation and have an established timeline to graduate by Fall 2027 will be considered. Applicants must hold active National Certified Counselor (NCC) certification and be eligible for professional counselor licensure in Pennsylvania.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate experience teaching at the graduate level, preferably in online or hybrid formats; a comprehensive counseling background and strong professional counselor identity; commitment to CACREP accreditation processes; evidence of scholarship; and service to the University, program, profession, and community. Strong interpersonal, organizational, communication, and leadership skills are essential.

Wilkes University is an independent, comprehensive university dedicated to academic excellence in the liberal arts, sciences, and selected professional programs. The University has approximately 2,000 students at the undergraduate level and over 1,500 full time equivalent students at the graduate and first professional levels.

Its institutional focus is on developing strong mentoring relationships with each of its students and contributing vitally to economic development of Northeastern Pennsylvania. The University is located in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, a revitalized city that is located on the lovely Susquehanna River and is within two and one-half hours driving distance of New York City and Philadelphia.

Wilkes University is constantly seeking to become a more diverse community and to enhance its capacity to value and capitalize on the cultural richness that diversity brings. The University strongly encourages applications from persons with diverse backgrounds. Wilkes University does not discriminate in its employment practices or in its educational programs or activities on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, disability, pregnancy, sex/gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, marital or family status, military or veteran status, or genetic information.

Employment at Wilkes is contingent upon the results of a thorough background screening. PA Act 153 requires that persons working in positions with regular and unsupervised contact with minors complete additional clearances, including FBI fingerprinting and PA criminal and child abuse clearances.