POSITION DESCRIPTION

• |
• Full Time

The Counseling and Wellness Center (CWC) at the University of Florida is seeking a research-practitioner with experience in collegiate mental health who thrives in an environment that values collaboration and support among team members and will serve as CWC’s Assistant Director for Research & Assessment/Clinical Assistant/Associate Professor. The Assistant Director for Research & Assessment is responsible for the management of research, assessment, data collection, data analysis, report writing, and data dissemination/publication activities of the CWC.

In addition to these specific administrative duties, the job duties include:

·       Carrying a modest caseload including individual, couples and group counseling.

·       Crisis intervention, campus consultation, outreach programs, clinical supervision.

·       Professional training and teaching, scholarly activities (professional presentations, leadership, and publications); and

·       Performing administrative and committee responsibilities as required.        

CWC Description

At the Counseling and Wellness Center (CWC) we believe that the college years are a time for change, growth, inquiry, and development. We strive to help students learn the skills to cope with the stresses of change and growth, so they are better able to learn, thrive and contribute as they transition beyond the student years.

Our Mission

CWC faculty and staff assist UF students cultivate their mental health and well-being in support of their personal, educational, and career development. 

Our Vision

As primary providers of mental health counseling services at the University of Florida, we aspire for every UF student to have timely access to quality care, prevention, and education. 

Services and Staff

The CWC provides:

•     Individual, couples, and group counseling for students with psychological, emotional, academic and/or relationship concerns

•     Crisis intervention for students experiencing a personal crisis or emergency

•     Psychiatric evaluation and medication consultation

• ·Stress management and biofeedback services

•     Outreach, prevention, and educational programs for students, faculty, and staff

•     Consultation services for students, faculty, staff, families, and friends of students

•     Training and supervision in counseling and psychology graduate students from pre-practicum through postdoctoral residency

•     Assessment and referral services

•     Teaching, research, and scholarship

Our team is here to support our students finish their educational programs successfully and achieve their personal wellness goals along the way. Our primary commitment is to ensure that each student gets connected with the best-fitting campus or community resources to meet their existing needs.

UFCWC staff members work intentionally to offer both on-call and ongoing trauma-informed supports—through teams including CART, case management, therapy providers, and peer services--for students experiencing intense mental distress during periods of crisis as well as through ongoing responses to complex trauma and other sources of adversity encountered in the contexts of their lives. We aspire to use non-consensual interventions only after procedural due process and when other available resources have been exhausted—see CWC’s “About” webpage for additional information on the Center’s approach (e.g., Mission, Vision, Values) to supporting students.

Dedicated to Culture and Equal Opportunity for all

At the CWC, we value a variety of thought/perspectives, personalities, and preferences  and embrace the Universities commitment to non-discrimination with respect race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), parental status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), political affiliation, military service, or other non-merit-based factors. We recognize the unique challenges students may face based on these factors and the many other ways one might identify. Throughout all our services, including short-term counseling, group counseling, and workshops, we strive to create a supportive and empowering environment that is supportive of all students, providing opportunities for accountability, growth, compassion and community.

ABOUT UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

UF is a major, public, comprehensive, land-grant, research university with membership in the Association of American Universities. It is the state’s oldest university, among the nation’s most academically diverse public schools, with over 50,000 students and a 2,000-acre campus. The Counseling and Wellness Center, part of the Division of Student Life, is accredited by the International Association of Counseling Services (IACS). The campus is located in Gainesville, a community usually ranked as one of the best places to live in the United States. Gainesville has its own urban forest with canopy coverage for 60% of the city. The city of Gainesville is a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts. Nearby are many recreational lakes and rivers; the north Florida beaches of the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean are just a short drive away. UF consistently attracts world-class performing arts. Sports fans can enjoy Gator athletics, with UF ranking among the nation’s 10 best athletic programs in both men’s and women’s sports.

About the Counseling and Wellness Center

Mental health services at the University of Florida have historically held a strong importance and distinction in the campus community. The CWC is one of the oldest counseling centers in the country, established in 1931. The CWC is a vibrant, multidisciplinary and creative center, actively engaged in the furtherance and betterment of compassionate and trauma-informed psychological services, outreach, and training. The CWC is a dynamic part of the Division of Student Life and is highly utilized by students and other campus constituents seeking a variety of mental health services. 

Our clinical team consists of 47 clinicians in clinical psychology, counseling psychology, and counselor education; 10 mental health counselors serving as CART specialists and three mental health counselors serving as clinical case managers. In addition, the psychiatry staff of the Student Health Care Center shares one of our facilities. CWC is home to a large training program for graduate students in Counseling Psychology and Counselor Education and a doctoral psychology internship accredited by the American Psychological Association. Members of our staff are cohesive, collegial, engaged, and share a passion for working in collegiate mental health. The CWC is a learning organization as clinical service, training, outreach, and professional development are informed by research, local data, and benchmarking with national trends and peer institutions.  The CWC identifies closely with the vision, values, and guiding principles of the Division of Student Life.

