Assistant/Associate Director of College Counseling

Job Description:

Worcester Academy, a day-boarding school with grades 6-PG, located in New England’s second largest city, seeks an Assistant/Associate Director of College Counseling (title commensurate with experience).

Worcester Academy’s mission is to instill in its students the desire to learn throughout life, to engage passionately with the world around them, and to be honorable persons of strong and resourceful character. We are a community - curious, thoughtful, generous, and thriving in our diversity.

The Assistant/Associate Director reports to the Director of College Counseling and will join a highly collaborative team that includes a Senior Associate Director and an Administrative Assistant. The College Counseling team counsels and supports a class of approximately 140 grade 12 and post graduate students and 120 grade 11 students, as they navigate the college search, application and financial aid processes.

The Assistant/Associate Director maintains a personal caseload of approximately 40-50 students in both grades 11 and 12/PG. This includes:

• Empowering students to authentically know themselves, fostering the discovery of their passions, strengths, and values as they look toward their futures
• Acting as both a support system and advocate, ensuring that students and parents feel heard, valued, and empowered
• Working collaboratively with students and families to create personalized plans that align with their distinct goals and potential, with a focus on ‘fit’
• Guiding all aspects of the college search and application process, including meeting individually with students and their parents, and writing thorough and compelling letters of recommendation on their behalf
• Guiding and coaching students through the drafting and revision process for their applications, personal statements and narrative writing
• Assisting with planning and implementation of grade 11 and 12 college counseling seminar classes and educational programming for families
• Supporting students with additional related activities including summer program and scholarship application processes
• Maintaining an active and engaged presence in professional organizations to remain current with the changing landscape of the college admission process
• Developing collegial relationships with college and university representatives
• Professional development and travel will vary from year to year but will include professional meetings and conferences and college campus visits
• Support all other efforts and initiatives of the College Counseling Office and participate fully in the Academy community at large

Experience and Skills:

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required
• Experience in a high school college counseling office and/or college admissions
• A sense of humor, flexibility, positivity, collegiality, teamwork, and independence
• Enthusiastic interest in motivating and mentoring high school students
• An ability to achieve high standards within a time-constrained, high-expectations environment
• Expertise in the college admission process, including an understanding of differing levels of selectivity, the role of standardized testing, the financial aid process, and athletic recruitment
• Willingness to continue to develop professionally and to expand professional knowledge base with respect to colleges and universities and current trends within the admissions field
• Be passionate about creating an inclusive and equitable environment that respects and celebrates the diversity of our student body
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, public speaking, and writing skills. Excellent attention to detail and the ability to meet deadlines
• Working knowledge of database systems for student records; MaiaLearning or other similar software experience
• Some evening and weekend work is required

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Be physically and mentally capable of performing and tracking multiple tasks in stressful situations and under pressure
• Be able to function in a fast-paced and dynamic environment
• Be capable of using a visual display terminal and keyboard with continuous wrist movement

• Work full-time and maintain regular and predictable attendance
• Ability to move throughout the campus during all weather conditions
• Ability to effectively communicate in person and digitally with faculty, staff, parents, students and external contacts

Benefits

Competitive Benefits Package offered which includes, Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, retirement plan etc...