Director, Counseling Center

University of Dayton; Dayton, Northern (OH, KY); On-site; USD 95,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Dayton invites applications for the position of Director, Counseling Center, a leader responsible for overseeing an IACS-accredited center inside the new Health and Wellbeing Center opening fall 2026. The Director reports to the AVP for Student Health and Wellbeing and collaborates with the Student Development Leadership Team to advance mental health and student success.

This role will shape prevention, treatment, crisis care, and outreach, aiming to reduce barriers for

Qualifications

• Master's degree in counseling, psychology, social work, or related field.
• Must obtain Ohio licensure within six months of start date and maintain license.
• Seven years of progressive clinical experience in mental health services.
• Two+ years of supervisory experience of professional staff.
• Experience with budgeting and data systems.
• Commitment to equity, inclusion, and diverse student populations.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the Counseling Center's operations and accreditation compliance.
• Lead crisis intervention, assessment, treatment planning, and documentation.
• Expand outreach and develop a strong referral network.
• Provide strategic planning, financial management, and policy development.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Crisis intervention

Budget management

Staff supervision

Policy & planning

Equity & inclusion

Communication skills

Collaboration

Education

Master's degree in counseling/psychology/social work

Ohio licensure or eligible

PhD or PsyD preferred

Tools

EMR systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job No: 503839
Work Type: Staff Full Time (1500 hours or greater)
Location: Dayton, OH
Category: University Staff
Department: Counseling Center - 700950
Pay Grade: C - Exempt
Advertised: August 31, 2026
Applications close: Open until filled

Position Summary:

The University of Dayton, a comprehensive Catholic university in the Marianist tradition, invites applications for the position of Director, Counseling Center. Reporting to the Assistant Vice President for Student Health and Wellbeing, and serving as a member of the Student Development Leadership Team and the Health and Wellbeing Team, the Director of the Counseling Center is responsible for general oversight of an IACS accredited college counseling center and training site for burgeoning practitioners. The University seeks a visionary, innovative, and collaborative leader and strong clinician to lead the Counseling Center which is located within the new Health and Wellbeing Center. To view the position profile, please visit: keelingassociates.com and select ‘Open Searches’.

The University of Dayton is seeking a visionary, innovative, and collaborative leader and strong clinician to serve as the Director, Counseling Center within the new Health and Wellbeing Center, opening in fall 2026. Reporting to the Assistant Vice President, Student Health and Wellbeing, and serving as a member of the Student Development Leadership Team and the Health and Wellbeing Team, the Director of the Counseling Center is responsible for general oversight within an IACS accredited college counseling center and training site for burgeoning practitioners. Through a hybrid care model of prevention, education, treatment, and crisis care, the Counseling Center’s mission is to provide a positive impact on the mental health, wellbeing, and academic success of all students through services that promote resiliency and capacity building and facilitate optimal student development and growth.

This position is responsible for the assessment of counseling staff clinical competencies, evaluating intake and other protocols, ensuring appropriate treatment planning and documentation, providing crisis intervention and management, expanding outreach initiatives, and developing a strong referral network. The ideal candidate will provide leadership and articulate an aspirational vision for the Center; the ideal candidate will also have experience and strong skills in financial management, policy formation, assessment, and strategic planning to enhance the delivery of comprehensive mental health initiatives, psychological services, substance misuse intervention and treatment services, and collegiate recovery initiatives. The successful candidate must be dedicated to reducing barriers to care that exist for students of color, LGBTQ students, and students from other marginalized groups.

The new Director will exemplify excellence in the delivery of mental health services and support the professional growth of personnel. The Director will cultivate a culture of innovation that incorporates new ideas, modalities, and operational models that address the growth in demand and increasing complexity of students’ mental health needs. Further, the Director will be called upon to regularly inform University leadership on mental health issues that affect University of Dayton students in an environment that embodies Catholic Marianist values, is primarily residential, and encompasses traditional age students. The Director will develop a broad institutional perspective and work collaboratively with other departments and campus partners.

Minimum Qualifications:

Candidate must meet the following minimum qualifications:

• Masters degree in counseling, psychology, social work, clinical mental health or related field;
• Must have or obtain Ohio licensure within six months of start date and maintain license throughout duration of employment;
• Seven years of relevant and progressive professional clinical experience in administering mental health services;
• Expert knowledge of the mental health needs and concerns of young adults;
• Active experience in crisis intervention and emergency management operations;
• Minimum two years of experience supervising professional staff;
• Demonstrated experience working collaboratively with various constituents;
• Articulated passion for promoting holistic wellbeing and enhancing student learning;
• Experience with a multifaceted budget, including general financial management and accountability, database systems, and spreadsheets;
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple initiatives, programs, and responsibilities while ensuring clinical excellence in the provision of direct services;
• Demonstrated integrity, dependability, sound judgment, teambuilding, and resourcefulness to establish and maintain collaborative, positive, and effective working relationships with multiple constituency groups;
• Ability to thrive in an environment that values high expectations, accountability, service in leadership, and balanced lifestyles, while possessing exceptional verbal communication skills, enthusiasm, positive attitude, and being a self-starter with the ability to instill the same in others.
• Proven success working with a range of culturally and ethnically diverse populations, and evidence of commitment to fostering equity, inclusion, and a collaborative multicultural environment;
• Excellent written, oral, and digital communication skills; and
• Ability to work on an on-call basis as a part of a 24/7 crisis response system that may require the person to respond to campus or a hospital/mental health facility after hours.

Preferred Qualifications:

While not everyone may possess all of the preferred qualifications, the ideal candidate will bring many of the following:

• PhD or PsyD in counseling, psychology or related field;
• Experience administering mental health services including crisis intervention and emergency management in a university setting;
• Four years of successful supervisory experience in a clinical setting with knowledge of best practices in staff development, group dynamics and leading organizational change;
• Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing strategic plans;
• Demonstrated analytical skills to identify problems, assess alternatives, and render consistent, logical decisions;
• Ability to write concise, logical, and persuasive reports;
• Capacity to independently manage a variety of tasks with frequent interruptions and shifting priorities; and
• Demonstrated experience with Microsoft Suite and EMR systems.

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. The University does not provide work visa sponsorship for this position.

Closing Statement:

Informed by its Catholic and Marianist mission, the University is committed to the dignity of every human being. Informed by this commitment, we seek to increase diversity in all of its forms, achieve fair outcomes, and model inclusion across our campus community. The University is committed to policies of affirmative action designed to increase the employment opportunities of individuals with disabilities and protected veterans in compliance with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1973.