Job Description

Job Description/Summary:

The Mental Health Program Director is a full-time faculty member who serves a critical role in supporting the success of Sonoran University of Health Science’s School of Mental Health as a member of the leadership team. The School of Mental Health at Sonoran University houses the Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MSCMHC) degree program. S alary is competitive and commensurate with background and experience.

The Mental Health Program Director will supervise a remote team of course faculty and Teaching Assistants and is responsible for the performance and success of their team members. The Director communicates clear performance expectations consistent with institutional policies and goals and the job requirements of their team. The Director works closely with, and reports to, the Dean of the School of Mental Health and works collaboratively with other Sonoran University departments. As a member of the leadership team, the Director participates in planning, hiring, and training initiatives as well as program review and accreditation. They also contribute to improving educational outcomes, fostering student success, and facilitating student retention and persistence by creating a high-quality, positive, and supportive educational and work environment.

As faculty, responsibilities include facilitating learning of Sonoran University’s online students through timely and effective instruction, assessment, and communication and are responsible for improving educational effectiveness and supporting programmatic and course curricula. Faculty are assigned courses in their area of expertise that are taught using Canvas, Sonoran University’s online Learning Management System (LMS).

The ideal candidate will have strong management and teaching experience along with expertise in, and passion for, clinical mental health counseling, prior online classroom experience, and the ability to effectively communicate with students and team members. Responsibilities of this position include supervising faculty, teaching courses as assigned, delivering current and relevant content, and demonstrating student learning. The incumbent will be an active member of the Sonoran University community promoting its mission, vision, and core values and will adhere to high ethical and professional standards.

Primary Leadership Responsibilities:

Monitoring and managing the day-to-day operations of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program.
Recruiting, interviewing, hiring, training, and scheduling of faculty and teaching assistants.
Monitoring team morale and satisfaction and ensuring faculty feel supported and engaged.
Driving continuous program improvement through assessment, curriculum development, student support, and campus and community relations.
Serving on various institutional committees and attending meetings as a representative of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program, including but not limited to Presidents Council, Academic Policy and Progress Committee, Curriculum Committee, and Academic Assessment Committee.
Communicating clear performance expectations to faculty and seeking feedback from faculty on relevant courses, clinical, programmatic, school, and institutional matters.
Managing faculty performance to achieve programmatic, school, and institutional goals.
Reviewing course evaluations; providing and seeking feedback from faculty at the end of each quarter.
Providing guidance to faculty on matters related to course management and delivery.
Conducting annual performance reviews of faculty and managing performance improvement plans.
Convening both programmatic and one-on-one meetings with faculty and ensure faculty are aware of how their courses relate to the overall curriculum, as well as programmatic and institutional goals.
Maintaining appropriate documents of all employee and student related matters.
Participating in program review process and accreditation efforts.
Ensuring courses are maintained in accordance with accreditation and other regulatory requirements.
Participates in program-related campus events including New Student Orientation and graduation.
Addressing questions and concerns from students and faculty and helping mediate conflict among constituents attempting resolution at the course or programmatic level.
Serving as a role model to faculty and students.
Responding to program-related inquiries from prospective students, university administration, accrediting bodies, and other stakeholders.
Promoting the program’s mission and Sonoran University’s vision, mission, and core values internally and to external constituencies.
Other administrative responsibilities as assigned.

Primary Faculty Responsibilities:

Participating in clinical and/or didactic instruction in the School of Mental Health as assigned.
Participating in the development of and/or updates to courses.
Delivering expert knowledge in a specific area of content through assigned courses.
Ensuring course content remains current, accurate, and relevant.
Providing responses to student inquiries within 24 hours.
Initiating, facilitating, interacting, and moderating online classroom forums.
Engaging in the online course portal a minimum of four (4) times per week.
Hosting a minimum of one (1) hour of virtual office hours per week per course section.
Hosting a minimum of one (1) hour synchronous live session per week per course.
Teaching assigned courses in accordance with current syllabi and learning outcomes.
With approval of the Dean, updating course content appropriately.
Using innovative teaching and learning strategies and methods.
Conducting regular assessment of students’ knowledge, skills, and attitudes.
Continuously improving teaching and learning based on assessment results and implementation of andragogical best practices.
Submitting feedback and student grades in a timely manner.
Actively participating in scholarly endeavors.
Serving as a mentor and role model to students.
Working collaboratively as part of the academic team and college community.
Actively participating in department, division, and/or campus meetings as well as other service opportunities.
Keeping abreast of developments in one’s own field by reading current literature, engaging colleagues, participating in professional organizations, tradeshows, and/or conferences.

Requirements:

A doctoral degree in counselor education is required; preferably with an emphasis or focus on clinical mental health counseling, and preferably from a CACREP-accredited program.
1. Candidates will also be considered if they:

Have a related doctoral degree and have been employed as a full-time faculty member in a counselor education program for a minimum of one full academic year before July 1, 2013;

Have been employed as a full-time doctoral-level faculty member in a CORE-accredited master’s program prior to July 1, 2017;

Have graduated from a rehabilitation doctoral program prior to January 1, 2018.

