Associate/Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences (Clinician Educator)

The University of Southern California (USC), founded in 1880, is the largest private employer in the City of Los Angeles. As an employee of USC, you will be a part of a world-class research university and a member of the "Trojan Family," which is comprised of the faculty, students and staff that make the university what it is.

The Department of Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences at the Keck School of Medicine of USC is seeking a Director of Clinical Sport Psychology Services to lead the entity into its next phase. The Director will provide oversight of all counseling, performance enhancement, and team-building services within the Clinical Sport and Psychology Services program.

This is a full-time faculty position with an academic appointment in the Department of Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. The position is under the auspices of USC Student Health, Athletic Medicine and works collaboratively with USC Athletics.

A generous benefits package includes: health, dental and vision coverage; significant retirement benefits (USC makes a 10% contribution when you contribute 5%), child care; tuition assistance for the faculty member and their eligible spouse and dependent children; tuition exchange for eligible faculty children; paid professional days; access to free continuing education credits through our Grand Rounds lecture series; generous paid time off and parental leave; life insurance, malpractice coverage, long-term disability coverage, pet insurance, and more, as revised from time to time (more information about benefits can be found here).

Description of Clinical Sport and Psychology Services

We are committed to providing student-athletes overall support for their wellbeing. For the past 20 years, USC’s Clinical Sport and Psychology Services has provided programming, individual therapy, and educational training to help student-athletes become a “whole healthy person.” It is our philosophy that the healthier a student-athlete is as a whole person the better they will perform. The USC Sport Psychology team provides services and an environment that supports the student athlete in developing as a healthy and value-driven person, student, and athlete. We are here to support the creation of a healthy environment within which student athletes may flourish. Mental health, educational, and consultation services are embedded in the operating of all parts of USC Athletics, in an integrated and cooperative relationship between all clinicians and the athletic administration and coaches.

Essential Functions of the Description for Director of Clinical Sport Psychology Services

• Reports to the Director of Counseling and Mental Health Services in the Department of Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences.
• Develops and implements strategic vision for the Clinical and Sport Psychology Services program.
• Oversees all Clinical and Sport Psychology services, including individual, group, and conjoint therapy services, crisis services, and outreach services for 550+ student athletes; as well as Clinical and Sport Psychology services for 23 athletic teams.
• Oversees all Clinical and Sport Psychology Services personnel, including all faculty, staff, and trainees.
• Provides supervision to the senior faculty clinicians; engages in recruitment, hiring, and retention of faculty, staff, and trainees in collaboration with HR and Faculty Affairs partners.
• Oversees the Clinical and Sport Psychology Services training program, which provides several Sport Psych post-docs / post-grads with robust training in our field.
• Collaborates with Athletics Department staff, including board members, administrators, coaches, academic advisors, and more.
• Serves on the Athletic Medicine leadership team, collaborating with physician, nutrition, and athletic trainer leadership on operational and strategic decisions for the department.
• Provides consultation to Athletics Department administration and coaches regarding the management and handling of student athletes with mental health or behavioral issues.
• Integrates the values of and ensures compliance with the regulations of USC Athletics, Keck Medicine of USC, and USC Student Health, Counseling and Mental Health.
• Tracks Key Performance Indicators and produces annual reports to heads of USC Athletics, Athletic Medicine, and USC Student Health, Counseling and Mental Health.
• May directly provide mental and behavioral health services (individual, group, and conjoint therapy services, crisis services, and outreach services) to student-athletes.
• Serves on committees; leads multidisciplinary case conferences; leads Clinical and Sport Psychology Services team meetings; attends and contributes to other various meetings, fostering clinical objectives and a consultative collegial environment.
• Participates in Department of Psychiatry activities and interacts with faculty, trainees, and staff throughout the department.
• Oversees / participates in all required peer review, performance evaluation, and merit review processes, as well as quality improvement activities.

Qualifications: 

• Doctorate in Counseling or Clinical Psychology from an APA-accredited program or Master’s or higher degree in social work, marriage & family therapy, counseling, psychology, or related field.
• Licensed or license eligible in California.
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience providing clinical care for student-athletes.
• Minimum of 2 years in an administrative capacity within an intercollegiate Sport Psychology program of a similar type and size, including the oversight of personnel.
• Exceptional clinical skills and deep experience utilizing evidenced-based interventions for student-athletes.

Application Deadline: Until position is filled.

Starting Date: Negotiable

Application materials: CV, cover letter, and 3 letters of reference.

The annual base salary range for this position is $150,000-$225,000.  When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.