Director of College Counseling

Who we are?
Ethical Culture Fieldston School is a progressive PreK-12 independent school that has been serving students from throughout New York City and the surrounding suburbs since 1878. ECFS offers a rich curriculum in the arts, sciences, and humanities. A co-ed, nonsectarian school, it serves a diverse community of about 1,700 students on two campuses -- one in the Riverdale section of the Bronx and the other in Manhattan.The Upper School, located in the Bronx, is comprised of approximately 600 students and 80 faculty members.

What is essential about working at our school?
The Ethical Culture Fieldston School has a long history of equity and inclusion deeply rooted in our mission and the educational philosophy of our founder, Felix Adler. We embrace diversity of ancestry, family, identity, culture, and beliefs and seek a student body and faculty that reflect the pluralism and socio-economic diversity of metropolitan New York. We affirm both our differences and commonalities, and strive to balance individuality and community. In keeping with our progressive tradition, we are dedicated to increasing our students’ cultural literacy to help them understand multiple perspectives, and see the world beyond the self.

We expect members of our community to engage in open dialogue about living and learning in a diverse environment inside and outside the classroom. We see this work, with its creative tensions, as a catalyst for individual and collective growth. On a daily basis, we are committed to making this vision of a democratic, pluralistic, and progressive school a reality.

Position Summary
The Director Of College Counseling will oversee the day to day college admissions process and programming and report to the Upper School Principal. The current counseling office includes three Associate Directors and one College Counseling Manager, whom the Director will lead. The Director will need to stay informed and up to date on admission trends and requirements and translate them into program alteration and improvement. He/She/They will bring a depth of experience in college counseling, college admissions, or both.

The hiring range for this position is $225,000-$275,000. When determining the salary for an offer, ECFS considers factors including, but not limited to: the scope and responsibilities of the position, internal peer equity, key skills required for the role, the candidate’s work experience, education and training, as well as market and organizational considerations.

Please note that this is an onsite role and not performed remotely. Ethical Culture Fieldston School retains its right to modify job duties in accordance with changing operational needs.

Responsibilities
Specific responsibilities of the Director will include:

• Supervising the work of the college counseling team and the overall work of the counseling office;

• Building relationships with college admissions officers, attending conferences and staying connected to the higher education community throughout the country;

• Collecting relevant data and utilizing it to identify areas of improvement for the college counseling program;

• Collaborating with the test coordinator to administer standardized exams;

• Coordinating school-wide programs (College Symposium) to engage parents, teachers and community stakeholder to foster support for college readiness initiatives and share information about the college application process;

• Demonstrating a commitment to stay up to date on current trends in admissions and changes in policies to communicates them to the Principal, Head of School, and others, to improve and adjust the application process accordingly;

• Willingness to participate in local and national associations relevant to the profession as well as the ability to travel to various colleges and campuses throughout the school year;

• Regularly attending upper school department chair meetings, and other meetings school and division-wide;

• Managing the operating budget for the counseling office and creating the annual reports for the Board of Trustees;

• Handling any challenges or issues that may arise related to sudden changes in admission requirements or difficult situations with students and parents;

• Exemplifying outstanding informative and analytical writing skills, including the ability to craft extensive letters of recommendation, and communicate about the college financial aid process to families;

• Serving as the public face of the counseling office and program, leading meetings and presentations to various groups;

• Maintaining an attractive, informative and up-to-date College Counseling Office;

• Consistently ensuring that the website and publications are current;

• Performing other related projects and duties as needed and assigned.

Position requirements
The successful incumbent will possess:

• A masters degree in counseling, education or related field is a must;

• At least five years of previous experience in college counseling or related field, demonstrating a deep understanding of the college admissions process;

• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills to effectively work with students, parents and other constituents inside and outside of the community;

• High emotional intelligence and cultural competence;

• The ability to maintain strong relationships and connections with various colleges and other professionals in this field;

• A commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging to help grow an equitable college counseling program that meets the needs of the students and families;

• Strong organizational skills, detail-oriented with a dedication to a high level of confidentiality;

• A confident and reassuring demeanor to help navigate stress and conflict with care and sensitivity that may arise in the college admissions process;

• Trustworthiness and integrity with all constituencies;

• Familiarity in technology and software (Scoir, Slate, Google Suite) used in college counseling as well as staying up to date on any advancements;

• An infectious sense of joy in working with students and being an engaged member of the school community;

• The ability to work some evenings and weekends though the academic year;

• Respect and appreciation for diversity in all of its forms;

• The ability to listen effectively and be receptive to feedback.

To apply
Interested and qualified candidates are invited to contact and apply through the consultants listed below. Please submit the following materials as separate PDF documents:

• A cover letter;

• A current résumé;

• Writing samples: two redacted letters of recommendation written about former or current students

and another sample of a communication piece directed at parents or community;

• A list of five professional references with name, relationship, phone number, and email address of

each (references will not be contacted without the candidate’s permission) to:

Jennifer Wong Christensen Chris Boyle

Senior Consultant Consultant

jennifer.christensen@carneysandoe.com chris.boyle@carneysandoe.com

EEO
ECFS is an equal opportunity employer. Our goal is to be a diverse community of professionals that broadly reflects the people of the metropolitan New York City area, our students, and families. We aim to align our hiring process with our mission and institutional goals. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion or religious practices, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, citizenship status, national origin, age, ability status, military status, unemployment status or any other category protected by applicable local, state, or federal laws. ECFS takes affirmative action in support of its policy to employ and advance all qualified candidates.