Why Work at BYU
As the flagship higher education institution of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Brigham Young University (BYU) strives to be among the exceptional universities in the world. At BYU, we are devoted to our faith and to our students. We take an active role in the University's Mission: "To assist individuals in their quest for perfection and eternal life.”
Our unique mission, deeply rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, provides countless ways to serve and make an impact. This, along with our remarkable culture of belonging, weekly devotionals, and endless opportunities for learning and growth—all situated within a beautiful and historic campus—make it hard to imagine a more inspiring place to work.
Brigham Young University strongly prefers to hire faithful members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Director of Student Well-Being - (School of Medicine)
The Director of Student Well-being provides strategical oversight and operational leadership for the student well-being programming in the BYU School of Medicine. This role is responsible for developing, implementing, and assessing the wellness programming within the Office of Student Experience and Well-Being (OSEW) and provides confidential mental health counseling.
The position requires a collaborative leader who can integrate wellness support (mental health counseling and well-being programming) into the medical curriculum and develop evidence-based interventions for students at risk. The Director will serve as a key liaison between faculty, students, and external stakeholders, fostering an environment of excellence and innovation in medical education.
This position plays a key role in ensuring mental health counseling within the School of Medicine aligns with the school’s mission to “provide a spiritually grounded and scientifically rigorous education for physicians who will minister to God’s children throughout the world as healers, teachers, researchers, leaders, and disciples of Jesus Christ.”
What You'll Be Doing In This Position
This is a combined clinical and program leadership role. Percentages reflect approximate effort and may shift as enrollment grows, and additional support staff are added.
1. Provide Mental Health Counseling and Crisis Support - Personal Counselor
- Provide confidential individual counseling to medical students within the Director's professional licensure and scope of practice.
- Conduct proactive assessment, short-term treatment planning, crisis intervention, and risk management for common medical school concerns.
- Refer or coordinate warm handoffs to BYU Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), the BYU Student Health Center, psychiatric services, telehealth options, or community providers when needs exceed scope or capacity.
- Provide crisis assessment and consultation during business hours and coordinates with established university emergency protocols for urgent or after-hours concerns.
- Maintain confidential clinical records in a secure system separate from academic records.
Oversee and direct mental health services for the School of Medicine, including supervising personal counselors.
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2. Well-Being Program Leadership and Strategy
- Design and lead the medical student well-being program in alignment with the BYU School of Medicine mission, and medical education standards.
- Develop evidence-informed programming across key dimensions of well-being, including physical, spiritual, emotional, social, financial, and intellectual.
- Create annual programming plans aligned with the academic calendar, high-stress transitions, and clinical training demands.
- Advise OSEW and School of Medicine leaders on student well-being needs, help-seeking barriers, burnout prevention, and system-level contributors to student stress.
Maintain current well-being resources on the OSEW website and represent BYU School of Medicine in relevant well-being forums and committees.
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3. Mental Health Access and Resource Coordination
- Coordinate mental health access pathways with BYU CAPS, the BYU Student Health Center, the University Accessibility Center, Financial Aid and Scholarships, the Office of Student Progress, and community providers.
- Maintain clear student-facing guidance for routine counseling, urgent concerns, crisis response, after-hours support, and referral options.
- Consult and collaborate with faculty and staff regarding students of concern while protecting student confidentiality and role boundaries.
Review service capacity, utilization trends, student satisfaction, and crisis-response procedures with appropriate campus partners using aggregate or de-identified information whenever possible.
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4. Assessment and Continuous Quality Improvement
- Assess student well-being needs and program effectiveness through surveys, student feedback, utilization trends, and relevant national or internal data sources.
- Prepare reports and recommendations for the Associate Dean of Student Experience and Wellbeing and relevant School of Medicine committees.
- Use assessment results to improve programming, communication, resource allocation, and referral pathways.
Maintain confidentiality protocols that keep counseling and well-being information separate from academic progress data.
