Job Summary This position reports to the Director of Counseling & Psychological Services and holds primary responsibility for development, support, and oversight of a new initiative intended to support the mission of Campus Health & Wellbeing (CH&W) and Residential Student Experience (RSE) by providing safe, supportive, and therapeutic care for Cal Poly students through the Mustang Mental Health Response (MMHR) program. This program is intended to provide students with a full range of options to help solve their crisis in the best setting possible. Specifically, this position will establish the program including coordination with campus and community partners, procedure development, and evaluation plan. Once the establishment of this program is complete, duties and responsibilities will shift to maintenance and improvement of the program over time.
The position also offers clinical coverage for crisis intervention, safety planning, stabilization support, and consultation embedded in campus housing as needed. Follow up services may include therapy within this program, referrals to clinicians within CAPS, referrals to higher levels of care and/or community services. This position includes work with serious presenting concerns, requiring the ability to conceptualize cases and provide responsive care within sociocultural context.
Department Summary Counseling & Psychological Services is a Campus Health & Wellbeing department in the division of Strategic Enrollment Management & Student Affairs that provides a variety of culturally responsive services to help enrolled students understand themselves, enjoy satisfying relationships, achieve academic success, and make effective life choices. Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) promotes the development of holistic student emotional health and serves the campus through advocacy and the provision of confidential, accessible services. Additionally, CAPS provides outreach, educational services, and campus consultations.
For more information on other openings within the department, please see Mustang Mental Health Response Program Lead (SSP-AR I), Requisition Number 559868 .
Key Qualifications - Demonstrated competence with diversity and intersectionality, and experience addressing the mental health needs of college students including those with historically marginalized identities.
- Demonstrated knowledge of FERPA, HIPAA, and the California Medical Information Act as it relates to the provision of psychotherapy in a university counseling center and confidentiality.
- Demonstrated experience providing crisis assessment and intervention with late adolescent and young adult populations, including safety planning, ongoing stabilization work, and risk assessment.
- Demonstrated ability to effectively manage clinical crisis situations, including hospitalizations.
- Program development and management skills, particularly related to clinical programs and/or mental health crisis response.
- Ability to initiate, establish, and foster communication and teamwork by maintaining a positive, cooperative, productive work atmosphere in and outside the University with the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships within a diverse population and with those from various cultural backgrounds.
Education and Experience - Possession of a master's degree in appropriate field and current licensure or eligible for licensure to practice in the State of California as LPCC, LCSW or LMFT.
OR - Possession of a doctoral degree in Clinical or Counseling Psychology and current licensure or eligible for licensure in the State of California as a psychologist.
- Minimum of 5 years of post-licensure experience in any state or province.
(Note that hiring level will be commensurate with the qualifications and experience of the candidate.)
LICENSES, CERTIFICATES, DEGREES, CREDENTIALS:
- All counselors must be licensed in California within two years of initial appointment.
- Preferred : Current California psychologist, LPCC, LCSW, or LMFT license that is free of active disciplinary action.
Salary and Benefits Anticipated Hiring Range: $108,000 - $115,000
Classification Range: $93,960-$168,228
Factors in determining the appropriate compensation for a role include experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. The Anticipated Hiring Range referenced in the job posting is the budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position. The Classification Range may be broader than what the University anticipates paying for this position, based on internal equity, budget, and collective bargaining agreements (when applicable).
Cal Poly offers a best-in-class benefits program, including health, dental and vision insurance, retirement participation in the Public Employees' Retirement System, and educational benefits for eligible employees. See our benefits website for additional information.
How to Apply To apply, please attach (1) a cover letter illustrating how you meet the requirements of the position, particularly regarding crisis and diagnostic experience and expertise in providing services to underserved student populations, (2) curriculum vitae (CV), (3) unofficial transcripts to your online application, (4) a copy of license (as applicable), and (5) responses to the supplemental application questions listed below.
Please be prepared to provide three professional references with names and email addresses when completing the online faculty application. Cal Poly will directly solicit letters from the people listed by applicants; please include your current/most recent supervisor as one of these three. Sealed official transcripts showing highest degree earned will be required of finalists.
Supplemental Questions are included within the application.
How do you tailor your approach to clinical work to meet the unique needs of diverse client populations? How have your specific training, experience, and educational endeavors prepared you for this position at Cal Poly? For questions, please contact: Andrea Lawson - 805-756-2511 or
[email protected] Advertised: Apr 15 2026 Pacific Daylight Time
Applications close: 
