Asst Vice President and Chief Wellness Officer

Case Western Reserve University, United States

Updated: 3 days ago
Location: Campus, ILLINOIS
Job Type: FullTime

Case Western Reserve University is committed to providing a transparent estimate of the salary range available for this position at the time of its posting. The salary range is between $175,000 and $225,000, depending on qualifications, experience, department budgets, and industry data. 

Employees receive more than just a paycheck. University employees enjoy a comprehensive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare, retirement plans, tuition assistance, paid time off, and a winter recess.

POSITION OBJECTIVE 

The Assistant Vice President for Mental Health and Well-being/Chief Wellness Officer is a visionary leader responsible for developing, implementing, and sustaining a data-informed comprehensive campus-wide approach to mental health and well-being. This position oversees all counseling, mental health, disability support resources, and wellness functions, and leads efforts to cultivate a university culture that supports psychological resilience, belonging, and thriving. The Assistant Vice President for Mental Health and Well-being/Chief Wellness Officer provides direction for campus mental health and wellness programs, disability support and resources, and mental health promotion, ensuring accessible, comprehensive, and integrated care. This leader also collaborates across divisions and schools to embed mental health and well-being principles into campus life, academics, and co-curricular programs. This role is expected to maintain a limited. Clinical practice to ensure ongoing expertise in direct patient care and model high clinical standards. The Assistant Vice President for Mental Health and Well-being/Chief Wellness Officer reports directly to the Vice President for Student Affairs and serves on the Student Affairs Executive Leadership Team and Leadership Council.

 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

  • Provide strategic leadership, vision, and operational direction for all campus mental health and well-being services, including University Counseling Services, case management, Disability Resources, and well-being and health promotion initiatives. This includes establishing and maintaining a process for daily, intensive co-management of shared resources and spaces with the Assistant Vice President and Chief Health Officer to ensure a seamless and integrated model of care delivery across both departments. Supervise the Director of Clinical Counseling Services, Director of Acute Mental Health Care, Crisis Response and Case Management, Associate Director for Wellness and Health Promotion, Director of Disability Resources/Accommodated Testing and Services, and related staff. With the Assistant Vice President and Chief Health Officer co-supervise the Director of Psychiatry and the Senior Director of Operations. (20%)
  • Establish and institutionalize a university-wide culture of well-being, integrating mental health promotion into every aspect of student life, from orientation and residence halls to classrooms and co-curricular activities. (20%)
  • Oversee delivery of clinical and outreach services, ensuring that mental health care is evidence-based, trauma-informed, and welcoming of different identities and experiences. Promote a stepped-care model for access to services. (15%)
  • Lead strategic planning and assessment for mental health and well-being, including data-driven evaluation of counseling utilization, student outcomes, and well-being metrics. Use national benchmarks (JED Campus, ACHA-NCHA, Healthy Minds) to guide continuous improvement. (10%)
  • Coordinate mental health crisis response and postvention efforts in partnership with the Dean of Students, public safety, academic affairs, and student support offices. Serve as a senior advisor on campus crises and behavioral intervention efforts. (10%)
  • Champion outreach, education, and prevention through campus-wide campaigns that reduce stigma, increase help-seeking, and enhance faculty/staff capacity to support students in distress. (10%)

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    NONESSENTIAL FUNCITONS 

  • Maintain a limited direct service practice (e.g., 4-6 hours per week of clinical care, supervision, or crisis consultation) to stay proficient in clinical skills, model best practices, and retain professional licensure/certification. (5%)
  • Ensure integrated access to disability resources (a collaboration with the Assistant Vice President and Chief Health Officer) through oversight and strategic direction for Disability Resources. This includes overseeing DR's operational effectiveness, ensuring compliance with relevant disability laws (e.g., ADA, Section 504), and promoting access to academic and co-curricular programs for students with disabilities. Disability Resources will maintain a dotted line reporting relationship with the Assistant Vice President and Chief Health Officer for consultation on complex issues, medical documentation, physical accessibility standards, and cross-over health compliance issues. (5%)
  • Develop external partnerships and funding strategies to enhance mental health and well-being programs through grants, philanthropy, and community collaborations. (5%)
  • Serve as a thought leader and spokesperson on student mental health and well-being. (<1%)
  • Represent the university nationally in professional associations and networks advancing mental health in higher education. (<1%)
  • Perform other related duties as assigned. (<1%)

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    CONTACTS 

    Department: Daily contact with direct reports to provide oversight and response. Frequent contact with vice president for student affairs, and senior leadership team, providing input into meeting the priorities and mission of the university and the Division of Student Affairs.

    University: Contact with the president's office, vice presidents, deans, trustees, alumni, director of

    administrative departments, faculty and staff as required to provide leadership for university health and well-being priorities. Serves as member of the university's threat assessment and behavioral intervention team.

    External: Regular contact with community organizers/advocates, corporate executives, leaders in the health care and counseling community, and federal, state, and local government officials. Contact with foreign visitors as required to perform essential functions.

    Students: Contact with undergraduate, graduate and professional students for direct care, as well as for advocating and developing wellness programs that directly affect students. 

     

    SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

    Oversee approximately 30 staff members across counseling, wellness education, case management, Disability Resources and administrative support, including responsibility for hiring decisions and performance management.

     

    QUALIFICAITONS

    Experience: 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in counseling, well-being, or student mental health administration. Experience leading integrated well-being initiatives in higher education. Relevant business management experience (e.g., budget, finance, grant writing). Demonstrated current or recent experience in direct clinical service, particularly within a time-limited or stepped-care counseling model.

    Education: PhD in Psychology, Social Work, Clinical Counseling; Board Certified Psychiatrist 

    (MD/DO); with active or immediate eligibility for independent licensure in the state of Ohio. Terminal Licensure is highly preferred.  

     

    REQUIRED SKILLS

  • Expertise in evidence-based mental health care and well-being program design.
  • Demonstrated ability to build cross-campus coalitions to support student thriving.
  • Strong understanding of culturally responsive and trauma-informed care.
  • Experience supervising licensed mental health professionals and managing complex operations.
  • Exceptional communication, collaboration, and leadership skills with a broad range of constituencies.
  • Demonstrated history of successful support, education, and advocacy for all students, aligned with the values, mission, and messaging of the university, while adhering to the staff policy on conflict of commitment and interest. 
  • Ability to meet consistent attendance. 
  • Ability to interact with colleagues, supervisors, and customers face to face. 
  • Willingness to learn and work with Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools and technologies.

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    WORKING CONDITIONS

    Office and campus environment with some evening and weekend commitments and on-call responsibilities.

     

    Case Western Reserve University is an equal opportunity employer.  All applicants are protected under federal and state laws and university policy from discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national or ethnic origin, protected veteran status, disability, age and genetic information.

    Case Western Reserve University complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act regarding reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the CWRU Office of  Equity at 216-368-3066 to request a reasonable accommodation. Determinations as to granting reasonable accommodations for any applicants will be made on a case-by-case basis.

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