Director of Counseling Center

Job Description

Job Description

eliminating racism 
empowering women 
YWCA

The Director of YWCA Lancaster’s Counseling Center provides visionary leadership, strategic direction, operational oversight, and fiscal management for a comprehensive behavioral health program serving women, survivors of violence, and marginalized communities, including BIPOC and LGBTQ+ individuals. 

What your day looks like:

• Provide strategic leadership for the Counseling Center, ensuring alignment with YWCA Lancaster's mission, values, and strategic priorities. 

• Lead the growth and development of a comprehensive behavioral health model that addresses mental health, trauma recovery, violence prevention, advocacy, and community well-being.

• Oversee the quality, effectiveness, and compliance of clinical, advocacy, prevention, and support services. 

• Supervise, mentor, and develop a multidisciplinary team, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, equity, and professional excellence. 

• Manage departmental budgets, government and community grants, financial performance, resource allocation, and long-term sustainability planning. 

• Secure and steward grant funding, maintain funder compliance, and support fundraising and revenue-development efforts. 

• Build and maintain strategic partnerships with community organizations, educational institutions, healthcare providers, government agencies, and other stakeholders. 

• Serve as a community leader and advocate for behavioral health equity, trauma-informed care, violence prevention, and services supporting women, survivors, and underserved populations. 

• Ensure compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, licensing standards, ethical guidelines, and organizational policies. 

• Promote continuous quality improvement, innovation, and organizational impact through data-informed decision-making and best practices.

• Support the organization's commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and belonging.

• Contribute to a positive, collaborative, and trauma-informed workplace culture.

Who you are:  

• Master's degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, Public Health, Healthcare Administration, Nonprofit Management, or a related field; clinical licensure preferred. 

• 8+ years of progressive leadership experience in behavioral health, mental health, victim services, public health, or related human services settings.

• Demonstrated success leading multidisciplinary teams, managing complex programs, and overseeing budgets. 

• Proven experience securing and managing grants and other funding sources. 

• Strong knowledge of trauma-informed care, behavioral health best practices, and culturally responsive service delivery. 

• Excellent strategic planning, communication, relationship-building, and partnership development skills. 

• Experience using data and outcomes to drive program improvement and decision-making.

• Commitment to equity, inclusion, and social justice.

• Experience working with BIPOC communities, LGBTQ+ populations, survivors of sexual assault and interpersonal violence, and individuals with disabilities preferred 

Who we are: 

YWCA Lancaster is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. Everything we do is based on the belief that all women and families have the right to be safe and choose the direction of their lives. Since 1889 , we have served children and adults in the community through a variety of programs. Current offerings include the Racial Equity Institute, Dorothy Height Book Club and Lunch & Learns on current topics; Kepler Hall residence, home to fifty women, men and children; YWonderful Kids providing child enrichment for ages six weeks to five years and before/after school care in a number of settings; Sexual Assault Prevention and Counseling Center with a 24 hour hotline and no-cost professional counseling for survivors of sexual assault and their loved ones. Our programs address the fact that far too many individuals experience violence, and lack economic security, and these issues disproportionately impact women and people of color. If we want to empower all women, we must also tackle racism.   When all women and families can reach their full potential, our communities thrive.

Benefits: 

• Medical, Dental, Vision after 30 days of employment 
• Retirement plan with employee match 
• Employee Assistance Program 
• Life Insurance 
• Long/Short Term Disability 
• Paid Time Off (PTO) 
  • 15 days (1st year), 10 paid holidays, 2 paid personal days 
• Training and Development Opportunities 
• Participation in YWCA activities and seminars 
• Childcare at a discounted rate
• Parental leave
• 20% tuition discount at Widener University (including graduate and continuing studies-bachelor’s completion) 

We are always looking for talented individuals to join our team. As a progressive company with strong core values, we offer a professional working environment and a competitive benefits package as well as the opportunity for personal and professional growth.

Equal Opportunity Employer

YWCA is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship.