Director, Counseling and Psychological Services

Why choose the College of Lake County for your next opportunity?

The College of Lake County (CLC) offers a competitive salary, excellent benefits that includes Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois health, Delta Dental and Superior Vision insurance plans, tuition support for employees and qualified family members, three retirement plans, disability, group and supplemental life insurance, health and dependent care flexible spending account plans, a compressed work week in the summer (Closed Fridays!), generous vacation, sick and personal time off and 14 paid holidays each year. Some benefits will not be available for part-time employees (ex: health insurance).

CLC is a comprehensive community college located in northeastern Illinois committed to being an innovative educational institution providing life-changing paths for our students by offering exceptional learning experiences. CLC achieved a milestone in 2025 with its designation as a Leader College of Distinction. CLC is part of the Achieving the Dream (ATD) Network, made up of 300 colleges committed to supporting student success at their institutions and promoting economic vitality throughout their communities. CLC has been a member of the ATD Network since 2019 and has held Leader College status since 2023.

CLC aspires to be a place where every student succeeds, every employee thrives, so that every business achieves and every community grows. Our mission is to be innovative and value-driven in supporting student success through developing and encouraging employees of all backgrounds on their journey toward achieving personal and professional growth.

Position Title:

Director, Counseling and Psychological Services

Department:

Student Affairs Division

Position Type:

Staff

Job Family:

Administrator

Job Summary:

The Director will lead department operations, manage clinical and support staff, provide clinical services to students, develop annual goals, design clinical procedures, and oversee the daily operations of the Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) department at the College of Lake County. The Director reports to the Dean of Student Affairs and is responsible for providing data concerning CAPS caseload, designing, and implementing psycho-educational programs, and outreach activities for students, faculty, staff, campus organizations, related academic departments, and the college community. The Director will oversee the referral process and procedure, maintain clinical records, and manage the department’s budget.
Clinical Duties

The Director of CAPS will provide initial clinical consultation and assessment, crisis intervention, and psychotherapy, both individual and group, to a diverse college student population. The candidate will have training and experience administering, writing, and interpreting psychological inventories and tests, referring students to community resources for ongoing treatment, and collaborating with community treatment providers for continuity of care. The Director will also be responsible for providing crisis intervention, facilitating hospitalization, and creating a reentry plan for students returning to campus after a mental health crisis.

Posting Date:

03/24/2025

Expected Start Date:

04/28/2025

Compensation Grade:

D61

Full-Time/Part-Time:

Full time

Location:

Grayslake Campus

Total Hours Per Week:

40

Job Description:

• Provide short-term counseling and psychotherapy for CLC students and make appropriate referrals for students in need of more intensive mental health services.

• Develop a system of mental health support for students in need of assistance where diagnostic assessment and testing can be offered with a commitment to evidence-based practices with the ability to communicate assessment results in written and verbal form clearly and accurately.

• Design, record and implement clinical procedures in collaboration with staff clinicians.

• Interact effectively with persons of diverse socio-economic, racial, ethnic, international, sexual, and gender identities; commit to multiculturalism and serve underrepresented college populations.

• Provide case management that includes appointments with students, assessing students for mental health support needs, developing a structured and formal referral process for long-term treatment, and/or collaborating with ongoing treatment providers.

• Oversee the student referral process.

• Oversee outreach and programming initiatives to ensure alignment with the college mission and strategic goals.

• Manage, coach, mentor, recognize and evaluate a staff of 6 clinical staff and 2 support staff.

• Manage contractual services account(s), supervise contract staff, and maintain regular communication with contract partners.

• Lead and implement annual department and individual goal setting, implementation, and assessment.

• Provide regular performance feedback and conduct formal evaluations as required by the College

• Facilitate regular departmental and individual staff meetings.

• Provide individual supervision of clinicians which may include licensed psychologists, counselors, social workers, and non-licensed graduate-level trainees, who will provide psychological services to CLC students.

• Train and onboard new staff.

• Provide leadership and vision for the coordination, promotion, and evaluation of college-wide behavioral health services.

• Provide consultation to CLC’s administrators, staff, and faculty to identify the signs and symptoms of mental health issues and increase awareness of where and when to seek help for students.

• Generate reports and analyses of operational data for the Dean.

• Manage the department budget and assist the Dean with annual budget projections and presentations.

• Work collaboratively and cooperatively as a member of the Behavior Intervention Team ( BIT ). Respond to student crises as needed.

• Engage in contract negotiations with contract partners.

• Manage department grants, generate reports, and deliver presentations citing usage of grant dollars.

• Maintain confidentiality of students’ treatment records and ensure FERPA and/or HIPPA confidentiality to assure compliance with APA Ethical Principles and Code of Conduct, and legal requirements regarding mandated reporting.

• Manage electronic medical records systems (i.e., Titanium).

• Serve as an ambassador for policy change and will be accountable for the planning, communicating, evaluating, coordinating, and training of CLC’s students, staff, and faculty regarding the facts on mental health conditions and recognizing early warning signs of mental health crises and providing appropriate responses.

• Member of the Division of Student Affairs Leadership Team.

• Perform other related duties as assigned by the Dean of Student Affairs.

• Commitment to a team approach combined with an ability to self-direct workload.

• Pro-active, results-oriented, problem-solver.

• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and political acumen skills. Ability to handle all situations with tact, persuasiveness, and diplomacy.

• Ability to work well with employees at all levels of the institution with proven experience in managing and directing a diversified work staff.

• Supporting values of diversity and inclusion, sustainability, and wellness.

• Supportive of a climate that promotes innovation, improved services, and student success.

Required Qualification(s)

• Licensure as a clinical psychologist in Illinois

• A minimum of five years of experience in clinical counseling and psychotherapy with demonstrated successful experience providing counseling and psychotherapy to young adults aged 17-26 in a mental health setting.

• A minimum of three years of experience managing clinical and support staff.

• Ability to work flexible hours including some evening hours consistent with student needs is necessary.

• A high level of interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to write and present educational programs and to make presentations to large groups.

• Demonstrated ability in organizing and administering a comprehensive program to meet the needs of a diverse college community.

• Strong organizational skills and experience coordinating and implementing college counseling services are a must.

• Exceptional interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills are needed

Desired Qualification(s)

• Experience working in higher education environment ideally in a diverse commuter, community college or four-year college/university with many commuter students.

• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in a college or university counseling or psychological services center.

• Demonstrated successful experience in managing budgets and developing program initiatives for campus communities and constituencies.

• Demonstrated success in collaboration with academic and student affairs in providing consultation and resources.

• Active experience with emergency management and/or behavioral intervention activities on a college campus.

EEO Statement

College of Lake County is an Equal Opportunity Employer with a policy of non-discrimination. Qualified applicants are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age (40 or older), disability and genetic information (including family medical history).