Partner of Mental Health - Educational Services Center

University of Denver; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Denver is seeking a leadership-driven School Mental Health professional to guide districtwide mental health services for both general and special populations. The role emphasizes staff development, crisis response, and collaboration with district partners to promote student well‑being and effective service delivery.

Responsibilities include supervising teams, coordinating field placements, and advancing SEL initiatives with a trauma‑informed, equity‑centered approach across feeder

Qualifications

• Criminal background check and fingerprinting required.
• Master's degree required.
• Five years of professional work experience in mental health.
• Experience with school-based mental health services.
• Colorado Department of Education (CDE) Special Services Provider (SSP), School Psychologist or Social Worker license.
• Colorado driver’s license.
• Racially conscious and culturally competent with commitment to equity and inclusion.
• Ability to collaborate with teachers, admin and other mental health personnel.

Responsibilities

• Lead districtwide mental health initiatives, coordinating graduate‑level field placements, referrals, and partnerships.
• Provide technical support and training to school mental health teams to ensure legally‑defensible service delivery.
• Promote a positive and healthy working environment and supervise staff in feeder area and districtwide.
• Onboard early career professionals and coach in school-based mental health services.
• Serve as secondary evaluator for first and second‑year personnel, provide feedback and training.
• Analyze district social‑emotional learning data and support trauma‑informed, equity‑focused interventions.
• Assist buildings in locating community resources and maintaining continuity of care.
• Collaborate on monthly department-wide trainings for 200+ professionals.
• Coordinate with BCBA/RBT teams on behavior plans driven by needs.
• Participate in staffing and hiring processes for mental health providers.
• Respond to crises with DHS/TAIPs/SRR coordination.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Education

Master's degree

Five (5) years of professional work experience

Colorado Department of Education (CDE) SSP, School Psychologist or Social Worker license

Colorado driver’s license

Job description

JOB SUMMARY: Provide first-line support, training, and coaching to building-based mental health providers. Collaborate on hiring processes, crisis responses, and professional development initiatives across the department. Ensure equitable, trauma‑informed practices that foster a positive and supportive environment for staff and students. Lead districtwide efforts in social‑emotional learning and mental health services for general education and special populations. Strengthen systems and partnerships that promote student well‑being and effective service delivery.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The subsequent duties outline the fundamental operations of the position and exemplify the nature of the tasks carried out. They do not encompass a comprehensive inventory of the obligations and responsibilities fulfilled in this role. The approximation of frequencies and time allocation percentages are flexible and subject to the requirements of the organization. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Job Task Descriptions Frequency Percentage of Time

1. Lead and manage districtwide special projects, depending on individual assignment, that enhance mental health service quality, operational efficiency, and community partnerships by coordinating graduate‑level field placements, overseeing community provider vetting and referral systems, and supporting curriculum development and professional learning for mental health staff. Develop and distribute district communications, contribute to website management, and maintain assessment inventory systems through purchasing, vendor coordination, and streamlined processes. Manage grant‑related partnerships by collaborating with community organizations, monitoring data, ensuring compliance, and overseeing budgets. Hire, train, supervise, and support SEL Specialists and Technicians while consulting with specialized programs, charter schools, and wellness partners to address student and employee mental health needs. Maintain licensure and compliance systems by facilitating required coursework, managing mentor documentation, and ensuring adherence to Medicaid, Special Education, and district procedures. Daily 35%

2. Provide technical support and training to school mental health teams to ensure legally‑defensible service delivery and psychoeducational evaluations. Daily 10%

3. Promote a positive and healthy working environment for mental health professionals in assigned feeder area and districtwide. Consult, support, train, and oversee mental health services in assigned feeder area and districtwide through regular formal and informal contact with assigned building‑based mental health staff. Daily 10%

4. Onboard early career professionals and coach in all aspects of school‑based mental health services, including planning/teaching ongoing professional developments. Support the progress of early career mental health professionals, or as assigned by Director. Daily 5%

