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Details

**Open Date** 11/13/2025

**Requisition Number** PRN43587B

**Job Title** Director, Social Services

**Working Title** Director of Patient Support Program

**Career Progression Track** G

Track Level

**FLSA Code** Executive

**Patient Sensitive Job Code?** Yes

**Standard Hours per Week** 40

**Full Time or Part Time?** Full Time

**Shift** Day

Work Schedule Summary

Monday – Friday

**VP Area** U of U Health - Academics

**Department** 00267 - Ophthalmology-Services

**Location** Campus

**City** Salt Lake City, UT

**Type of Recruitment** External Posting

**Pay Rate Range** $75,000 - $95,000

**Close Date** 02/27/2026

Priority Review Date (Note - Posting may close at any time)

Job Summary

The Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the University of Utah, John A. Moran Eye Center, is actively seeking a director for the Patient Support Program.

This position includes psycho-social and counseling support to patients with visual impairment and blindness. Responsibilities include supervising a small multidisciplinary staff, individual and group counseling for patients with visual impairment/blindness and their families, providing information and referrals, collaborating with community programs and agencies that support people who are blind, educating ophthalmology residents and fellows, and offering supportive and crisis counseling to department staff as needed. The skills required for this position include: crisis counseling, rehabilitation counseling, group work, teaching, and community education.

Responsibilities

Essential Functions:

+ Directs the development and implementation of social service objectives that are consistent with the University of Utah’s goals and objectives.

+ May oversee recruiting, interviewing, training and scheduling of volunteer workers.

+ Builds and adapts programs to a point of long term sustainability.

+ Provides strategic direction by setting short and long-term goals, estimating budgetary requirements for staff, space and equipment planning, and implementing special projects and policies.

+ Develops strategies consistent with the University of Utah’s continuous quality improvement program.

+ Forecasts program staffing, program operating budget needs, staff performance evaluation, etc.

+ Ensures customer/patient satisfaction by analyzing complaints, concerns and suggestions and providing appropriate follow-through.

+ Ensures competency of management/supervisory staff through the development and/or presentation of educational programs and through on-going staff performance evaluation.

+ Markets and promotes new and existing programs and services to internal and external customers.

+ Participates in university-wide committees to establish customer/patient service and administrative plans and policies.

+ Facilitates cooperative and collaborative community and institutional relationships.

+ Individual and group counseling for patients with visual impairment/blindness and their families, providing information and referrals, collaborating with community programs and agencies that support people who are blind, educating ophthalmology residents and fellows, and offering supportive and crisis counseling to department staff as needed.

+ The skills required for this position include: crisis counseling, rehabilitation counseling, group work, teaching, and community education.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, **or** related area, **or** equivalency (one year of education can be substituted for two years of related work experience); eight years of progressively more responsible management experience; and demonstrated leadership, human relations and effective communications skills required.

Master’s degree in Social Work, or related area preferred.

This position is patient-sensitive and must fulfill all associated vaccination requirements, or be approved for an exemption, prior to the first day of work. We protect our patients, coworkers and community by requiring all patient-sensitive employees to be immunized according to CDC standards and hospital policy. Limited exemptions may be made for documented medical contraindications or religious beliefs that object to vaccinations.

Preferences

Candidates must have LCSW or LCMHC if candidate also has with a PhD or DSW that is ideal but not necessary. Salary will be commensurate with experience and credentials.

**Type** Benefited Staff

Special Instructions Summary

Please request 3 letters of recommendation from outside the University of Utah on your behalf.

Have them emailed to [email protected] and addressed to Jeff Pettey, MD, Professor and Department Chair, 65 Mario Capecchi Drive, SLC , UT 84132

Additional Information

The University is a participating employer with Utah Retirement Systems (“URS”). Eligible new hires with prior URS service, may elect to enroll in URS if they make the election before they become eligible for retirement (usually the first day of work). Contact Human Resources at (801) 581-7447 for information. Individuals who previously retired and are receiving monthly retirement benefits from URS are subject to URS’ post-retirement rules and restrictions. Please contact Utah Retirement Systems at (801) 366-7770 or (800) 695-4877 or University Human Resource Management at (801) 581-7447 if you have questions regarding the post-retirement rules.

This position may require the successful completion of a criminal background check and/or drug screen.

The University of Utah values candidates who have experience working in settings with students and patients from all backgrounds and possess a strong commitment to improving access to higher education and quality healthcare for historically underrepresented students and patients.

All qualified individuals are strongly encouraged to apply. Veterans’ preference is extended to qualified applicants, upon request and consistent with University policy and Utah state law. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities.

The University of Utah is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and does not discriminate based upon race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, or protected veteran’s status. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and 34 CFR part 106. The requirement not to discriminate in education programs or activities extends to admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and its regulations may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, to the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, or both.

To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability or if you or someone you know has experienced discrimination or sexual misconduct including sexual harassment, you may contact the Director/Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action ( OEO /AA). More information, including the Director/Title IX Coordinator’s office address, electronic mail address, and telephone number can be located at: https://www.utah.edu/nondiscrimination/

Online reports may be submitted at oeo.utah.edu

https://safety.utah.edu/safetyreport This report includes statistics about criminal offenses, hate crimes, arrests and referrals for disciplinary action, and Violence Against Women Act offenses. They also provide information about safety and security-related services offered by the University of Utah. A paper copy can be obtained by request at the Department of Public Safety located at 1658 East 500 South.