Assistant Director, Student Counseling Services

Position Function:

Mississippi State University's Student Counseling Center seeks candidates for the full-time 12- month position of Assistant Director. The Assistant Director will report to the Director of Student Counseling Services and work closely with Student Affairs staff and other staff and faculty across campus. The function of the position is to assist in the direction of services provided for students, oversee the Embedded Program and to provide leadership in the absence of the Director.

Salary Grade:  17

Please see Staff Compensation Structure or Skilled Crafts and Service Maintenance Compensation Schedule for salary ranges.  For salary grade UC, these positions are "Unclassified" and salary ranges are determined by the hiring department.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Assist the Director in an administrative leadership role for Student Counseling Services, including, but not limited to, supervising clinical staff, graduate assistants, practicum/internship students, and professional staff.
2. Assist with the development and implementation of departmental policy, procedures, and strategic planning to ensure best clinical practices, applicable to state and federal statues, local health and safety laws and regulations, risk management policies, and professional code of ethics.
3. Oversee the Embedded Program and provide direct supervision for the Behavioral Health Navigators.
4. Coordinate onboarding and provide training for new professional and clinical staff, and graduate assistants.
5. Initiates, develops, and maintains relationships with University organizations and local mental health care resources;
6. Maintains a light client caseload as agreed upon with the Director.
7. Provides rotating administrator-on-duty response for urgent care and after-hours crisis calls when needed.
8. Assumes the roles/responsibilities in the absence of the Director.
9. Perform some night and weekend work.
10. Performs other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibility:
Full supervisory responsibility for other employees is a major responsibility and includes training, evaluating, and recommending pay, promotion or other employment decisions.

Minimum Qualifications:

Minimum Required Education and Experience:
Education: Master's degree with a focus of Clinical Mental Health, Counseling/ Psychology or related field
Experience: Five years experience in supervising employees and coordinating and/or providing counseling and psychological services,

Minimum Required Knowledge:
Knowledge of counseling practices, Title IX, Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) regulations, code of ethics, and Federal and State laws related to mental health counseling of individuals.

Certification or Licensure Requirements:
Licensed in the appropriate discipline: LPC, Licensed Psychologist, or LCSW, with a specialty area in clinical mental health counseling. Must be a licensed supervisor (or eligible to obtain supervisor credential in the state of Mississippi within six months to one year of hiring date).

Preferred Qualifications:

Preferred Qualifications:
Preferred candidates are those who possess and exhibit: recent college or university counseling center or community mental health staff experience; minimum of two years of post-licensed clinical supervision experience; an ability to work collaboratively with colleagues, campus departments, and student groups; a solid work ethic with an understanding of the importance of work-life balance; ability to work cooperatively in a multidisciplinary team environment; experience with IACS accreditation standards. Preferred candidates will also possess a focus in one of the following areas: mental health administration, clinical supervision, outreach, or training.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of accreditation and certification requirements and standards.

• Ability to effectively communicate verbally and in writing.

• Ability to use independent judgment and to manage and impart confidential information.

• Ability to react calmly and effectively in emergency situations.

• Ability to develop, plan, and implement short- and long-range goals.

• Ability to supervise and train clinical professionals and/or students in area of expertise.

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

1. Work is performed primarily in a temperature controlled indoor facility.
2. Nature of work requires external imposed deadlines, may be on short notice with shifts in priority, accountability for success on major projects or areas of operation.
3. Job frequently requires sitting, reaching, talking, and hearing.
4. Job occasionally requires standing, walking, climbing or balancing, stooping, kneeling/crouching/ crawling, handling objects with hands, and lifting 25 pounds. Vision requirements: Ability to see information in print and /or electronically.
5. Vision requirements: Ability to see information in print and/or electronically.

Instructions for Applying:

Link to apply: 

Link to apply:

Applicants must apply online at
Please include a cover letter and resume along with the names, addresses, and telephone number of three references.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

MSU is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, pregnancy, gender identity, status as a U.S. veteran, and/or any other status protected by applicable law. We always welcome nominations and applications from women, members of any minority group, and others who share our passion for building a diverse community that reflects the diversity in our student population.

What do I do if I need an accommodation?

In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with Mississippi State University, please contact the Department of Human Resources Management at or

If you have any questions regarding this policy, contact the Department of Human Resources Management at or Upon request, sections of this job listing are available in large print, and readers are available to assist the visually impaired.

Restricted Clause:

Position is contingent upon continued availability of funding.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

MSU is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, pregnancy, gender identity, status as a U.S. veteran, and/or any other status protected by applicable law. We always welcome nominations and applications from women, members of any minority group, and others who share our passion for building a diverse community that reflects the diversity in our student population.

What do I do if I need an accommodation?

In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with Mississippi State University, please contact the Department of Human Resources Management at tel: or 

If you have any questions regarding this policy, contact the Department of Human Resources Management at or  Upon request, sections of this job listing are available in large print, and readers are available to assist the visually impaired.