Dir,Employee Assistance Prog

University of New Mexico•Albuquerque, NM

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The University of New Mexico is initiating a search for a Director of UNM’s internal employee assistance program known as CARS (Counseling, Assistance and Referral Services), to begin in January 2027. CARS promotes a healthy work-life balance by providing on-site and remote services to assist UNM faculty and staff members with professional and personal concerns. CARS services include counseling for individuals and couples (where one person is a UNM employee); supervisory consultations with organization leadership; crisis interventions such as bereavement help for departments; seminars and workshops; and departmental in-service training. CARS currently employs four counselors including the director, supported by administrative staff. The CARS Director provides direct services such as supervisory consultations to managers, short-term counseling for individual employees, training, and crisis assistance for departments and programs. The Director supervises CARS clinical and administrative staff and actively collaborates with various mental health and substance abuse resources in the UNM community. The Director ensures that employees who utilize the EAP Program receive confidential, ethical and quality counseling services. The Director also represents CARS on various committees across the UNM campus and collaborates with campus partners to promote employee welfare at home and at work. Institutional collaborators include Ombuds services, ADVANCE at UNM, Division for Change and Empowerment, the Compliance, the Ethics and Equal Opportunity Office (CEEO), the Dean of Students Office, the Campus Assessment Response Education (student safety concerns) and Threat Assessment teams, and Student Health and Counseling (for situations in which student issues impact faculty and staff). The Director plans and oversees the CARS budget program, staffing, and expenditures. The CARS Director reports to the Office of the Provost.

Requirements

Master's degree in a recognized behavioral health field; at least 5 years of experience, post independent licensure, in counseling and employee assistance program (EAP) services.
State of New Mexico independent licensure in a recognized behavioral health field, or eligibility for NM licensure, as documented by out-of-state independent licensure.
Completed degree(s) from an accredited institution that are above the minimum education requirement may be substituted for experience on a year for year basis.

Nice To Haves

Earned doctorate in behavioral health field
Experience in an employee assistance program including supervisor consultations, outreach and education, and brief therapy
Supervisory experience in a university setting
Three or more years of clinical supervisory experience.
Certified Employee Assistance Professional (CEAP) accreditation
Strong communication and public speaking skills
Strong written communication skills
Demonstrated effectiveness in organizational leadership
Demonstrated effectiveness in outreach and community education
Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with counterparts from multiple organizations, communities, and disciplines
Demonstrated experience with and commitment to trauma-informed practice and communication in your clinical, supervisory, and leadership roles
A demonstrated commitment to cultivate an understanding of the rich and varied cultures of New Mexico and to the success of the university's mission to serve local and global communities
Experience and demonstrated success in planning and managing budgets
Demonstrated capacity for innovation and managing change.

Responsibilities

Establishes and implements short- and long-range organizational goals, objectives, strategic plans, policies, and operating procedures; monitors and evaluates programmatic and operational effectiveness, and effects changes required for improvement.
Provides clinical and managerial supervision for CARS clinical and administrative staff, ensuring consistent and effective delivery of services
Ensures compliance with pertinent standards and regulations
Collaborates with campus partner institutions to promote employee wellbeing
Provides direct services to UNM clients including supervisory consultations, brief counseling, training, and crisis interventions
Develops and directs implementation of employee mental health and substance abuse education and awareness programs, including outreach and communications programs to promote employee well-being and awareness of available services
Assists departments in improving workplace climate and promoting healthy work-life balance
Coordinates and interacts with university officials and committees, employees, external mental health and substance abuse providers and/or law enforcement agencies as needed in specific cases.
Monitors emerging challenges to employee wellbeing, and advises University leadership on management and prevention strategies
Plans and oversees CARS budgets and operations