Director of Student Wellness Program

Job Description

Job Description

LACKAWANNA COLLEGE HAS BEEN VOTED ONE OF THE

“BEST PLACES TO WORK IN PA” FOR 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2023, 2024 and 2025!

Lackawanna College is a private, accredited college serving the people of Northeastern Pennsylvania. Our main campus is located in downtown Scranton, and our footprint includes satellite centers in 10 locations around Pennsylvania!

Our mission is to provide a quality education to all persons who seek to improve their lives and better the communities in which they live. We provide our students with a direct path to a bachelor’s degree, associate degree, or one of many different professional certifications. Additionally, our Continuing Education department helps put the people of Northeastern Pennsylvania back to work with modern career skills. Lackawanna is also one of the most cost-efficient regional higher education institutions.

If our mission inspires you, and you are willing to go the extra mile to help our students succeed, please feel free to apply for this or future employment opportunities for which you meet the minimum qualifications. Please know that only the candidates who meet the minimum qualifications can be considered, and only those selected for interviews will be contacted by a college representative. No phone calls, please .

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS, RESPONSIBILITIES AND OBJECTIVES:

The Director of Student Wellness Programs (SWP) provides overall leadership in the provision of student wellness services to Lackawanna College with the ultimate goal of promoting academic success and personal growth for the student population. This will include, but is not limited to: coordinating and promoting all Student Wellness efforts; working collaboratively with outside health and wellness providers; partnering with colleagues on wellness initiatives; developing training, curriculum and assessments for a range of health-related topics; advising wellness-focused student organizations. They also serve as a key figure in student crisis intervention, acting as the main resource for suicide prevention, and coordination of student mental health support services. The Director also builds and sustains close, collaborative relationships with Athletics, Residence Life, Title IX, and the Dean of Students departments. This position is based on the Scranton campus while providing support for our satellite campuses across Pennsylvania.

This position supervises all employees of the department and is responsible for the performance management and hiring of the employees within that department.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Develops, implements, directs, and evaluates Student Wellness Program activities and services.
2. Determine the direction and focuses for the Student Wellness Program.
3. Manage the budget to ensure appropriate spending in coordination with Student Engagement office.
4. Directs and supervises the Student Wellness staff in executing production tasks according to a documented schedule that meets or exceeds customer expectations.
5. Develop community awareness through active participation as SWP liaison to appropriate community groups, organizations and institutions.
6. Chair the Mental Health Solutions Committee and co-chair the Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT).
7. Provide support, referral, and assessment to students regarding substance abuse issues and other behavioral or mental health issues.
8. Develop and oversee a student wellness referral process within the college.
9. Identify and negotiate partnership agreements with community providers regarding mental health and wellness.
10. Participate in the review and development of policy related to student engagement and retention.
11. Assist Public Safety staff in assessment of crisis situations and facilitate transition to appropriate agency/facility in a timely manner.
12. Develop systems for data collection, analysis, and continuous improvements as they relate to the wellness program.
13. Maintains confidentiality of all materials related to counseling with students and other personnel related files.
14. Work with the Dean of Students, Associate Dean of Students, Title IX, and other relevant departments to assist with handling of student disciplinary actions and support processes.
15. Oversee the information posted to College media sites (for example: student portal, social media, Starfish, Weekly Word).
16. Maintain healthy, respectful, collaborative relationships with student-facing departments, especially Residence Life and Athletics.
17. Lead the departmental or unit level planning process in alignment with the Institutional Strategic Plan and Middle States examination, being sure to meaningfully engage staff members in each step of the process, and facilitate the assignment of ownership for each activity related to the departmental plans and ensure that tasks are carried out as expected.
18. Collaborate with other departmental heads to ensure that overlapping or related initiatives are coordinated.
19. Utilize student needs data to refine program vision and focus each academic year.
20. Assess achievement of departmental plans annually, formally report results to supervisor, and participate in the college wide review of departmental plans as requested.
21. Any additional responsibilities as assigned.

KEY COMPETENCIES:

• Strong knowledge of program management, wellness, mental health, and higher education.
• Knowledge and ability to stay up-to-date with current mental health issues, wellness, and advocacy among college students.
• Ability to advise on mental health and wellness issues using evidence-based recommendations and ethical decision-making.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong leadership and problem-solving skills.
• Must have the ability to handle confidential situations with compassion, dignity, and diplomacy, acting in an objective and impartial manner at all times.
• Ability to understand the needs of the College and to work collaboratively with students, faculty and staff to achieve program and institutional objectives.
• Ability to think, reason, and make sound judgments on how responsibilities are completed in compliance with college standards and guidelines.
• Possess detail-oriented skills and ability to meet deadlines while engaging in self-initiated problem-solving activities.

• Ability to smoothly transition between anticipated work duties and unforeseen needs to best prioritize students’ service experience.
• Strong professional judgment and commitment to short-term assess-and-refer care model.

• Ability to work both independently, as well as effectively with faculty, staff, students, community agencies, and student organizations.
• Sensitivity to the impact of diversity on the student body and the institutional climate.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural environment with students, faculty and staff.
• Demonstrated leadership skills and the ability to motivate students.

• Trauma-competent assessment, systems navigation, and referral values and practices.
• Ability to work flexible hours as necessary.

EDUCATION:

• Master’s Degree in Counseling, Human Services, Social Work or Psychology required.
• Pennsylvania Licensed Social Worker, professional counselor, or other licensed professional in the mental health field is preferred.
• Doctoral degree in a relevant field (Education, Human Services, Social Work, Educational Leadership, etc.) preferred.
• Must maintain professional qualification through continuing education, training and development.

EXPERIENCE:

• 6 years’ experience required in a related discipline such as counseling, advocacy, community health, mental health, etc.
• Demonstrated success in providing counseling, training/development, and instruction.
• Experienced in a trauma-informed, assessment-and-referral mental health model.
• Understanding of emerging issues in higher education, particularly in wellness and health promotion.
• Experience collaborating with Athletics, Residence Life, Dean of Students, or comparable student support functions strongly preferred; equivalent experience demonstrating cross-functional collaboration, student engagement, and support services in related fields will be considered.
• Proven experience in program development, implementation and supervision.
• Experience in providing services related to health and wellness needs of a diverse student population.
• 2 years’ supervisory experience strongly preferred.
• Ability to work as flexible schedule as necessary.

Applications will only be accepted via online method by clicking the link below. Deadline for applications, June 29, 2026. No phone calls, please.

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In compliance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and all other applicable non-discrimination laws, Lackawanna College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran’s status, or genetic information in its educational programs and activities, admissions, and with regard to employment.

Lackawanna College is an accredited, private, non-profit educational institution providing opportunities for career and personal development within selected associates degree, certificate and continuing education program.