Mustang Mental Health Response - Program Lead

Opt For Healthy Living; San Luis Obispo (CA); On-site; USD 108,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Retirement participation

Educational benefits for eligible employees

Job summary

A university health service located in California is seeking a professional to oversee the Mustang Mental Health Response program, aimed at supporting students' mental health needs. This role requires expertise in crisis intervention, program development, and effective communication. Candidates should hold a relevant master's or doctoral degree, have significant experience in the field, and must obtain licensure in California within two years. The position offers a salary range of $108,000 to $115,000 with extensive benefits.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience addressing mental health needs of college students.
• Minimum of 5 years post-licensure experience required.
• All counselors must be licensed in California within two years.

Responsibilities

• Develop and oversee the Mustang Mental Health Response program.
• Coordinate with campus and community partners.
• Establish procedures and evaluation plans for the program.

Skills

Diversity and intersectionality competence

Knowledge of FERPA, HIPAA

Crisis assessment and intervention

Management of clinical crisis situations

Program development skills

Effective communication and teamwork

Education

Master's degree in appropriate field or doctoral degree in Clinical or Counseling Psychology

Job description

Job Summary

This position reports to the Director of Counseling & Psychological Services and holds primary responsibility for development, support, and oversight of a new initiative intended to support the mission of Campus Health & Wellbeing (CH&W) and Residential Student Experience (RSE) by providing safe, supportive, and therapeutic care for Cal Poly students through the Mustang Mental Health Response (MMHR) program. This program is intended to provide students with a full range of options to help solve their crisis in the best setting possible. Specifically, this position will establish the program including coordination with campus and community partners, procedure development, and evaluation plan. Once the establishment of this program is complete, duties and responsibilities will shift to maintenance and improvement of the program over time.

Department Summary

Counseling & Psychological Services is a Campus Health & Wellbeing department in the division of Strategic Enrollment Management & Student Affairs that provides a variety of culturally responsive services to help enrolled students understand themselves, enjoy satisfying relationships, achieve academic success, and make effective life choices. CAPS promotes the development of holistic student emotional health and serves the campus through advocacy and the provision of confidential, accessible services. Additionally, CAPS provides outreach, educational services, and campus consultations.

Key Qualifications

• Demonstrated competence with diversity and intersectionality, and experience addressing the mental health needs of college students including those with historically marginalized identities.
• Demonstrated knowledge of FERPA, HIPAA, and the California Medical Information Act as it relates to the provision of psychotherapy in a university counseling center and confidentiality.
• Demonstrated experience providing crisis assessment and intervention with late adolescent and young adult populations, including safety planning, ongoing stabilization work, and risk assessment.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively manage clinical crisis situations, including hospitalizations.
• Program development and management skills, particularly related to clinical programs and/or mental health crisis response.
• Ability to initiate, establish, and foster communication and teamwork by maintaining a positive, cooperative, productive work atmosphere in and outside the University with the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships within a diverse population and with those from various cultural backgrounds.

Education and Experience

• Possession of a master's degree in appropriate field and current licensure or eligible for licensure to practice in the State of California as LPCC, LCSW or LMFT.

OR

• Possession of a doctoral degree in Clinical or Counseling Psychology and current licensure or eligible for licensure in the State of California as a psychologist.
• Minimum of 5 years of post‑licensure experience in any state or province.

(Note that hiring level will be commensurate with the qualifications and experience of the candidate.)

Licenses, Certificates, Degrees, Credentials

• All counselors must be licensed in California within two years of initial appointment.
• Preferred: Current California psychologist, LPCC, LCSW, or LMFT license that is free of active disciplinary action.

Salary and Benefits

Anticipated Hiring Range: $108,000 - $115,000. Classification Range: $93,960 - $168,228. Cal Poly offers a best‑in‑class benefits program, including health, dental and vision insurance, retirement participation in the Public Employees' Retirement System, and educational benefits for eligible employees.

Equal Opportunity and Excellence in Education and Employment

This position is open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, Cal Poly provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities. Cal Poly complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti‑discrimination laws, and CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices.

Cal Poly is a diverse community of individuals who represent many perspectives, beliefs and identities, committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and intellectually vibrant environment. We cultivate a culture of open dialogue, mutual respect, and belonging to support educational excellence and student success. Through academic programs, student organizations and activities, faculty initiatives, and community partnerships, we encourage meaningful engagement with diverse perspectives. As a higher education institution, we are dedicated to advancing knowledge and empowering individuals to reach their full potential by prioritizing inclusive curriculum development, faculty and staff training, student mentorship, and comprehensive support programs. At Cal Poly, excellence is built on merit, talent, diversity, accessibility, and equal opportunity for all.

Supplemental Information

Satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check) is required for employment. Cal Poly will make a conditional offer of employment, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. The person holding this position is considered a 'mandated reporter' under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.