Director - Counseling Services

Peru State College; Wayne (NE); On-site; USD 58,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

Wayne State College invites applications for a Director - Counseling Services to provide administrative, operational, and clinical coordination for the graduate counseling program and to serve as BHECN Northeast Co-Director. The role includes leading regional workforce development and maintaining accreditation standards to ensure a high-quality student experience.

The position emphasizes collaboration with faculty, students, and partners to strengthen program operations from recruitment through

Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in Counseling or related field and eligible for state licensure.
• Possess mental health licensure and be in good standing with state/national certification boards; Nebraska license within 2 years of employment.

Responsibilities

• Provides administrative, operational, and clinical coordination for the graduate counseling program, supporting students from recruitment through graduation.
• Serves as BHECN Northeast Co-Director and leads regional initiatives to recruit, train, and retain the behavioral health workforce.
• Oversees CACREP accreditation liaison activities, program evaluation, and continuous program improvement.
• Leads student recruitment, orientation, and retention efforts; coordinates field experiences, clinics, and supervision.
• Collaborates with admissions, marketing, and program faculty to support recruitment and inform program planning.

Education

Master’s Degree in Counseling or related field

Nebraska licensure within 2 years of employment

Job description

All applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.

Applications received after interviews are scheduled may not be fully considered for this position.

We do not accept references or other application materials from outside credential management organizations. Application materials and references must be submitted through our applicant tracking system.

Please see Special Instructions for more details.

Wayne State College is seeking a Director - Counseling Services. Seeking a collaborative, mission-driven professional to provide administrative, operational, and clinical coordination for our graduate counseling program while serving as BHECN Northeast Co-Director. This position plays a key role in supporting graduate students from recruitment through graduation, strengthening program operations, maintaining accreditation and compliance standards, and creating a high-quality student experience.

As BHECN Northeast Co-Director, this position also provides regional leadership in behavioral health workforce development, building strategic partnerships and leading initiatives designed to recruit, train, and retain a strong behavioral health workforce across Northeast Nebraska.

Position Information

Job Title

Job Title Director - Counseling Services

Nature of Work

Provides administrative, operational, and clinical coordination for the graduate counseling program, supporting students from recruitment through graduation while ensuring effective program operations, accreditation compliance, and a high-quality student experience. Serves as BHECN Northeast Co-Director, leading regional initiatives to recruit, train, and retain the behavioral health workforce through strategic partnerships and workforce development efforts.

Examples of Work Performed

1. Program Administration and Data Management

a. Maintains clear communication with stakeholders via updated handbooks and guides, announcements, resource availability, and direct contact.

b. Manages program progress portfolio and assessment systems and provides technical guidance to students, faculty, and guest users.

c. Participates in Counseling Department meetings and collaborates with faculty to support student needs and develop ongoing program improvements.

d. Stewards residency events, including logistics, preparatory communications, evaluation processes, and on-site support as necessary.

e. Collects and analyzes data related to student outcomes, field experiences, and program evaluation to support CACREP Liaison with accreditation reporting and continuous program improvement.

2. Student Progress Tracking

a. Collaborates with the Program Facilitator to implement and evaluate admissions processes, including responding to inquiries, tracking applicants, and maintaining admissions data.

b. Oversees student orientation processes, including teaching the CSL 602 course, tracking entry requirements, and coordinating background checks.

c. Administers testing processes, including coordinating registration, tracking scores, communicating results, and assisting students with testing procedures and preparation.

d. Oversees student completion processes, including teaching the CSL 692 course, tracking graduation requirements, and coordinating verification of program completion and related licensure steps.

3. Field Experience Coordination

a. Maintains relationships with clinical and school training sites and supervisors, assists in developing new placement opportunities, and facilitates affiliation agreements.

b. Coordinates practicum and internship placement processes, including supporting site selection, reviewing student applications and verifying qualifications for approval.

c. Updates and shares resources communicating all field experience requirements and procedures.

d. Manages placement creation, documentation, evaluation, and tracking and provides guidance on navigating technology systems to students and supervisors.

e. Collaborates with faculty supervisors to monitor student progress and verify completion of all field experience requirements.

