Assistant Director of College Counseling

Assistant Director of College Counseling

Porter-Gaud is an Episcopal, coeducational day school serving more than 1,000 students in grades 1-12. The O'Quinn Schools of Porter-Gaud serve an additional 600 preschool students from age two through kindergarten. Porter-Gaud School is seeking an experienced Assistant Director of College Counseling to join the College Counseling Department for a July 1, 2024 start date.

The College Counseling Department builds relationships with each Upper School student and their family, partnering to discover the best college fits for the student. PorterGaud currently has a Director of College Counseling, an Assistant Director, and an administrative assistant for the department. The new Assistant Director will support the Director of College Counseling and the Associate Director of College Counseling in the overall administration of the college counseling program. This is an exempt, 12 month position.

Primary Responsibilities

• Maintaining and further developing an informational college admission preparation program with a focus on students and families transitioning from sophomore to junior year.
• Counseling and assisting 30-35 junior and seniors respectively, and their families as they move through the college research, application and selection process.
• Presenting informational sessions to parents and students, individually and in groups.
• Organize and execute college counseling events.
• Writing official and personalized school recommendations.
• Assist the College Counseling Administrative Assistant with the coordination of standardized tests such as the SAT, ACT, and AP exams.
• Coordinate the Service Academy application process for interested students (typically 13 a year)
• Working with faculty advisors, department chairs, and grade deans to provide a college counseling lens to the academic advising process.
• Remaining current on college admissions trends and issues by maintaining membership in professional organizations such as the College Board, the National Association of College Admission Counselors, the Association for College Counseling in Independent Schools and attending professional development events.
• Continuing professional development by scheduling visits to college campuses.

Minimum Qualifications:

• A Bachelor's degree in a related field (Master's degree preferred).
• At least three years of recent/current experience working as a college counselor (preferably in an independent school)
• Previous experience in college admissions is a plus
• Strong written and verbal communications skills and compelling public speaking talents
• Evidence of working as a team player and as a self starter.
• Strong computer and technological competence; knowledge of SCOIR is a plus.

Personal Attributes:

• The ideal candidate has a broad understanding of Porter-Gaud's mission and an appreciation of the educational process and respect for those who support this work.
• A commitment to maintaining confidentiality.
• A hands on approach and enthusiasm for collaboration with all constituents.
• A desire to think strategically about how we can further incorporate best practices in the College Counseling Office.

Reporting: The Assistant Director of College Counseling will report directly to the Director of College Counseling.

The Assistant Director of College Counseling must display a continuous commitment to developing the attitudes, knowledge, and skills (intercultural competence) to engage in appropriate and effective communication with school constituents from diverse backgrounds and perspectives. We desire candidates who will contribute to the school's efforts to continue creating a more inclusive and equitable community where all individuals can develop a sense of belonging.

Porter-Gaud School is committed to increasing the racial, ethnic, and religious diversity of our faculty and staff. The School welcomes applicants who would bring additional dimensions to the School's teaching mission. In accordance with law, PorterGaud School is an equal opportunity employer and hires without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, national origin, or disability.

Porter-Gaud School is committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our students. We hold our employees to the highest possible standards. All employees are subject to extensive background check screenings and must sign our code of conduct. We strive to monitor employees while interacting with students. We take any inappropriate interactions between students and employees seriously and are committed to mandatory reporting standards as required by law. We will fully cooperate with authorities in any allegation or case of abuse.