5. Serve as the secondary evaluator for first and second‑year mental health personnel in assigned feeder area. Support mental health professionals with professional growth needs by providing feedback, additional training, and assistance with goal setting. Daily 5%

6. Support school buildings in feeder area with universal, targeted, and intensive social‑emotional learning supports that are embedded with cultural humility, focus on equity, and are trauma informed. Analyze district social emotional learning screener data (i.e., Panorama) on the micro- and macro-levels. Daily 5%

7. Assist building mental health providers in locating community mental health resources and supports. Work with school‑based mental health teams to ensure continuity of care between school and or other higher levels of care. Daily 5%

8. Collaborate with the mental health leadership team to plan and execute monthly department‑wide trainings for over 200 mental health professionals. Daily 5%

9. Collaborate with special education liaisons & leaders, Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs), and Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) to assist school teams in conducting legally‑defensible and evidence‑based behavior plans driven by functional psychological and behavioral needs. Daily 5%

10. Participate in the staffing and hiring process of mental health providers, including recruiting events, co‑facilitating interviews, coordinating new hires entering the district, assigning mentors, and addressing licensure status and needs. Daily 5%

11. Respond to crises in feeder area situations. Collaborate with fellow mental health partners and area security coordinators to address crisis situations and safety concerns. Monitor Safe2Tell reports in feeder area. Partner around Department Human Services (DHS), Threat Assessment & Intervention Plans (TAIPs), and Suicide Risk Reviews (SRRs). Daily 5%

12. Perform other duties as assigned or requested. Daily 5%

TOTAL 100%

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS: This job has supervisor responsibilities including, but not limited to, interviewing, hiring, directing work, assigning work, supervising work, training, evaluating, disciplining, and terminating. Direct reports:

• Mental Health Itinerants
• Psychologist Intern
• School Psychologist
• School Psychology Practicum
• School Social Worker
• Social Worker Intern
• Social-Emotional Learning Specialist
• Social-Emotional Learning Technician

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: The minimum prerequisites of formal education, professional work experience, certifications, licenses, endorsements, designations, trainings, and other criteria that a candidate must fulfill to be considered for a position. It is essential that certifications, licenses, endorsements, designations, and trainings are fulfilled, valid, and not expired.

• Criminal background check and fingerprinting required
• Master's degree
• Five (5) years of professional work experience
• Experience with school-based mental health services
• Colorado Department of Education (CDE) Special Services Provider (SSP), School Psychologist or Social Worker license
• Colorado driver’s license
• Racially conscious and culturally competent with the skill, will, capacity, and knowledge to commit to a culture of continuous improvement
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, and culturally responsive practice
• Advanced knowledge of typical office equipment such as telephones, copiers, computer, computer programs (spreadsheets, PowerPoint, google drive, email), etc.
• Ability to work cooperatively with, and engage in, active participation with teachers, teaching assistants, admin, and other mental health and special education personnel to provide intervention and consultation regarding the needs of students
• Ability to adhere to the professional ethical standards and guidelines developed by the National Association of School Psychology and the American Psychological Association
• Ability to promote and follow the Board of Education policies, district policies, and building and department procedures, protocols, and guidelines

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING CONDITIONS: The physical demands, mental functions, cognitive capacities, and work environment factors required to perform a position’s essential functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Work location is subject to change to meet the requirements of the organization
• Light work strength level (lifting or carrying up to 25 pounds)
• Primarily works indoors
• Typically a moderate noise level
• May travel to various district sites
• May involve crisis situations

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS: Formal education, professional work experience, certifications, licenses, endorsements, designations, trainings, and other qualifications relevant to the position that are strongly preferred but not mandatory for a candidate to be considered.

• Experience working in the public sector, specifically public education
• Experience working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds
• Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (CDORA) Psychologist (PSY), Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Doctor of Psychology (PsyD), or Doctor of Social Work (DSW)