Assistant Director of Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)

Duke University:

Duke University was created in 1924 through an indenture of trust by James Buchanan Duke. Today, Duke is regarded as one of America’s leading research universities. Located in Durham, North Carolina, Duke is positioned in the heart of the Research Triangle, which is ranked annually as one of the best places in the country to work and live. Duke has more than 15,000 students who study and conduct research in its 10 undergraduate, graduate and professional schools. With about 40,000 employees, Duke is the third largest private employer in North Carolina, and it now has international programs in more than 150 countries.

Be You.

At Duke, we believe every student deserves access to compassionate, high-quality mental health care and a thriving campus community where they can succeed. As the Assistant Director of Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), you will play a pivotal leadership role in advancing student well-being through outreach, prevention, crisis support, clinical services, and strategic collaboration across the university.

In this role, you'll join a dedicated team of clinicians, educators, and student affairs professionals committed to supporting the diverse needs of Duke students. You'll bring your clinical expertise, leadership skills, and passion for student mental health to help shape innovative programs, reduce barriers to care, and strengthen a culture of wellness across campus.

Be Bold.

As a member of the CAPS leadership team, you'll help drive initiatives that enhance student mental health, strengthen community partnerships, and expand access to care. You'll have the opportunity to influence strategy, mentor staff and trainees, develop innovative programs, and provide direct clinical services that make a meaningful difference in students' lives.

What You'll Do

Lead and Strengthen CAPS Operations

• Serve as a key member of the CAPS leadership team, contributing to strategic planning, service innovation, and organizational effectiveness.
• Partner with the Director and Associate Director to support clinical operations, service delivery, quality improvement initiatives, and center-wide priorities.
• Mentor, coach, and support clinicians and staff in outreach, crisis care, training, and professional development activities.
• Provide clinical supervision and mentorship for assigned trainees in accordance with licensure requirements and professional standards.
• Lead special projects, policy development, workflow improvements, staff training initiatives, and quality assurance efforts.
• Support hiring, onboarding, staff development, accreditation activities, assessment efforts, and annual reporting processes.

Advance Crisis Care and Student Support

• Collaborate with CAPS leadership to enhance crisis intervention services and high-risk student support.
• Participate in urgent care and crisis response services, including consultation and risk assessment for students experiencing acute concerns.
• Coordinate hospitalization and return-to-campus support programs, ensuring continuity of care and effective collaboration with campus and community partners.
• Develop referral pathways and strengthen coordination with hospitals, community providers, and university stakeholders.
• Assist in campus-wide response efforts related to critical incidents, student emergencies, threats, and postvention support.

Champion Outreach, Education, and Prevention

• Lead the development, implementation, and evaluation of campus-wide mental health promotion and prevention initiatives.
• Create innovative programming that increases mental health literacy, reduces stigma, and expands awareness of available resources.
• Build strong partnerships with student organizations, academic departments, Student Affairs units, and community agencies.
• Develop outreach strategies designed to engage underserved and historically underrepresented student populations.
• Coordinate workshops, trainings, awareness campaigns, orientation programming, and wellness initiatives throughout the academic year.
• Oversee peer education and student ambassador programs to extend CAPS's reach across campus.
• Collaborate on digital communications, including website content, social media initiatives, newsletters, and educational campaigns.

Provide Exceptional Clinical Care

• Deliver individual counseling, couples counseling, group therapy, triage services, and clinical assessments.
• Provide crisis intervention, safety planning, and consultation for students experiencing complex mental health concerns.
• Develop treatment plans and provide evidence-informed, culturally responsive care.
• Coordinate referrals to campus and community resources to support student success and well-being.
• Maintain accurate clinical documentation and participate in interdisciplinary case consultations and team meetings.

What You'll Bring

Required Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in Psychology from an accredited institution, or a master's degree in Social Work, Counseling, or a related behavioral health field.
• Full, unrestricted professional licensure and applicable supervision credentials in Psychology, LCSW, LCMH, or LMFT.
• Ability to obtain unrestricted North Carolina licensure within required timeframes if not already licensed in North Carolina.
• Eligibility to provide clinical supervision consistent with applicable licensure and training program requirements.
• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in:
• Clinical assessment and treatment of populations similar in age and developmental stage to college students.
• Leadership, supervision, program development, outreach, clinical operations, training, or service delivery management.
• A doctoral degree may substitute for two years of required experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• North Carolina licensure at the time of hire.
• Significant experience leading mental health programs, clinical services, or organizational initiatives.
• Expertise in crisis assessment, intervention, consultation, and short-term treatment models.
• Experience supervising master's, doctoral, and postdoctoral trainees.
• Success working collaboratively within multidisciplinary environments and complex organizations.

Key Competencies

• Strong clinical judgment and decision-making in high-risk situations.
• Excellent communication, relationship-building, and consultation skills.
• Effective leadership, supervision, and mentoring abilities.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Ability to balance competing priorities while maintaining quality and responsiveness.
• Commitment to ethical practice, inclusion, continuous learning, and student-centered care.
• Ability to develop policies, procedures, training materials, and operational resources that strengthen service delivery.

Choose Duke.

At Duke, you'll find more than a career, you'll find a community dedicated to excellence, innovation, and impact. As a nationally recognized institution, Duke invests in the health and success of its students while fostering a workplace culture that values collaboration, professional growth, belonging, and lifelong learning.

As the Assistant Director of CAPS, you'll have the opportunity to:

• Influence the future of student mental health services at one of the nation's leading universities.
• Partner with multidisciplinary colleagues across campus and the broader community.
• Develop innovative programs that improve access to care and student well-being.
• Mentor the next generation of mental health professionals.
• Contribute to a culture that values diversity, inclusion, compassion, and excellence.

Ready to Make a Difference?

Apply now and help shape a healthier, more resilient campus community where every student has the opportunity to thrive.