College Counselor - Assistant or Associate Director

McCallie is seeking to hire a college counselor for the upcoming 2023-24 school year. The counselor will join a strong and stable program with an excellent culture. Together, the college counseling team works to advise and support students and their families in the college admission process.

The college counseling role will be on the assistant or associate director level, depending on experience, expertise, and fit. There may be opportunity for additional duties and responsibilities in other areas of school life. 

College counselors at McCallie work in a relational, engaging, and informed team. Effective communication, passion for working with high school students and their families and commitment to serving as an informed and supportive guide through the college admissions process are key qualities that guide the student-centered nature of the work.

Preference will be given to candidates who demonstrate:

• curiosity about, and enthusiasm for the diverse opportunities in higher education;
• empathy for young people as they navigate the transition to life after high school;
• care and support for colleagues, including a willingness to seek feedback from and collaborate with one another;
• commitment to empowering students to lead their own college searches with parents and counselors in a supporting role;
• focus on the best interest of each student, allowing each boy to own and to engage fully in finding the best college fit for him; 
• understanding of the valuable lessons and skills learned through the college search and application process;
• commitment to working with each individual student’s unique needs and timeline as he considers his future beyond McCallie.

Responsibilities

• Counseling a caseload of seniors each year, which includes staging senior seminars, holding individual meetings, helping construct a final list of colleges, assisting in the application process, providing feedback on essays, and counseling on final decisions;
• Counseling a caseload of juniors each year beginning in the second semester, which includes staging junior seminars, holding individual meetings, helping construct a list of prospective colleges and advising on the research process;
• Writing effective and insightful counselor statements for assigned caseload of seniors;
• Sending application materials in a timely manner;
• Communicating effectively with parents via email, phone, and, when arranged, meetings;
• Participating in programs and events (some during evenings and weekends) such as Family Weekend, College Nights, and the Coast to Coast College Fair;
• Cultivating contacts in admission offices through visiting colleges, attending professional development events and personal efforts;
• Helping create an office atmosphere that celebrates students and their future plans across a broad range of options;
• Engaging in continuous learning and professional development by attending conferences, visiting colleges, reading relevant books, periodicals and articles;
• Performing other duties as determined by the Director of College Counseling.

Required Qualifications

• a bachelor’s degree;
• strong interpersonal skills;
• excellent communication skills in both written and oral presentation;
• a commitment to work collaboratively with the college counseling team, faculty and administration;
• a commitment to working with students and parents from a variety of backgrounds and experiences;
• a commitment to developing expertise in Google Suite, Gmail/Google Drive applications, Veracross, SCOIR and Slate; willingness and ability to learn necessary programs;
• a deep understanding of McCallie’s mission - including both its commitment to character development and the ideals of honor, truth, and duty and its Christian foundation and Judeo-Christian heritage - and a desire to live out and serve that mission for the good of McCallie boys.

Additional qualifications or characteristics desired, but not required, include: 

• master’s degree or other professional degree(s);
• experience in college admission and/or independent school college counseling;
• cross-cultural competencies or experiences;
• experience relevant to teaching, coaching a sport, or serving in another program area.

This is a ten month, full-time position. It is considered exempt and eligible for full benefits.