Position Title
Director of the Counseling Center
Work Location
Springfield Campus
Out-of-State Employment
Out-of-state employment is limited to Arkansas, Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C., and subject to supervisor approval.
Department
Counseling Center
HR Home Department
080115 COUNSELING CENTER
Proposed Salary
$75,953 - $92,270/annual
Sponsorship Information
Applicants must be currently authorized to work for ANY employer in the United States on a full-time basis. This position is not eligible for work visa sponsorship.
Position only available to current, regular, full-time Missouri State University employees?
No, Position is available to all applicants.
Appointment Type
Full Time Regular
General Function
The Director of the Counseling Center is responsible for leadership in the administration, planning, implementation, and evaluation of counseling services. These services are provided to promote students’ personal development and psychological well-being and include individual and group counseling, outreach programming, training, consultation, crisis intervention, and assessment. This position involves supervision of professional and support staff, budget administration, and formulation of unit policies and procedures.
Description of Primary Duties
1. Provides interaction and communication with other departments of the University by coordinating the services of the Counseling Center.
2. Ensures financial responsibility of the unit by preparing the budget and supervising all expenditures.
3. Promotes the personal development and psychological well-being of students by providing counseling on an individual, couple, or group basis.
4. Provides effective and appropriate services by planning, organizing, and implementing new counseling, training, and educational outreach programs.
5. Ensures that the needs of students are addressed in emergency situations by coordinating and/or providing crisis intervention services during office hours and after hours as needed.
6. Provides input to other units of the University by serving on University committees; including but not limited to the Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT).
7. Provides supervision and support to the Assistant Director in the coordination of training experiences for Counseling Center staff.
8. Promotes communication within the unit by conducting regular staff meetings.
9. Provides monitoring of clinical records to ensure compliance with state and federal requirements for clinical records.
10. Ensures office effectiveness by handling office correspondence.
11. Communicates the function and mission of the Counseling Center by meeting with students, faculty and administrative groups of the University and the greater community.
12. Provides for continuity of care by recruiting, selecting, training, and supervising Counseling Center personnel.
13. Provides clinical supervision for non-credentialed staff operating under the supervisor’s license. Oversees Counseling Center staff who provide supervision to non-credentialed staff.
14. Actively participates in and contributes to staff planning, and evaluation of services and staff performance.
15. Compiles statistics for annual reports and other reporting requirements.
16. Oversees management and negotiation of contracts with external entities and programs, including but not limited to online mental health platforms, after-hours crisis support service, etc.
17. Remains competent and current through self-directed professional reading, developing professional contacts with colleagues, attending professional development seminars, and attending training and/or courses as required by the Assistant Dean of Students and obtaining Continuing Education Units (CEUs) as required by state licensing and regulatory boards.
18. Contributes to the overall success of the Counseling Center by performing all other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Assistant Dean of Students.
Minimum Acceptable Qualifications
Education: A Master’s degree in psychology, counseling, or a mental health discipline is required; a Doctorate in psychology, counseling, or a mental health discipline is preferred.
Experience: At least five years clinical experience in a university/college counseling center or related mental health agency is required. Experience in administrative work required, preference within a university counseling center.
Licensure: Must be professionally licensed in the mental health field in Missouri and eligible to supervise staff seeking licensure.
Skills: Experience with tele-mental health is preferred. Excellent organizational, management, budgetary, and leadership skills are required. Excellent verbal and written communication skills are required. Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively with others are required. Computer literacy and electronic records software experience are required. The ability to manage and complete tasks in a timely manner is required. Dedication to growing in cultural competency and consciousness in working with and providing mental health services to communities of underrepresented populations is required.
Additional Qualifications
Link to Job Description
https://www.missouristate.edu/Human/JobDescriptions/1030.htm
Close Date (If Close Date is blank then the posting is considered open until filled)
Special Instructions to Applicants
The first date of consideration is September 18, 2026, and review of applications will continue until the position is filled. Please attach unofficial transcripts to your application. Official transcripts required at time of hire. Please provide a copy of current license from the state where you are practicing.
Equal Opportunity Statement
Non-Discrimination Statement
Missouri State University is a community of people with respect for diversity. The University emphasizes the dignity and equality common to all persons and adheres to a strict non-discrimination policy regarding the treatment of individual faculty, staff, and students. In accord with federal law and applicable Missouri statutes, the University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin (including ancestry, or any other subcategory of national origin recognized by applicable law), religion, sex (including marital status, family status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other subcategory of sex recognized by applicable law), age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law in employment or in any program or activity offered or sponsored by the University. Sex discrimination encompasses sexual harassment, which includes sexual violence, and is strictly prohibited by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.
This policy shall not be interpreted in a manner as to violate the legal rights of religious organizations or of military organizations associated with the Armed Forces of the United States of America.
The University maintains a grievance procedure incorporating due process available to any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against. Missouri State University is an Equal Opportunity employer. Inquiries concerning the complaint/grievance procedure related to discrimination on the basis of a protected class, including sexual harassment and sexual assault, or compliance with federal and state laws and guidelines, should be addressed to the Director, Office for Institutional Compliance, Carrington Hall 205, 901 S. National Ave., Springfield, Missouri 65897,
[email protected], 417-836-4252.
Background Check Statement
Employment will require a criminal background check at University expense.
