Director, Counselling

Director, Counselling & Psychological Services Position Title Director, Counselling & Psychological Services Research Project Department/Unit Department/Unit Counselling & Psychological Serv Location Posting Number Posting Number S276-26 Employee Group Employee Group DPMG Position Type Position Type Regular, On-Going Duration of Contract (if applicable) Employment Type Employment Type Full Time Full-time Equivalency (FTE) Full-time Equivalency (FTE) 1.0 Salary Commensurate with education and experience Classification Classification ADM-09 Provisional Statement This is a provisional classification. Formal regular review classification procedures may be initiated at any time by the incumbent or supervisor after the incumbent has worked a minimum of six months in the role. Dalhousie University is Atlantic Canada’s leading research-intensive university and a driver of the region’s intellectual, social and economic development. Located in the heart of Halifax, Nova Scotia, with an Agricultural Campus in Truro/Bible Hill, Dalhousie is a truly national and international university, with more than half of our almost 21,000 students coming from outside of the province. Our 6,000 faculty and staff foster a vibrant, purpose-driven community, that celebrated 200 years of academic excellence in 2018. Job Summary The department of Counselling & Psychological Services is responsible for the leadership, management, renewal, and continuous improvement of counselling services for Dalhousie. Reporting to the Assistant Vice-Provost, Campus Living and Student Well-being, Student Affairs, the Director, Counselling & Psychological Services provides strategic, clinical, operational, and people leadership for Dalhousie’s counselling services within Student Health & Wellness. The Director ensures students have timely, inclusive, and evidence-informed mental health supports that promote well‑being, academic success, and persistence.

Key Responsibilities
- Provide clinical supervision, consultation, and case guidance to counsellors and related staff, supporting sound clinical judgment, ethical practice, professional accountability, and the delivery of evidence-informed care.
- Provide consultation on complex, high-risk, or specialized cases and support clinical decision‑making, risk assessment, and care planning across the counselling team.
- Lead continuous renewal, and optimization of the counselling service delivery model, ensuring services remain responsive to evolving student needs, emerging best practices, and organizational priorities.
- Build and sustain a high‑performing clinical workforce through effective leadership, talent development, workforce planning, succession management, and the cultivation of a collaborative and psychologically safe culture.
- Drive innovation, assessment, and data‑informed decision‑making, leading strategic initiatives, outcome measurement, quality improvement efforts, and service transformation projects that strengthen institutional capacity and student outcomes.
- Serve as a key institutional leader and trusted partner, fostering collaboration across Student Affairs, academic and administrative units, health system partners, and sector organizations to advance a coordinated, care‑first approach to student mental health and well‑being. Note Due to operational requirements, the successful applicant is required to work in‑person on campus. Required Qualifications
- PhD in Psychology, or equivalent doctoral‑level qualification, with registration or eligibility for registration as a psychologist in Nova Scotia, plus significant experience in clinical leadership and management in a related field.
- Significant senior leadership experience in clinical, counselling, mental health, or psychological services, preferably within a post‑secondary, community health, or integrated health care environment.
- Demonstrated success leading multidisciplinary teams, including clinical supervision, workforce planning, talent development, and fostering high‑performing, inclusive workplace cultures.
- Deep knowledge of clinical governance, ethical practice, confidentiality, risk assessment, documentation standards, and regulatory compliance.
- Proven experience designing and transforming service delivery models, including access pathways, intake and triage systems, stepped‑care approaches, and capacity management strategies.
- Strong strategic, analytical, and relationship‑building capabilities, with experience using data, assessment, and quality improvement methodologies to drive service excellence and organizational outcomes. Assets
- Experience within a university or post‑secondary student mental health environment. The successful candidate is expected to demonstrate proficiency in Dalhousie’s core and leadership competencies, in particular:
- Integrity
- Respect & Inclusion
- Adaptability
- Knowledge & Thinking Skills
- Communication Additional Information Dalhousie University su