Department Chair, Clinical Psychology Program, Dallas Campus (Plano, TX)

Department Chair, Clinical Psychology Program, Dallas Campus (Plano, TX)

The Chicago School, in partnership with the national search firm Scott Healy & Associates, invites applications and nominations for the position of Department Chair, Clinical Psychology Program for the Dallas Campus in Plano, TX. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced and visionary academic leader to help shape the future of a growing doctoral program at one of the nation's leading institutions focused on psychology and behavioral health education. The successful candidate will join a mission-driven university known for its practitioner-scholar model, commitment to innovation, and dedication to preparing graduates to make a meaningful impact in their communities and professions. This position requires faculty to be on campus four (4) days per week.

The Clinical Psychology (PsyD) program on the Dallas campus, launched in 2020 within the College of Professional Psychology, is currently “Accredited, on Contingency” by the American Psychological Association. As the program continues its growth and development, The Chicago School seeks a collaborative and strategic Chair to lead the next phase of its evolution. This role offers the opportunity to provide academic, administrative, and clinical training leadership, while strengthening program quality, advancing student success, supporting faculty excellence, and ensuring full compliance with APA Standards of Accreditation to support the continued development and success of the program.

As an employee at The Chicago School, you can become a member of an inclusive community committed to excellence. At The Chicago School, we celebrate individuals of all backgrounds and identities for who they are and what they can contribute. We take pride in hiring and retaining the most dynamic, talented, and passionate professionals who will help us continue to innovate for decades to come.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintain collegial, productive relationships with APA and other relevant accrediting and professional bodies, and ensure timely completion of all required self-studies, annual reporting, and accreditation documentation.
• Provide leadership and oversight of the program’s compliance with APA Standards of Accreditation (SoA), including evaluation of Profession-Wide Competencies (PWC), Discipline-Specific Knowledge (DSK), student outcomes, and continuous quality improvement.
• Facilitate Program Faculty Governance and All Faculty meetings and support effective faculty participation in decision-making.
• Supervise, mentor, and support the professional development of Program, Affiliate, and Adjunct Faculty, ensuring alignment with quality standards, licensure requirements, and institutional priorities.
• Provide academic leadership for curriculum design, review, and revision to ensure relevance, scientific integrity, and alignment with APA accreditation requirements.
• Oversee and support all aspects of student affairs at the program level, including student progression, evaluation, and remediation processes consistent with APA standards and institutional policies.
• Develop and maintain high-quality practicum and internship training opportunities; ensure monitoring of supervisor credentials, site quality, and training alignment with APA competencies.
• Lead the student learning assessment plan and program review processes, using data to identify program strengths and needed improvements.
• Develop strategic academic and budget plans for the Department, including actions based on assessment findings and program review outcomes; achieve departmental academic and financial goals.
• Promote a culturally responsive learning environment and ensure integration of multicultural and diversity competencies across coursework and clinical training.
• Participate in and oversee program-related scholarship, research, and scientific inquiry consistent with the program’s training model.
• Provide leadership for dissertation processes, student research mentorship, and faculty engagement in scholarly work.
• Supervise the department manager to achieve operational goals and ensure the effective functioning of academic and clinical training operations.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology (required), from an APA-accredited doctoral program and internship.
• Licensed or license-eligible as a psychologist in the State of Texas (must obtain licensure within one year of hire).
• Demonstrated identity as a psychologist, reflected in scholarship, professional activities, and engagement in the field.
• Significant experience in graduate psychology education, including teaching, advising, dissertation supervision, and academic administration.
• Experience supervising clinical training (practicum and/or internship) and ensuring development of Profession-Wide Competencies required by APA.
• Deep working knowledge of APA Standards of Accreditation, including experience with self-studies, annual reporting, accreditation reviews, and data-based program evaluation.
• Proven ability to lead academic programs or units within a university setting, with strengths in strategic planning, accreditation, program assessment, and curriculum development.
• Commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and demonstrated ability to promote multicultural competence among faculty, students, and training sites.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and people-development skills, with the ability to support faculty excellence and foster interdisciplinary initiatives.
• Record of scholarly productivity and professional achievement appropriate to a doctoral-level program.
• Ability to represent the program professionally to internal and external stakeholders, training sites, community partners, and accrediting bodies.

About the Institution

The Chicago School has been a leading nonprofit university for more than 45 years, enrolling over 6,000 students across 40+ academic programs culminating in a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree or a professional certificate. The institution’s curriculum expands the application of psychology to a wide range of careers in medicine, business, counseling, and the behavioral sciences. Guided by practitioner-scholar faculty who are leaders in their fields, students gain real-world training early in their education, giving them an unparalleled range of opportunities to implement their learning and hone their skills alongside experienced professionals.

At the heart of its mission is The Chicago School Approach, which combines four core elements—education, innovation, community, and impact. This unique model goes beyond academic theory to provide students with practical, solutions-oriented training. Unlike much of traditional graduate education, The Chicago School Approach is not an intellectual pursuit for the sake of intellectual pursuit. The Chicago School educates the next generation of change-makers in innovative theory and culturally competent practice to strengthen the integrated health of individuals, organizations, and communities. Through dynamic, diverse classrooms, students develop cultural humility skills that help them understand and respect the cultural nuances of those they serve.

The Chicago School offers a generous compensation and benefits package, as well as the opportunity to work for a leader in the field of education. Some of our key benefits include: generous paid time-off, medical and dental coverage, company-paid life and disability insurance, retirement plan with employer contribution, multiple flexible spending accounts (FSA), tuition reimbursement, professional development, and regular employee appreciation events.

About the Community

Plano, TX, is a vibrant city located just 20 miles north of Downtown Dallas and home to roughly 300,000 residents. As a major corporate hub within the thriving Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, Plano is known for its strong economy, excellent schools, safe neighborhoods, and high quality of life. The city offers an impressive variety of attractions, from world-class shopping and diverse dining to expansive parks, trails, and cultural experiences. Residents enjoy easy access to the many amenities of nearby Dallas, including its renowned Arts District, the largest zoo in Texas, professional sports, concert and theater venues, and major business centers. Combining economic opportunity with abundant recreation and a welcoming community atmosphere, Plano continues to be one of the most desirable cities in Texas.

Application Process

All correspondence relating to the position of Department Chair, Clinical Psychology Program – Dallas Campus at The Chicago School should be directed in confidence to the School’s executive search consultant:

Erin House, Assistant Vice President

Scott Healy & Associates

[email protected]

A complete application should include the following:

1. Cover Letter outlining your interest and qualifications for the position;
2. Updated CV;
3. Teaching Evaluations (if available);
4. Contact information for three (3) professional references with title, institutional affiliation, email address and direct phone numbers. (No references will be contacted without written permission from the candidate.)

Applications received by August 1, 2026 will receive priority consideration. The search will remain open until the position is filled.

SALARY: $110,000 - $130,000 base compensation. Additional compensation factors may impact total compensation

The Chicago School is an Equal Opportunity Employer.