POSITION DESCRIPTION

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• Full Time

Duke University:

Duke University was created in 1924 through an indenture of trust by James Buchanan Duke. Today, Duke is regarded as one of America’s leading research universities. Located in Durham, North Carolina, Duke is positioned in the heart of the Research Triangle, which is ranked annually as one of the best places in the country to work and live. Duke has more than 15,000 students who study and conduct research in its 10 undergraduate, graduate and professional schools. With about 40,000 employees, Duke is the third largest private employer in North Carolina, and it now has international programs in more than 150 countries.

Be You.

At Duke University, we believe well-being is foundational to student success—and that the people who support students thrive best when they are empowered to bring their full selves to their work. As the Associate Director for Clinical Services, Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS), you will serve as a key leader within the Division of Student Affairs and an essential member of the CAPS Leadership Team. In this role, you will guide a multidisciplinary team of clinicians, advance inclusive and equity-centered clinical practices, and help shape a high-performing counseling center that supports students from diverse backgrounds during some of their most critical moments. You will bring your clinical expertise, leadership experience, and commitment to student mental health into a collaborative environment where your voice, perspective, and professional judgment truly matter.

Be Bold.

This is a senior clinical leadership role with both strategic and hands-on impact. Reporting to the Director of CAPS, you will serve as the primary lead for clinical services, ensuring excellence in care delivery, crisis response, and systems of support across the counseling center.

Position Summary

The Associate Director for Clinical Services is an essential member of the Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) Leadership Team. Reporting to the Director of CAPS, they are primary lead for clinical services within CAPS. This position is administratively responsible for overseeing the clinical operations, quality of care, and service delivery at a high-performing, multidisciplinary center. The Associate Director is also responsible for providing direct clinical services, supervises professional staff, advances strategic initiatives, and strengthens systems of care, crisis response, and mental-health-related programming. Actively participates in the provision, coordination, and oversight of crisis intervention services. Engages in the hospitalization process for students requiring a higher level of care, including pre-hospitalization assessment, coordination with emergency and campus partners, and post-hospitalization follow-up, reintegration planning, and safety assessments. The Associate Director will also manage the department in the absence of the Director.

Key Position Duties

Leadership & Clinical Operations: 45%

• Provide day-to-day leadership and administrative oversight of clinical services, including, individual therapy, group therapy, triage, urgent care, crisis intervention, care coordination, and consultation.
• Design, implement, and evaluate clinical workflows, protocols, and service-delivery models to ensure timely access, cultural responsiveness, effectiveness, and alignment with industry best practices.
• Lead and facilitate clinical meetings, multidisciplinary case consultations, and data-informed quality-improvement initiatives.
• Offer high-level consultation on complex clinical cases and high-risk student concerns to licensed staff, trainees, and multi-disciplinary teams, as well as with campus partners.
• Supervise licensed clinicians, provide performance evaluations, ongoing feedback, and professional development.
• Oversee staffing structure and productivity expectations, support recruitment, onboarding, mentoring, and retention efforts for all clinical staff.
• In collaboration with the Director, develop and maintain CAPS-wide policies and procedures, ensuring legal, ethical, and accreditation compliance.
• Maintain oversight of clinical documentation standards, chart reviews, and quality-assurance processes.
• Support the Training Director to facilitate effective incorporation of trainees into clinical services and to ensure clinical workflows complement established training and accreditation requirements
• Support the Assistant Director of Outreach in connecting preventative, campus-facing programming with clinical pathways.
• Provide guidance and operational support to coordinators as they fulfill their liaison roles with internal and external stakeholders
• Participate actively in strategic planning, long-range clinical program design, and organizational development.
• Represent CAPS in division- and university-wide committees related to mental health, student well-being, behavioral intervention, crisis management, and public health.
• Provide leadership on equity-centered practice, striving to build an inclusive, culturally informed clinical environment and service model.
• Manage the counseling center in the absence of the Director.

Client/Patient Direct and Support Services: 35%

• Provide direct clinical services, including routine, urgent, and crisis assessments; brief therapy; group therapy; and referrals within scope of service.
• Conduct initial consultations to determine diagnostic impressions, risk assessments, treatment planning, and appropriate referrals.
• Engage in crisis intervention, including same-day evaluations, safety planning, and coordination with campus, medical, and community partners.
• Participate in hospitalization processes including pre-hospitalization assessment, collaboration with emergency services, communication with campus partners, and post-hospitalization reintegration planning.
• Maintain timely, accurate, and thorough documentation consistent with CAPS policy, HIPAA/FERPA requirements, and legal and ethical standards.
• Develop personalized treatment plan based on empirically supported treatment options, make appropriate referrals, and accurately document treatment provided.

Administrative Tasks and Meetings: 15%

• Attend staff meetings, clinical team meetings, and any other CAPS related activity, serving as an attentive and engaged member of the CAPS leadership team. 
• Contribute to ongoing evaluation of CAPS services, workflows, and clinical outcomes, including participation in any accreditation activities.
• Support operational planning, including staffing models, resource distribution, and service delivery enhancements.
• Contribute to research, assessment projects, and data reporting to inform service improvements and institutional decision-making.
• Maintain professional development and associated licensure requirements.
• Assist in the professional growth and skill development of CAPS staff through internal training, mentoring, and consultation.

Other: 5%

• Perform related duties as assigned or required to meet departmental, Division and University goals and objectives, as assigned by the Director of CAPS.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative outline of the type of responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title and shall not be construed as all-encompassing or as a declaration of all specific duties and responsibilities of this position. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.