Assoc. Director of Sport Psychology - 136709

The mission of the Student Health & Well-Being (SHW) cluster is to promote a culture of health and well-being for the student community, deliver equitable high quality innovative services, incorporate inclusive approaches, and celebrate diversity, with the goal of adoption and maintenance of healthy behaviors contributing to the academic success and personal development of all students.

The UC San Diego SHW cluster, which reports through UC San Diego Health System, plays a leadership role in creating a strong and active wellness culture that enables all students to flourish in body, mind and spirit. This includes promotion and the transformation of existing departments, under the oversight of the Executive Director, into a cohesive, trans-disciplinary source of integrated wellness services. The SHW cluster includes the departments of Student Health Services (SHS); Health Promotion Services (HPS); Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS); Assessment and Analytics (SHAA), Strategic Planning, Innovation and Research (SPIR); and SHW Administration (ADM).

The SHW cluster provides health promotion, counseling and psychological services and primary medical care, including urgent care and support services, to over 45,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students. Staff consists of physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, pharmacists, optometrists, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, social workers, radiology technologists, clinical laboratory scientists, medical lab assistants, medical assistants, health educators, administrative and other healthcare professionals. SHW Administration provides full business, financial and infrastructure services, including support for the Executive Director's Office, strategic planning, innovation, research; assessments and analytics; information technology; budget management, resource planning and administration; contracts management; human resource management, credentialing and privileging; medical records, insurance management, patient billing and collections; marketing; and facilities and space.

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) serves as the campus community mental health center for students. Under general supervision of the CAPS Director or designee, the Associate Director of Sport Psychology & Scholar-Athlete Mental Health Programs supports the mission of CAPS, Intercollegiate Athletics, and the University in providing the highest quality mental health and mental performance services for UC San Diego scholar-athletes. Incumbent works alongside UC San Diego Athletics leadership to address scholar athlete mental health and performance, including participation on committees, training, and ongoing consultation with Athletics staff. Provides program management, coordinating scholar-athlete mental health services through CAPS and oversees scholar-athlete mental performance services. Directs a team of professionals who provide mental health and performance support to teams through individual and group interventions, team trainings and coach consultations; trains and updates CAPS clinical staff in new areas of development within a student development context, refines CAPS services as new methodologies arise in sport and performance psychology, consults with campus departments faculty, staff and administrators about assisting scholar-athletes with mental health conditions. The incumbent oversees and performs a wide range of complex tasks, including the delivery of short-term, high quality, culturally affirming mental health services to the full range of cases regardless of severity and/or complexity, and in accordance with a systematic coherent framework, including assessment, group and individual therapy, urgent care/crisis management, outreach, prevention and mental health education for scholar athletes, and connection to diverse community resources, postvention, consultation, and case management. Participates in the selection, hiring, onboarding, training, management of performance expectations and administrative supervision of CAPS sport psychology and mental health professionals, post-doctoral residents and unlicensed trainees/staff designated to the Athletics Department.

• Licensed with the Board of Psychology.

• BLS required.

• Experience and expertise in the practice of Sport Psychology. Advanced knowledge in mental health and performance of scholar athletes, particularly in factors affecting University students, including the literature related to retention, academic success, college age human development, well-being, and related fields.

• Strong demonstrated knowledge of behavioral health counseling methods and techniques, crisis intervention, treatment planning and case management. Demonstrated experience in conducting brief, intermittent, and focused individual psychotherapy and group counseling.

• Demonstrated supervisory skills to guide PhD behavioral health providers on complex treatment methods. Demonstrated skill and knowledge of clinical supervision, organizational consulting techniques, systems and community psychology models and approaches.

• Strong knowledge of applicable federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations. Must maintain current knowledge of the laws, procedures and ethical principles that govern the practice of Psychology.

• Excellent interpersonal skills to develop and maintain cooperative working relationships. Demonstrated skill in consultation work with professional and non-professional colleagues. Demonstrated ability to work effectively with student leaders and stakeholders in the campus community, building alliances and promoting student mental health.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills to effectively communicate. Demonstrated active listening, persuasion and counseling skills. Demonstrated ability in developing and implementing culturally proficient, effective outreach programs, and providing consultation and educative services. Proven ability to develop effective teams and interact actively, easily and productively with colleagues, supervisors, and members of the campus community.

• Working knowledge of human resources management practices and policies. Strong working knowledge of CAPS policies, procedures and standards for consultation, brief therapy, referral resources, risk management, quality improvement, public relations and marketing.

• Strong working knowledge of business software, specialized applications and EHR systems used in behavioral health centers / clinics. Must be computer literate. Demonstrated experience and competency with standard business equipment, computer technologies and a variety of software including system and networking software, Microsoft Office suite, email and a variety of web-based programs and browsers, with the willingness and ability to update and increase skills as needed to meet the goals of the unit, the department and SHW.

• Demonstrated ability to prioritize and meet deadlines in a complex, challenging environment.

• Ability to organize operations in an efficient and effective manner.

• Demonstrated ability to actively foster a positive, welcoming climate, and value, include and support all in the UC San Diego community. Must be able to work in a collaborative manner. Ability to work with a diverse staff and student population and traditionally underrepresented student groups. Ability to actively work to maintain a positive and cooperative working relationship with staff and campus community.

• Ability to use discretion, maintain utmost confidentiality and comply with all requirements in use of computer systems and access to any and all patient, student, employee and University data, in electronic and hard copy formats, in compliance with University, state and federal guidelines, including, but not limited to Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

• At all times, demonstrate the characteristics of professionalism in attire, attitude, conversation, behavior and attentiveness to others. All staff members are required to uphold the UCSD Principles of Community and to promote a positive and collaborative team environment. Ability to adhere to and practice the mandatory University Core Values & Safety Standards of performance. Ability to at all times adhere to UCSD Health Medical Center (C.A.R.I.N.G.) Standards of Performance as applicable to position.

• Board Certification in Sports Psychology or Certification as a Certified Mental Performance Consultant.

• Experience working with university Scholar-Athletes and athletic departments.

• Employment is subject to a criminal background check and pre-employment physical.
• Must complete initial credential verification, & re-credentialing every 3rd year thereafter.
• TB screening required, following COEM schedule.
• Flu vaccination required annually.
• Covid vaccination or approved exemption required.
• Occasional business travel.
• May includes nights and weekends according to program operational hours.
• Must work on campus with ability to telecommute for work, if/when needed and operationally feasible, as determined by department.
• Electronic medical records training, especially EPIC, is provided and required upon hire for this position.
• Job descriptions are reviewed periodically and may be revised, if deemed necessary.
• This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employee may perform other related duties commensurate with the level and scope of this position as required to meet the ongoing needs of Student Health Services, Student Health and Well-Being.