The CWC provides:

·       Group, individual, and couples counseling for students with psychological, emotional, academic and/or relationship concerns

·       Crisis intervention for students experiencing a personal crisis or emergency

·       Stress management and biofeedback services

·       Outreach, prevention, and educational programs for students, faculty, and staff

·       Consultation services for students, faculty, staff, families, and friends of students

·       Training and supervision to counseling, psychology, and graduate students from pre-practicum through post-doctoral residency

·       Assessment and referral services

·       Teaching, research, and scholarship  

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Doctoral degree in Counselor Education, Counseling Psychology or Clinical Psychology. Two years of postdoctoral clinical/counseling experience in a college counseling center or a university – based clinic, community-based clinic, or hospital.   

To be successful in this role, you should possess:

·       Evidence of expertise in current and emerging college-age mental health issues, and experience working in a college or university mental health setting.

·       Skilled at effective interactions with college-age populations, international students, parents/families, staff, faculty, and administrators.

·       Strong background with research and ability to plan/coordinate the initiation of a research study, research study protocols, and the establishment of operating policies and procedures.

·       Skilled with planning, implementing, and maintaining data collection and analysis systems in support of research studies; including coordination of the collection and analysis of research data.

·       Ability to maintain smooth, efficient day-to-day operation of research and data collection activities with the CWC; including serving as the primary administrative point of contact for the CWC for all research, data collection, data analysis, and publication activities.

·       At least one year of clinical-administrative and leadership experience, including strategic planning and/or progressively responsible experience.

·       Ability to plan and coordinate the staffing of research studies, to include the recruitment and administration of research support staff, as appropriate to the activity.

·       Demonstrated leadership skills in guiding individuals and groups through research, assessment, and strategic planning processes.

·       Strong background with monitoring the progress of research activities, develop and maintain records of research activities, prepare periodic and ad hoc reports, as required by investigators, administrators, funding agencies, and/or regulatory bodies.

·       Demonstrated understanding of the principles of human research protection standards, including Institutional Review Board protocols and procedures

·       Ability to implement quality control processes throughout research activities.

·       Effective communication, writing, critical thinking, and organizational skills required to develop and maintain policies, procedures, and clinical delivery systems for the agency and divisional/university reports.  

·       Ability to work collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team and with external stakeholders, including University of Florida Institutional Review Board office and the Center for Collegiate Mental Health (CCMH).

·       Skilled in the use of technologies in support of data collection, analysis, and reporting; including (at minimum) Qualtrics, Excel, and SPSS, and open to learning about AI, Power BI, and other tools.  

·       Demonstrated talent for collaboration and team building and ability to build and maintain effective, trusting working relationships that reflect kindness, mutual respect, and honesty, when working with diverse perspectives among university students, staff, and internal and external partners.

·       Ability to cope with change, to shift gears comfortably, and to handle risk and uncertainty.

·       Strong program development and evaluation skills required for clinical utilization tracking, clinical services training, outcome assessment, and quality assurance and utilization review.

·       A broad, systems thinker knowledgeable about organizations and how they work, combined with tact and diplomacy to navigate complex environments effectively.

·       Strong listening skills, with the patience to hear people out.

·       Demonstrated commitment to the highest ethical standards of professional practice, as well as an understanding of and commitment to viewpoint diversity, in the delivery and management of clinical services.

·       Proven ability to successfully interact with diverse perspectives among individuals and groups.

·       Knowledge of applicable laws, ethics, and professional standards pertaining to all mental health fields in Florida.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Preferred qualities of the candidate include:  

·       Experience working in settings with more chronic/complex presenting concerns

·       Demonstrated skill in working well under pressure to prioritize and manage multiple clinical/crisis situations and to coordinate these efforts as a part of a multidisciplinary team

·       Energy to flexibly manage the professional demands of a challenging workload while maintaining positive and healthy perspectives and relationships

·       Collaborative spirit of warmth, acceptance, respect, and trust towards colleagues

·       Experience in college mental health, including crisis assessment/management/intervention, short-term treatment, confidentiality requirements, outreach, and referral

·       Strong interest and experience with training and supervising students from various disciplines at the master’s, doctoral, and postdoctoral level

·       Comprehensive knowledge of regulatory information regarding the use of human participation in research and teaching

·       Institutional Review Board professional certification desirable

COMPENSATION

Salary negotiable based on qualifications and experience.  

APPLICATION MATERIALS

Persons interested in this position should submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, and three letters of reference directly to jobs.ufl.edu.  Electronic applications are required.  Anyone requiring special accommodations to complete an application should contact the Interim Director and Search Committee Chair, Rosa West, PhD (dansar@ufl.edu).