Assistant Director, Medical Student Wellbeing

Salary Grade

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 $52,705 and $66,672, 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.

Job Description

POSITION OBJECTIVE

The Assistant Director of Medical Student Wellbeing is a student-facing, licensed social work professional who supports medical students in the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine WR2/University Program. Administratively based in the Office of Student Affairs and reporting to the Associate Dean for Students, this position provides non-clinical case management, care coordination, resource navigation, student support consultation, preventive and wellbeing programming, and systems-level improvement efforts.

This role serves as a key bridge among medical students, the School of Medicine, University Health and Counseling Services, university resources, affiliated health systems, and community providers. The assistant director supports students experiencing personal, emotional, relational, family, financial, health-related, academic, professional, or systems-related concerns that may affect their wellbeing, functioning, or engagement in medical education.

The assistant director works closely with Student Affairs leadership and staff, including the Director of Student Engagement and Wellbeing and the cohort of Society Deans, as well as academic and personal advisors, learning specialists, financial aid, disability resources, university health and counseling services, and other university and community partners to promote student wellbeing and success.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Provide individualized non-clinical case management, care coordination, and resource navigation for medical students experiencing personal, health-related, financial, family, academic, professional, or social-service concerns that may affect wellbeing, functioning, or participation in medical education. Assess student needs, develop support plans, connect students with School of Medicine, university, health-system, and community resources, facilitate warm handoffs, refer students for appropriate clinical or specialized services when indicated, and support students through major educational, personal, and health-related transitions, including clinical training, leaves of absence, and return to school. (50%)
• Provide consultation and support to students, faculty, staff, and leadership regarding student wellbeing concerns, available resources, supportive communication strategies, and appropriate referral pathways. Consult with students about personal concerns and ways to support peers; advise faculty, staff, and leadership on recognition of student distress and response options; maintain appropriate distinctions among consultation, case management, crisis support, and clinical treatment; protect student confidentiality in accordance with FERPA and other applicable requirements; oversee the student-led peer mentorship program; and assess urgent emotional distress, functional impairment, and potential safety concerns within the scope of the role, including risk assessment, safety planning, and emergency referral as appropriate. (20%)
• Design, implement, and evaluate preventive wellbeing programming and student education initiatives that promote coping, adjustment, help-seeking, social connection, and awareness of available resources. Develop workshops, psychoeducational materials, group interventions, and programming for predictable periods of increased stress; collaborate with students, faculty, staff, student organizations, and peer-support programs to identify and respond to emerging needs; and develop initiatives that address individual, relational, educational, and systems-level influences on student wellbeing. (20%)
• Support systems improvement, institutional collaboration, and program evaluation to strengthen student wellbeing services and access to support. Identify and track recurring student needs, access barriers, service gaps, referral patterns, and emerging concerns; maintain de-identified data related to service needs, program participation, and barriers to access; prepare reports on aggregate trends and recommend improvements to policies, programs, communications, and referral systems; collaborate across university units to improve coordination and continuity of support; participate in committees and planning related to wellbeing, crisis response, resource access, and the learning environment; and evaluate wellbeing programs and resource-navigation processes. (10%)

NONESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Perform other duties as assigned. (<5%)

CONTACTS

Department: Continuous contact with the Office of the Vice Dean for Medical Education and Student Affairs to assess needs, provide support, deliver case management, respond to crises, coordinate referrals, develop programming, identify resource needs, and communicate de-identified trends and service gaps. Regular contact with School of Medicine faculty, advisors, and staff to provide consultation, coordinate referrals, share resource information, and collaborate on student wellbeing initiatives.

University: Regular contact with university student-support offices, including University Health and Counseling Services, disability resources, financial aid, housing, campus safety, international services, spiritual life, student conduct, and related offices, to coordinate support, facilitate referrals, address student needs, and promote continuity of care and resource access.

External: Occasional contact with affiliated clinical sites, community providers, professional organizations, and peer institutions to coordinate referrals, identify emergency and ongoing support resources, promote continuity of support, and exchange relevant professional knowledge and practices. Occasional contact with families and other support persons, only with student authorization or as otherwise permitted or required, to support care coordination and communication.

Students: Continuous contact with medical students to assess concerns, provide non-clinical support, conduct case management and resource navigation, respond to urgent situations, coordinate referrals, and develop and deliver wellbeing programming.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

The position is not expected to have direct supervisory responsibility at appointment.

The Assistant Director may guide staff, student employees, peer leaders, interns, or trainees.

QUALIFICATIONS

Experience: 2 years of relevant experience in clinical social work, behavioral health, case management, healthcare, higher education, or student support required. Experience with assessment, brief intervention, crisis response, safety planning, case management, or care coordination required. Experience working with graduate, professional, or adult learners preferred. Experience in a medical school, academic health center, university counseling service, hospital, or health professions program preferred. Experience developing student-support or wellbeing programs and using electronic records or secure case-management systems preferred.

Education/Licensing: Master of Social Work degree from a CSWE-accredited program required. Current Ohio social work license appropriate to assigned duties required, or ability to obtain Ohio licensure within 6 months of hire. Ohio Licensed Independent Social Worker designation preferred. Relevant training in trauma-informed care, restorative practices, motivational interviewing, suicide-risk assessment, crisis intervention, or related approaches preferred.

REQUIRED SKILLS

• Knowledge of student assessment, crisis response, safety planning, case management, and care coordination.
• Ability to identify student strengths, risks, barriers, and appropriate levels of care.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed, culturally responsive, strengths-based, and student-centered practices.
• Ability to establish trust and maintain effective working relationships with students experiencing distress, uncertainty, or transition.
• Demonstrated capacity for reflective practice and ethical and professional self-awareness.
• Ability to adapt approach and communication style when working across differences.
• Commitment to cultural humility and inclusive student support practices.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, facilitation, emotional intelligence, and judgment skills. Ability to interact with colleagues, supervisors, and customers face to face.
• Ability to explain confidentiality, consent, scope of services, referrals, and professional boundaries clearly and appropriately.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across clinical, academic, administrative, and community settings.
• Ability to maintain accurate, timely, and appropriate documentation.
• Skills in program development, evaluation, project management, and systems improvement.
• Ability to manage multiple cases, responsibilities, and deadlines with appropriate autonomy, supervision, and consultation.
• Demonstrated discretion, dependability, initiative, flexibility, and attention to detail.
• Ability to demonstrate 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.
• Willingness to learn and work with artificial intelligence (AI) tools and technologies.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work is performed primarily in an office setting with approved hybrid flexibility of up to one remote workday per week. Regular in-person interaction with medical students is required. Position involves routine use of computers, electronic records, secure communication platforms, videoconferencing, and case-management systems. Work includes handling confidential and emotionally sensitive information, including crisis-related situations. Occasional evening, weekend, after-hours, or travel responsibilities may be required. Reasonable accommodations will be provided in accordance with university policy and applicable law.

Hybrid Eligibility

This position is eligible for hybrid work arrangement up to two remote days per week at the discretion of the department. New employees may begin a hybrid schedule upon approval from the supervisor, successful completion of an orientation period and signing the remote work checklist certification form.

EEO Statement

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.

Reasonable Accommodations

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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