At least three years of counseling practice.
Licensed or license eligible in the state of Arizona as an LPC within a year.
Demonstrated knowledge of mental health counseling academic, practicum, and internship requirements in compliance with CACREP standards.
Experience teaching and providing supervision of counseling students.

Team management experience in higher education or with an organization related to the counseling profession.

Ability to uphold academic rigor and integrity while supporting students in achieving academic success.
Ability to maintain professionalism and confidentiality regarding faculty, staff, and student issues.
Computer skills: proficient with MS Office products and familiarity with Canvas LMS.
A positive attitude, kindness, a sense of humor, honesty, and integrity.
Ability to embody Sonoran University’s Core Values: We Achieve Excellence, We Love, We Do the Right Thing, We Are Resilient, We Shape the Future.

Preferred Experience:

Previous experience leading a clinical mental health counseling master's degree program.
Previous experience teaching in an online clinical mental health counseling master's degree program.
Experience coordinating practicum and internship activities is highly sought.
CACREP accreditation experience as a site team member, site team host, or similar.
Demonstrated ability to oversee the completion and submission of the CACREP self-study and maintenance of ongoing CAREP program accreditation.
Demonstrated ability to work effectively with core faculty, adjunct faculty, and allied professionals.
Demonstrated teaching ability, administrative, and management skills.
Experience with higher education academic policies and processes.
Demonstrated ability to contribute to the program review process.
Demonstrated knowledge of graduate pedagogy and familiarity with clinical mental health curricula, professional programs, and their standards, assessments, and evaluations.
Education and experience demonstrating expert breadth of knowledge to effectively teach in an evidence-based clinical mental health counseling program.

Qualifications:

Commitment to the highest level of academic and personal integrity, high academic standards, intercultural understanding, and continued professional development.
Highly organized and detail oriented.
Working knowledge of conflict resolution and mediation principles and techniques.
Skilled in analyzing and solving problems, establishing priorities, and making evaluative judgments.
Familiarity with online teaching and/or a desire to learn new technological approaches to education; blended or online instruction experience preferred.
Demonstrated ability to design, develop, and deliver new course content.
Demonstrated ability to use innovative teaching and learning strategies and methods.
Outstanding interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills and the ability to communicate and work effectively within a diverse community.
Ability to work both independently and collaboratively with diplomacy, and the ability to focus on objectives in an environment where many projects compete for priority, time, and resources.
It is required that all full-time university faculty engage in scholarship. The successful candidate will have evidence of scholarly work such as peer-reviewed publications and presentations.

Working Environment:

Activities are performed remotely and subject to extensive periods of sitting, keyboarding, and manipulating a computer mouse. Regular activities require the ability to quickly change priorities which may include and/or are subject to resolution of conflicts. Frequent communication with internal and external individuals is required to perform essential functions.

About Sonoran University:

Sonoran University of Health Sciences is a non-profit and internationally recognized higher education institution. The University’s College of Naturopathic Medicine, College of Nutrition, and School of Mental Health’s evidence-based program offerings shape a healthier future by supporting students as they train to excel as healthcare professionals. To serve the University’s mission, the Sage Foundation for Health supports several Community Clinics focused on providing free naturopathic medical care to local underserved communities within the Phoenix Metro area. The College of Nutrition’s Virtual Center for Personalized Nutrition aims to eliminate traditional barriers to nutritional care by providing personalized and evidence-based care delivered at no cost via telehealth. The Ric Scalzo Institute for Botanical Research is a state-of-the-art molecular biology/phytochemistry laboratory seeks to improve therapies for global health concerns by exploring traditional medicine at the cellular, molecular, and cultural level to create novel botanical solutions that support people, plants, and planet.

The University’s Clinical Care branch operates two open-to-the-public clinics at the Tempe Campus. The Medical Center provides naturopathic healthcare for a wide range of patients including but not limited to; family medicine, nutrition and digestive health, mental health and well-being, dermatologic conditions, endocrine and auto-immune concerns, and acute symptoms. The Neil Riordan Center for Regenerative Medicine focuses on non-opioid solutions to pain and pain management utilizing treatments ranging from cupping and acupuncture to regenerative injection therapies. The Medicinary is the largest natural pharmacy in Arizona, offering an expansive collection of the highest quality, professional-grade supplements, herbs, and natural health products. Every purchase made at the Medicinary helps support the Sage Foundation and its mission to provide free healthcare to those in need.

Background/Screening:

All candidates offered a position at Sonoran University undergo a background and drug screen prior to hire. Employment is contingent upon satisfactory outcome of all screens required of this position.

Sonoran University is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce! We encourage applications from all demographics, without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, or any other legally protected status.

Sonoran University is a smoke-free campus.