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5. Outreach, Community, and Team Development
- Provide orientation sessions, workshops, and outreach that reduce stigma, teach practical coping skills, and encourage early help-seeking.
- Partner with Learning Communities, student organizations, and campus well-being initiatives to promote belonging and healthy patterns of student life.
- Support OSEW participation in signature student events, including orientation, White Coat Ceremony, and Learning Community activities.
- As the program grows, assist with recruiting, onboarding, and administrative oversight of additional well-being and counseling staff in coordination with the Associate Dean of Student Experience and Well-being.
- Be an active participant on the OSEW committee.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
What Qualifies You For This Role
Education/Experience Minimum Required:
- Master's degree in clinical mental health counseling, social work, marriage and family therapy, counseling psychology, professional counseling, or a closely related clinical field.
- Current Utah independent licensure, or eligibility for Utah licensure by start date, as a mental health provider qualified for independent clinical practice (e.g., LCSW, LMFT, LCMHC, licensed psychologist).
- At least three years of post-graduate clinical experience providing mental health treatment; experience with college, graduate, professional, or health professions students preferred.
- Experience designing, implementing, assessing, or improving student well-being programs, counseling services, or learner-support initiatives.
Preferred:
- Doctorate or advanced training in a relevant clinical, counseling, psychology, social work, education, or student affairs field.
- Experience in medical education or another health professions education setting.
- Experience coordinating campus and community referral pathways, group programming, and crisis-response protocols.
- Demonstrated ability to advance the mission of BYU and the School of Medicine while serving students with professionalism, empathy, and discretion.
Skills, abilities, knowledge, licenses, certifications:
Required:
- Clinical competence in assessment, individual therapy, crisis intervention, risk management, documentation, and referral.
- Knowledge of medical student stressors, burnout, help-seeking barriers, and contemporary student well-being models.
- Sound judgment with sensitive and confidential information.
- Strong written, verbal, interpersonal, consultation, and collaboration skills.
- Understanding of applicable confidentiality, privacy, mandatory-reporting, and professional ethics requirements.
Ability to maintain clear role boundaries between counseling, student support, and academic assessment.
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Preferred:
- Group therapy, psychoeducational workshop, or skills-based group facilitation experience.
- Experience serving students from varied backgrounds and circumstances with cultural humility and respect.
- Ability to translate assessment data into practical improvements in programs, services, and communication.
What we offer in return:
This position comes with fantastic benefits , including:
- 401k. BYU automatically contributes 8% at no cost to you. Additionally, if you contribute 5%, BYU adds an additional 4% (Rehires may qualify for different retirement plans)
- Excellent work-life balance: 13 paid holidays + 22 days paid vacation + 12 sick days, accrued annually
- Employee assistance program, available to the employee and all members of their household
- Tuition benefits for employees and eligible family members
- Access to athletic facilities
- Excellent medical/dental benefits
- Short/long-term disability benefits
- Paid parental and maternity leave
- Free UTA passes for employees, spouses, and qualified dependents
- Discounts at the BYU Store and for many events at BYU
Pay Grade: 55
Typical Starting Pay: $92,000-$119,000
The actual compensation offered will take into consideration internal equity and may vary based on the candidate’s job-related experience, knowledge, skills, and other relevant factors. Candidates with very significant work-related experience may receive an offer higher than the posted typical range.
Required Documents:
All Staff positions require a resume.
Refer to the Job Posting for any additional required documents.
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints must hold and be worthy to hold a current temple recommend.
Brigham Young University is an equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veteran status.
Brigham Young University (BYU) is widely recognized not just for its world-class education, but for its deep commitment to inspired religious values. Gathered together in a Christ-centered atmosphere, BYU employees are a vital part of a community of belonging, where we value the experiences, perspectives, and talents of each individual. If you share in our devotion to faith and to excellence, we have a place for you here at BYU!