4. Help Clinic Operations and Supervision

a. Maintains operational oversight of the on-site training clinic, including handling documentation systems and technology, ensuring compliance with ethical and legal standards, and coordinating referrals.

b. Provides clinical supervision to counselors-in-training when delivering services in the clinic, including overseeing diagnosis and treatment, reviewing documentation, evaluating counseling skills, and being available on-call for sessions.

c. Supports graduate assistant staff by coordinating hiring, orientation, schedules, task assignments, professional development, and performance evaluations.

5. Student Recruitment and Retention

a. Collaborates with admissions, marketing, and program faculty to support recruitment initiatives, respond to prospective student inquiries, and participate in outreach and information sessions.

b. Maintains recruitment and enrollment data to monitor applicant trends, support decision-making, and inform program planning.

c. Works with faculty and the program faculty and the CARE Team to identify students at risk for attrition and coordinate timely support, referrals, and retention strategies.

d. Supports ongoing retention efforts by monitoring student progress, facilitating communication across stakeholders, and contributing to continuous improvement of the student experience.

6. Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska ( BHECN ) Northeast Co-Director

* A minimum of 15 hours per week is dedicated to the following components of this part of the position.

• Lead and manage BHECN initiatives in the northeast region of Nebraska.
• Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with educational institutions, BH training programs, providers, and community partners.
• Strategically gather feedback from local stakeholders to identify regional needs and efforts to support the behavioral health workforce.
• Represent and promote BHECN at relevant regional events, conferences, and educational programs as needed.

b. Communication and Participation:

• Actively engage in consistent communication with the BHECN Workforce Expansion Manager and fellow BHECN Site Directors.
• Attend virtual monthly site director meetings, BHECN programming meetings, and one‑on‑one meetings with the BHECN Workforce Expansion Manager.
• Participate in the Annual Site Retreat and other applicable events hosted by BHECN .
• Support BHECN programming through information sharing of regional feedback and other opportunities, such as serving on application review committees.
• Plan and execute regional outreach, education, and workforce development activities for students and providers in alignment with BHECN’s strategic goals and site deliverables.
• Collaborate with the BHECN Site Directors to identify and develop cross-regional events and initiatives.
• Facilitate quarterly meetings with a regional Advisory Board.
• Manage a budget to ensure alignment with organizational goals, including tracking expenses, processing payments associated with the site location and events, and submitting quarterly financial statements demonstrating informed decision‑making.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in Counseling or related field as licensed Clinical/Counselor or Psychologist, Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner, or Licensed Mental Health Practitioner.
• Possess mental health licensure and is in good standing with all state/national certification boards, with the ability to attain their Nebraska license within 2 years of employment.

Preferred Qualifications

• One or more years of experience teaching at the college level
• Doctorate or terminal degree appropriate to mental and behavioral health
• One or more years of clinical and supervision experience in mental and behavioral health

Physical Demands

License and Certification Requirements

See “required qualifications”.

Other Requirements

Salary Information

Salary Information Competitive, commensurate with qualifications and experience. Attractive and comprehensive benefit package. Annual salary range is $57,789- $72,236.

FTE

1.000

FLSA

FLSA Exempt

Union Status

Union Status NSCPA

Number of Vacancies

Number of Vacancies 1

General Information

Wayne State College serves as a model of success for regional public higher education. Investments in infrastructure and facilities, expanded academic programs and partnerships, a whole-campus approach to recruitment and retention, and a commitment to strategic planning position the College as a strong member of the Nebraska State College System. More than 4,500 students rely on Wayne State for access to graduate and undergraduate degree programs in more than 130 programs of study each year, a role the College has proudly filled since its founding in 1891. Our goals are clear: continually improve retention and graduation rates, provide high-quality academic programs and campus facilities, support workforce and economic development in the region, maintain affordability and access, and manage resources for sustainability. We invite qualified applicants to join us in our important work.

EEO Statement

The Nebraska State Colleges are equal opportunity institutions and prohibit unlawful discrimination and harassment. Each College has designated an individual to coordinate the Colleges’ non-discrimination efforts to comply with regulations implementing Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies and practices may be directed to the Compliance Coordinators assigned at each College and identified on each College website.

Veteran Statement This position is subject to Veterans Preference.