Mustang Mental Health Response - Program Lead (SSP-AR I)

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo; San Luis Obispo (CA); On-site; USD 103,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo seeks a senior clinician to lead the Mustang Mental Health Response program, coordinating with CAPS and campus housing to ensure safe, timely crisis care for students. The role involves program establishment, crisis intervention, and integrated referrals to campus and community resources.

The position requires a master's or doctoral degree with up-to-date California licensure eligibility (LPCC/LCSW/LMFT or psychologist) and a commitment to

Qualifications

• Master's degree with CA licensure eligibility (LPCC/LCSW/LMFT) or doctoral degree in psychology with CA licensure eligibility.
• All counselors must be licensed in California within two years of initial appointment; current CA license preferred and without active disciplinary action.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development, coordination, and evaluation of the Mustang Mental Health Response (MMHR) program.
• Provide crisis intervention, safety planning, stabilization, and consultation within campus housing as needed.
• Coordinate with CAPS and external partners to ensure seamless referrals and continuity of care.
• Engage in ongoing program maintenance and improvement after establishment.

Skills

Diversity & inclusion

Crisis intervention

Communication & teamwork

Crisis risk assessment

Program development

Education

Master's degree in psychology or related field; CA licensure eligible (LPCC/LCSW/LMFT)

Doctoral degree in Clinical or Counseling Psychology; CA licensure eligible

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.

The position also offers clinical coverage for crisis intervention, safety planning, stabilization support, and consultation embedded in campus housing as needed. Follow up services may include therapy within this program, referrals to clinicians within CAPS, referrals to higher levels of care and/or community services. This position includes work with serious presenting concerns, requiring the ability to conceptualize cases and provide responsive care within sociocultural context.

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. Counseling & Psychological Services (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. For more information on other openings within the department, please see Mustang Mental Health Response Program Lead, Requisition Number 556613.

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.

(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: $103,000 - $110,000

Classification Range: $85,524-$153,252

Factors in determining the appropriate compensation for a role include experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. The Anticipated Hiring Range referenced in the job posting is the budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position. The Classification Range may be broader than what the University anticipates paying for this position, based on internal equity, budget, and collective bargaining agreements (when applicable).

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. See our benefits website for additional information.

Cal Poly

Cal Poly is a nationally-ranked public university located in San Luis Obispo, California, and known for its Learn by Doing philosophy. Each year more than 20,000 top-tier students come to San Luis Obispo to put knowledge into action, taking their learning outside the classroom as they prepare for careers in engineering, agriculture, science, business, humanities and the built environment. Cal Poly’s hands-on philosophy, small class sizes and close student-faculty mentorships result in graduates ready from day one to impact their communities, California and the world. For more information, visit calpoly.edu.

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. Current employees who are offered positions on campus will be required to undergo a background check for any position where a background check is required by law or that Cal Poly has designated as sensitive. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current CSU employee who was conditionally offered the position.

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.

Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo is not a sponsoring agency for counselor positions. Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.

For health and well‑being, Cal Poly is a smoke & tobacco‑free campus. The university is committed to promoting a healthy environment for all members of our community.

In accordance with the California State University (CSU) Out‑of‑State Employment Policy, the CSU is a state entity whose business operations reside within the State of California and prohibits hiring employees to perform CSU related work outside of California.