Director of the School of Rehabilitation Services and Counseling

Director of the School of Rehabilitation Services and

Counseling

Job Class Code : FLSA :

Posting Number : FRGV1945

Location : Rio Grande Valley, Texas

Division / Organization : Division of Health Affairs

Appointment Period for Non-Tenure Position :

Tenure Status : Tenured

FTE : 1.0

Scope of Job :

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) invites

nominations and applications for the position of Director of the

School of Rehabilitation Services & Counseling. Reporting

directly to the Dean of the College of Health Professions, within

the Division of Health Affairs, the director provides strategic

leadership, fosters academic excellence, and ensures alignment with

the goals of the College of Health Professions and the broader

university. This position is equivalent to a department chair and

plays a critical role in advancing the school's mission in

teaching, research, service, and community engagement. The college

seeks a dynamic leader who will collaborate with faculty, staff,

and students to foster a culture of excellence.

UTRGV was created by the Texas Legislature in 2013 as the first

major public university of the 21st century in Texas and is the

second-largest Hispanic-serving institution in the United States.

The majority of its students are bilingual and bicultural. UTRGV is

located in a growing, vibrant region on the border with Mexico,

which boasts many diverse cultural, ecological, and recreational

activities.

UTRGV is establishing a Division of Health Affairs to help grow UT

Health RGV and ensure the participation of all health-related

programs and create a stronger framework for collaboration and

impact among health-related programs. The goal is for the division

to boost interdisciplinary learning, enhance patient care, and

support UT Health RGV's growing clinical services, including the

upcoming Cancer & Surgery Center and Diabetes Center of

Excellence. The Division of Health Affairs aligns the Schools of

Medicine, Podiatric Medicine, Nursing, Optometry (launching in

2027, pending accreditation), and the College of Health

Professions.

The School of Rehabilitation Services & Counseling is a dynamic

academic unit dedicated to preparing professionals to assist people

with disabilities to live full and independent lives. The School of

Rehabilitation Services & Counseling currently has 18 full-time

(tenured, tenure track, and non-tenured) faculty teaching in the

program and over 350 students enrolled. Located in a modern

facility (Edinburg Health Affairs Building West) featuring

dedicated classrooms and a state-of-the-art Counseling &

Wellness Center and Research Center, the school prides itself on

preparing students to enter a rewarding field of helping others to

achieve their own goals of independence and productivity.

Leadership Role of the Director

The Director of the School of Rehabilitation Services &

Counseling serves as the academic and administrative leader of the

school, equivalent to a department chair, at UTRGV. This role

requires visionary leadership, strategic planning, and a commitment

to advancing the mission of the university and the College of

Health Professions.

The Director is expected to :

• Provide strategic academic leadership to advance the school's

mission in teaching, research, and service, with a focus on

innovation, excellence, and impact.

levels, with a particular emphasis on expanding and strengthening

the PhD program.

and scholarship that supports UTRGV's goal of achieving R1 status

as designated by the Carnegie Commission.

promoting shared governance, transparency, and mutual respect among

faculty, staff, and students.

management, policy enforcement, and resource allocation to support

strategic priorities.

supporting their professional development and fostering a culture

of academic excellence.

processes, ensuring alignment with university standards and best

practices in higher education.

collaborations, enhancing the school's visibility and impact within

the university and broader community.

ensuring academic programs are responsive to evolving professional

and societal needs.

addressing concerns and promoting a positive and productive

academic climate.

including faculty, students, alumni, community partners, and

university leadership.

As a faculty member, the Director is also expected to maintain an

active role in teaching (with a reduced load), research, and

service, modeling the values of academic engagement and

leadership.

Minimum Qualifications :

The successful candidate will :

in Rehabilitation Counselor Education & Supervision, PhD in

Rehabilitation Psychology, ScD in Rehabilitation Science, RhD in

Rehabilitation, etc.).

satisfaction.

funding.

the state of the field.

Discipline Specific Required Qualifications :

Preferred Qualification :

high research activity - or higher.

Salary : Commensurate with Qualifications and

Experience

License or Certification Required? : Yes

Number of Vacancies : 1

Desired Start Date : 02 / 02 / 2026

EEO Statement :

It is the policy of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley to

promote and ensure equal employment opportunities for all

individuals without regard to race, color, national origin, sex,

age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or

expression, genetic information or protected veteran status. In

accordance with the requirements of Title VII of the Civil Rights

Act of 1964, the Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972,

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans

with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, our University is

committed to comply with all government requirements and ensures

non-discrimination in its education programs and activities,

including employment. We encourage women, minorities and

differently abled persons to apply for employment positions of

interest.

Open Date : 11 / 26 / 2025

Special Instructions to Applicants :

Dear Applicant,

Complete all sections on the application. If you are applying for

the first time, please complete all biographical information

including address, email and phone number. You may update this at

any time by selecting to edit your profile in the application.Human

Resources will not be held responsible for redacting any

confidential information from the documents you attach with your

application. The confidential information includes the

following :

Please make sure that you omit this information prior to

submission. We are advising that Human Resources will be forwarding

your application to the department as per your submission. The

University of Texas Rio Grande Valley reserves the right to

discontinue accepting applications prior to the stated close date

of this position, after meeting the posting requirement of three

(3) calendar days.Security sensitive; All UTRGV employees are

required to have a criminal background check (CBC). CBCs will be

conducted for all candidates invited for an on-campus interview.If

you have any questions, please visit our Careers site at "https : / / careers.utrgv.edu">

"https : / / careers.utrgv.edu">

https : / / careers.utrgv.edu for

detailed contact information.

Additional Information :

UTRGV is a distributed institution. As such and as assigned, the

position mayrequire presence at multiple locations throughout the

Rio Grande Valley. Work isperformed primarily in a general office

environment. This position is security sensitiveand thereby subject

to the provisions of the Texas Education Code51.215. The

retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System

ofTexas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per

week and at least135 days in length. This position has the option

to elect the Optional RetirementProgram (ORP) instead of TRS,

subject to the position being 40 hours per weekand at least 135

days in length.

Please Note :

Texas law requires faculty members whose primary language is not

English todemonstrate proficiency in English as determined by a

satisfactory paper-basedtest score of 500 (computer-based of 173 or

internet-based of 61) on the Test ofEnglish as a Foreign Language

(TOEFL) or a satisfactory test score of 6.0 on theInternational

English Language Testing System (IELTS). Incomplete applications

will not be considered. All positions are subject to budget

approval.

To apply, visit "https : / / apptrkr.com / 6760694">

https : / / careers.utrgv.edu / postings / 49551

"https : / / www.jobelephant.com / img.php?id=6760694&image=pixel" / >

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